René's Drum Studio

Hi all,

It's been awhile!  I don't know how many folks are reading this, but it's just a check in.  I have been very busy doing this teaching, performing, recording, musician for a living thing.  It's tough (insert whine here).  It is possible to make a living doing music, but in order to do so, one must be diverse.  I am that person.  Here's what I do in my purely musical professional life:

Teach drums, Piano, record with others, write songs, direct a Drum Line (huge time commitment), fundraise & grant…

Well, I haven't blogged for awhile.  It's been a crazy year.  I am busier than ever teaching private drum and piano students, directing Rex Putnam's KINGSMEN THUNDER Drum Line (year 6 and going!), and performing in musical theaters for several shows.  I've also had a year that through me for a loop:  I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I am one of the lucky ones though.  It was caught early and very small, NOT in the lymph nodes.  So I had two lumpectomies and radiation treatment and the support of all…

Hey do me a favor will ya?  Email me if you are reading any of these blogs.  Considering opening my own blog site.  Cheers and have a great holiday!

Rene'

So I haven't blogged in awhile.  I've been trying to keep busy.  Let me list the ways I try to make my living as a musician/teacher:

Teaching Drums:  I love teaching all things drums/drumset/all styles and levels to my private students.  Been doing it for over 25 years now.  

Teaching Piano:  I also love teaching piano and have a nice little gaggle of students.  

Teaching Rex Putnam HS Drum Line (KINGSMEN THUNDER):  I'm just starting year 5 and really like the students I have so far.  I usually get…

So, as many of you know who have been with me for over a year, I have not raised my rates for at least 3 years.  I have put this off for several reasons:  

I want to keep it accessible for kids to take drum and piano lessons

I fear folks leaving because they think it's "too high"

I am lazy and just haven't done it

After realizing that I have been a "heck of a deal" for so long, I decided to just do it.  The result has yet to be tallied.  First off, there is no good way for instructors or any business to…

Hello everyone who actually reads this blog.

It's been awhile and I have good reason to be so late in blogging.  I have a good problem:  I'm too busy with my teaching and playing! What is too busy?  Well, so busy that I've actually had to say no to some gigs and that I am starting a waiting list for students.  This is a good problem, but here is the flip side.  Music is always "feast & famine".  One moment you are crazy busy and the next, it seems like no one is calling.  Should I even say that I'm too…

OK, so who remembers back in Feb. 2011 a couple of Marching Snares belonging to Rex Putnam's drum line that I direct getting stolen from my car?  Remember how angry I was and how I got on KGW news and they did a fantastic story?  Also remember how the community came together and donated over $3,000 in funds so we could get new snare drums?  Well.  Shortly after the theft, I stalked Craig's list and located a snare drum at A-1 Pawn in Gresham.  The police retrieved it.  Good job Rene'.  And yes, I WILL pat…

Soooooo yeah.  In the past I never enjoyed musicals.  I just wanted the story without everyone stopping to BURST INTO SONG!  I would literally sit there and get irritated whenever someone just had to sing their feelings instead of saying them in a more dramatic style.  

Well, guess what?  I am doing a total 180 degree on that.  I have, by sort of accident, fallen into the musical world by being hired to perform at several high profile musicals of late.  I've done them in the past.  They were usually…

Hello everyone!  

Just a few words about being busy.  I am right now, about to be very busy and am very thankful for it!  I only have a few openings left for piano or drum students.  Yes.  Really this is no fib.  I have 16 private drum students, 3 up at Oregon Episcopal, and 9 in the Drum Line that I direct at Rex Putnam HS.  I only say that because sometimes I think some teachers say they are truly full in their schedule when they are not.  So yes....I only have a couple openings left and of course…

I wanted to spew about something I have noticed throughout my performing and teacher career that most don't think about.  It's musician karma and the generosity of percussionists and drummers.  I have been the recipient of percussionist "luv" lately.  And it's feels great!  

LET ME JUST SAY PERCUSSIONIST GENEROSITY IS BIG....VERY BIG.  And, yes, I am specifically pointing out drummers because I have also noticed that over the years, drummers have huge hearts and tend to pay it forward.

I was approached by…