Gafoo’s Blog

I find myself more and more writing blogs while slightly drunk…I don’t quite know the significance of this but at any rate, there it is…

So anyway, life is good. I still am teaching for 3 high school drumlines and I have survived 2 marching season (barely) and became exposed to a VERY serious parade band for the 1st time in my life of which I have a few things to say about them…
Their work ethic is unparalleled, even in the drum corp realm. I am amazed and inspired that a group of high school students can come together for something as trivial (at least to me) as a parade. But I am always reminding myself that parades are all that this school does and they do it very well and there is several years of history of doing it so it figures but still, I am extremely impressed by these guys and for the first time they will be competing in an enviroment that involves the culmination of those parades skills into musical theatre (aka indoor drumline) so it’s going to be an exciting, if not eye opening season for them and I am sure I am going to learn as much from them as they are from me.

As much as I complain about it, teaching 3 schools plus being the caption head for So Cal Dream is an amazingly fun experience. I am teaching so many different levels of performer and no matter where I am at, I am always having a good time and impart some sort of knowledge. Of course, I have to admit a few things publicly because I am always being called out as some musical and drumming genius. The truth is…

I couldn’t do any of it without the help of some very talented individuals working behind the scenes with me. It was the same way at South with Nacho. He always brought my mallet writing to life in ways that I couldn’t ever imagine. Now that I am down in LA, I have met several more people who continue to make me look good…
Valiant Yan–who has an excellent “percussion” mindset. What I mean is that he really gets the big picture and knows the ways to make that big picture majorly effective. Plus he is a cool guy and he is dating Godzilla…
Young Son–this man has major chops and knows how to bring it out in every type of student, whether beginner, intermediate, or advanced.
Shaun Gibson–This guy can come in to any group of students and excite them about drumming. Even if they are just playing stock quarter pounders ($1 to Valiant).
Leif Davidsen–This guy has been all over the place with regards to marching percussion and I value his opinion very much, especially in the creative process. Plus, he pretty much put the So Cal Dream Drumline on the map last year with work he did with the bassline. No wonder I asked him back to be the bass tech this year.

Anyway, I am starting to sober a little after drinking a lot this evening so I think I need to drink some more.
Thanks for reading my drunken stupor and I really appreciate the support from everyone out there in cyberspace. I hope this percussion thing continues to grow for me…