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Where did you go to school?
I am a junior at Belmont University majoring in Commercial Music Percussion with an emphasis in Performance.
How long have you been playing?
I have been playing for 10 years. I got my first drum set for Christmas when I was ten years old and this past Christmas was my ten-year anniversary.[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]
Drummer Kayleigh MoyerLocated in Nashville, TN, USA
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Setup/Gear/Manufacturer of Instruments:
I have a maple 6-piece Drum Workshop Collector’s Series drum kit in a silver sparkle finish with 9000 series hardware. I also have a Tama Starclassic drum kit in a Diamond Dust finish. I use DW 9000 series pedals or my Mapex Falcon pedal depending on the situation. I have a mixture of brands for cymbals that includes Sabian, Zildjian, Diril, Dream, and Wuhan. My snare drum collection consists of mostly Drum Workshop and Slingerland drums.
I sing and often get work singing background vocals while playing drum set.
Why did you begin studying music?
My mom is a big fan of Rush so I grew up listening to Neil Peart’s drumming. One day during the summer before 5th grade I went with my dad to a party at his friend’s house. Since it was mostly adults at the party, I was really bored and started playing around on a drum set I found in the barn. Things started clicking and I realized that drumming felt very natural to me. I joined the 5th grade band that fall and I got my first drum set that Christmas.
What are you doing with music right now?
I am studying music in college as well as playing as much as possible. I play with several groups and artists in and around Nashville, record as much as I can, and make lots of YouTube videos in a duet I’m in called the Khromatiks.
Who are some of your influences?
Neil Peart, Chester Thompson, Phil Collins, Art Blakey, Buddy Rich, Zoro, Eddie Bayers, Larrie Londin, and John Blackwell are some of my biggest influences. I admire their playing, musicianship, and musical choices.
Who do you/have you studied with?
I have studied with Chester Thompson, Zoro, Eric Schmitz, John Bletch, and Todd London.
What do you plan on doing with music in the future?
I want to play with many different artists and do a combination of live performances/touring and session work. I would also like to see myself fit in some songwriting and producing. I want to fill my future with as many things that keep me drumming and involved with music as I can.
What are your thoughts on what it takes to become a successful performer?
I think that it takes a combination of preparedness, professionalism, and passion to be successful as a performer. If you get a list of tunes to learn in advance for a gig, make sure you prepare by learning the tunes and charting them out if necessary. If you aren’t given a set-list, try to be as fluent in the style of music you will be playing as you can and listen to music of that genre to prepare. Finally, having a passion for what you do and the music you play is essential for being a successful performer. It will come through in your stage presence and in your playing, as well as draw people into the songs you play and emotions you are trying to convey through your music.
Good listening skills and reading skills are just as important as your ability to play your instrument well. By listening to the other players you are working with, you can have a whole musical conversation during the songs and greatly improve your comping and accompanying with artists. Listening can also help you to decide when to add fills and stand out as well as when to lie back and blend. Being able to read music and different kinds of charts will make you more marketable and help you get gigs, especially if you want to do studio work.
What is your advice to an up and coming musician?
Put yourself in as many uncomfortable music situations as possible. By this I mean sit in with musicians you’ve never played with before or try learning about a new genre of music you’ve never played before. Forcing yourself into these situations can only help you grow as a musician by improving your listening skills, stage presence, reading skills, and confidence.
New releases and projects coming up:
I’m recording drum tracks for Wes Harllee, an artist I work with in Nashville, for his album that is set to be done later this year. I also recorded drums on tracks for Luke Caccetta, another artist in Nashville, that is set to be released in April. I recorded drum set and percussion tracks for Nathanael Meda, a Christian artist, on his new album Solo Contigo that was just released onto Itunes.
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