Drum & Percussion Lessons
Chris Combs
Chris is a proud endorser of Pearl Drums and Adams Percussion. He began playing the drums at the age of 8 and spent hours playing along to his favorite recordings. In high school he played in every band that was available but gravitated most toward jazz ensemble and “Pep” band where he won several awards including best soloist and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. He studied drum set through high school and college with John Lindsay (North Texas, Berkley), and Henrique De Alamedia (Berkley Prof.), in addition to master classes with Zoro (Lenny Kravitz) and Charlie Morgan (Elton John). Chris has been a full-time drumset artist, teacher, studio musician and clinician since 2001. In that time, he has stayed very busy with multiple projects, most notably Charlie Milo Trio, Tango Red Tapestry, Loverleigh, The Foxhole Prayers,
Lee43 and Laymen’s Terms. He was voted among the best of the Colorado Springs drummers by the readers of the CS Independent (2011), and played in three best of bands (Charlie Milo Trio 2011, 2012, Tango Red Tapestry 2011, Leer43 2005). Teaching is the most rewarding career anyone can have. When a student becomes proficient at their instrument or art, you can see the results of your effort and time reflected in them.
Toni Austin-Allen
onesacredstar@gmail.com
www.onesacredstar.com
Toni Austin-Allen has her Bachelors of Music degree in Piano Performance from Louisiana State University and pursued her graduate studies in Piano Pedagogy at University of Texas in Austin. She is a certified Health RHYTHMS facilitator and a professional drum circle facilitator. Toni studied hand drumming with Craig Woodson, founder of Roots of Rhythm, Jeff Sussman in Santa Fe and Alexandra Jai, founder of Rhythm Bliss. She is a member of the Drum Circle Facilitation Guild. She has brought drum circles and drum lessons to a variety of venues such as libraries, boys and girls clubs, yoga studios, meditation centers, art galleries, home events and much more.
Toni provides hand drum lessons to enhance rhythmic understanding and introduces beginning students to basic strokes and knowledge of various drums from different countries be it djembe, middle eastern frame drums, bongos, cajon, etc.… She guides her students to helping to build confidence in those who want to join drum circles, play with friends or simply play for fun on their own. Toni hosts drumming events to cultivate community and bring fun and connection to all who attend. Her goal is to share her artistic passions in order to bring more accessibility to music and share a sense of joy and well-being with others.