Well, here I go with my first ever blog entry. Hang on, bear with me, and let’s hope for the best!
Joe has my new book for beginning drummers “Let’s Learn to Drum” in his store, so I thought I would tell you a little about myself, my percussion experience, and my teaching philosophy.
Like many students, I began playing percussion in the band in Junior High School. I was an Air Force Brat, and we lived in Orlando, Florida. It was there at Judson B. Walker Jr. High that I was exposed to the Edward B. Straight system of sticking. This system proved to be the building block that I still use with students today.
In the mid-70s, my dad’s retirement brought a move to Montgomery, Alabama. This is where I got serious about music. This is also where the early seeds for my future career in music education were planted. I had an excellent band director (Tom Borden) who encouraged me to study privately with a local teacher. After one year of formal lessons I auditioned for the All-State Band and placed first in the state in my junior year. Ditto for my senior year.
Upon graduation from high school, I attended Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, where I majored in music education with an emphasis on percussion. While at Auburn I played in the band, jazz band, and percussion ensemble. I met and played with several fine drummers who were into drum corps. It didn’t take long for drum corps fever to spread to me. Several of us would later audition and march in the snare line with The Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps and go on to tie for high percussion at DCI finals in 1980. It was an incredible experience that I don’t think I will ever forget.
After playing with Spirit for a year, I accepted the position of percussion caption head for the newly formed Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps in Montgomery, where I wrote for and instructed the line during the 1981 & ’82 seasons. This experience of teaching in a drum corps setting propelled me towards finishing my degree.
After graduating from Auburn in 1983, I accepted the position of band director at Capitol Heights Junior High School where I taught four years. While teaching there, I instructed the drumline at my alma mater, Robert E. Lee High School, which happened to be just across the street. After my four year sentence, ………uh, I mean my four years of service there, I was hired to direct the band at Robert E. Lee High School. I served as the band director of my alma mater for 16 years before moving to a rural county in Alabama to start a band program from scratch. It was some of the hardest, but most rewarding work I have done. I got things going for that school system, then accepted my present position as band director at Wetumpka High School.
Although I have been directing bands for 25 years now, my first love has always been percussion. I have written every note my lines have played for the last 25 years. My wife says that if I mention my accomplishments here it’s not bragging, but just letting you know. I’ll have to take her word for it. 
My drum lines over the last 25 years have earned only superior ratings at all contests we have participated in, and earned “best in class” trophies at most of those. I said all of that to say, that I believe I have found a successful formula for training beginning drummers. When drummers are trained properly from the beginning, I believe they can reach their full potential.
My method book is based on real experiences teaching beginners to drum. My approach is straight forward and involves a very systematic approach to sticking. I tell my students “sticking is everything”. Without stick control you can’t progress to the next level. My early instruction under the Edward B. Straight system influenced my present day decision to emphasize the right hand lead system with beginners.
I hope that you find my book easy to use and a good resourse for teaching beginners the art of drumming. If I can answer any questions for you, please feel free to e-mail me: dajohnson_band@yahoo.com .
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