User:DrumLessons/sandbox

Greg Dana (Drummer, Instructor) was born to Ned & Waldean Dana on August 8th, 1967 in Castro Valley, Ca.....nobody cares. He comes from a very large Italian/Greek family with many musicians.....blah, blah... His interest started at 2 years old when his older relative, Mitchell Gallerin, played the drums for the family at their annual Family Reunions. He played and looked like Gene Krupa. At the age of 7, Greg's parents bought him a small Sear's(?) catalog drum set by Stewart. He barely touched it for 3 years. Then at age 10, Ma took him to see KISS on the Love Gun Tour in San Francisco the day Elvis Presley died....8/16/77.

That changed everything. He was indeed a drummer.....and a royal smart ass with the whole funny dept. He joined school band in Pine Grove, CA under Mr. Irv Gidding (the nicest teacher ever!) and started private instruction with Tony Dey (Stone Poneys, Van Morrison) a legendary Sacramento drummer/instructor. He took lessons off and on for a few years from TD, but talked frequently as did every drummer in Sac with TD until he left Skip's Music in 2002. Dana took lessons at Skip's Music in Sacramento with Mike Lawson. Tony Gallioto at Any Penn's Drum & Guitar City was also a great teacher. Later in life he studied with Aaron Smith (The Temptations, Ray Charles, The Imperials, The 77's, etc.) also at D & G City. Eventually Aaron was relocating to Nashville to further his music career. He asked Dana to take over as a drum instructor. At first he was very reluctant, but accepted the position and immediately got in to his own teaching methods. In 2000, he closed his printing business, Maranatha Printing and started teaching full time at Skip's Music. This has proven to be a calling. Instead of some of the mainstream curriculum, Dana developed his own methods. Jenning's Publishing asked him to write a new, relevant, easy to use instructional book. It's been nearly 20 years in the making. In Greg's words, "There are too many variables. My head is about to explode." Yet, he persists daily working for any and every method in order to keep the student happy and able to understand his really weird, tiny brain concepts....and sarcasm. The bottom line is, Dana is confident in his ability to reach the student & watch them "evolve" into a musician, not just some loser who hangs with 'em. lol! Really? LOL??? So dumb!!!!

During some of this time, he played in the Sacramento funk band, Mercy Me! Band. During and before many years, he also played and recorded with others, like Mike Kelly, Hans Eberbach, Calvary Chapel of Grass Valley, Jerry Jennings, Larry Tagg, Michael Gregory, L.C. Williams, Julie Morris, Jimi "Bottom Hammock" Morris, Greg Williams &The Mind Club, The Antja-Mimes, etc. His influences are Buddy Rich, John Bonham, Steve Jordan, Will Calhoun, David Garabaldi, Johnny Rabb, etc... In fact his only endorsement to date would be www.JohnnyRabbDrumSticks.com..... Some of the best ever!!! He currently plays The Los Cabos "Jive" sticks on a 1939 Ludwig & Ludwig drum kit & Zildjian cymbals (only!!)

In 2002, his family relocated to Seattle Wa to start up Drummer's Evolution, a private drum instructional studio. His opening day was 9/11/02 in Snohomish WA north of Seattle in the friggin' sticks. Three years later he relocated the studio to Mill Creek, WA and has been running the studio ever since. Admittedly worried at times, he has made a very comfortable, successful career as a teacher. His love for the students is very evident in the many who are still in touch, or are still in lessons after 5-8 years. They call for advice on many things such as drums, girls, God, girls, drums, etc. And yes, sometimes it turns into a rap session (not like Tupac) about drums, girls, God, etc....This will be the 17th year of operation at Drummer's Evolution. Eventually, his plan is to develop a full service, sarcastic, dumb teaching facility called Musician's Evolution. For further info check out www.DrummersEvolution.com. and look for his upcoming instructional book, Drummer's Evolution....beginning drumming and beyond, by Greg Dana. If ya can't laugh about it, stop talking.....stop picking at it, It'll never heal. Also, the only stupid question is the only one you don't ask.....unless it really is stupid ;) ..............and of course, "Don't forget to look up and say, "Hey!" and tell 'em Virginia sent ya!