JIM STROMBERG – DRUMS and PERCUSION INSTRUCTOR
My father was a professional drummer and encouraged my brother and me to be involved in music. My brother was interested in playing the guitar and I wanted to study and play the drums. My father bought me a set of drums when I was twelve years old which started my soon to be career.
At the age of 16, my brother and I joined a successful band which made it clear to me that music would be my profession. We have been performing music professionally ever since. My study and practice of music theory has given me the ability to play, write and arrange percussion and drum set music charts for all styles and genre of music. My music studies include older styles of music from the 1920’s to today’s popular music. My music skills and the ability to work in a team (band/orchestra) environment has made it possible for me to tour worldwide (US and Europe) in various bands with varying styles.
At the age of twenty-three I turned my music focus to teaching percussion and drum instruments. I enjoy nurturing students and seeing the spark light up in them, as they turn into accomplished percussionists and drummers!
You can currently find me playing weekly at the Madonna Inn.
Started Playing: Drums at age 13 in Hawaii and quickly joined a Blues Band. Since then, played in secular bands.
Music Training: High School Jazz Band and Concert Band.
Hancock College and Cuesta College: Jazz Band.
Drum Teacher: Mike Ray, owner of Mikes Drum Shop in Santa Barbara CA.
Turing and Performing: In Europe Played at the Montreux Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival. In the USA, various professional venues.
Performed with Jazz Greats: Tom Scott (Joni Michell’s performances and recordings), Ernie Watts (From the Tonight Show Band), Kai Akagi (From Miles Davis’s performances and recordings).
Currently Performing: The band Mini Nova, with members of the Steve Miller Band and WAR. Every Friday night at the Madonna Inn with the Frank Gary Band.
Teaching Music Since nn mm yyyy.
From Internet:
Jim Stromberg‘s love of music started by watching and listening to Rock and Roll on TV while living in England in the mid 60’s. He “muddled around” on the drums for a few years, originally being self taught. Jim learned to read music in high school and started playing in a blues band, then rock bands. His father, who also played drums when he was younger, turned his son on to Buddy Rich, getting into jazz. Jim learned to play big band jazz at Hancock. Today he’s still playing Rock, Latin and Jazz in the local scene, and teaching drums at Coehlo Academy of Music in Santa Maria.
