MUSICIAN
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One of many sequences learned after a week or so on the keyboard, also included was a Beethoven piece.
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As a musician, Derek was a very noted progressive/ experimental drummer as well as a self-taught musician capable of some guitar, keyboard, bass playing and composing full songs including all production/ engineering aspects. He has performed on T.V. and at The Burlington Sound Of Music's main stage opening for Blue Rodeo's, Jim Cuddy, with the band Park Row.
Primarily in the 90's he played large bar venues with two different bands as their drummer/ co-writer of all material musically, in some instances out-doing attendance by bands such as Lee Aaron playing complex music such as Rush after only 6 months. Also during that time he delved into industrial music which was still very new. He would work wonders with the recording equipment and impress other engineers/ artists and later produce/ engineer and mix local bands. Over the years he has sold his music and had legitimate radio-play, this including a driving hip-hop song from 2002, another form he delved into years back when this form of music was new in the 80's. In high school he dj'd, rapped in a 'stay in school' ad played at local malls. At 16 in connection with the sprinter Ben Johnson, he wrote/ recorded a solid rap regarding the sprinter and the '88 Olympics to solid review. After many years away from drumming in 2005, Derek was asked to teach a student for awhile who had already vast knowledge. It was a nice experience. (More to come.) "Derek was a good teacher, running the gamut with me. I wanted to learn more and did." - Roger, previous student at Avalon School/ English military drummer. |
