Mike Tapogna ...Pro Drummer

DW Drums and Zildjian Cymbals

2011-02-01T10:53:00.002-05:00

My current set up is a DW Collecters' Series drumset in Tangerine laquer,,,16X24, 9X13, 16X16 , 16X18 and a 6X14 VLT maple snare drum. Zildjian Cymbals are 15" New Beat HiHats, 18" and 19" K Crashes and a 22" K Custom Ride cymbal. What agreat place to work !!!

2009-10-05T16:58:00.004-04:00

Me and New York Yankee great Bernie Williams tearing it up in Orlando at an MLB Players Association Charity Benefit gig. If you didn't already know, Bernie is a smokin' hot guitarist.

WHAT'S NEW,,,?!??

2008-06-05T22:17:00.013-04:00

I'm excited, I'm going country and loving it. June 5th, 2010 was my first gig with The Highway Junkies from Dayton, Ohio and we're playing a lot all over Southern Ohio. A rockin 4 piece band doing modern to old school country hits. A great group of guys,,,,,see more at facebook/the highway junkies or http://www.thehighwayjunkies.com/ .

Also...I was recently asked to participate in two events that were just fantastic experiences for me. First I hosted 3 music classes at Bowman Elementary School in Lebanon, Ohio while the kids there were learning the percussion family. I brought in my DW kit and Zildjian cymbals and gave a demonstration on what is a drumset and how a drummer might create a rhythm to fit a piece of music. BIG fun for me. I hosted similar classes 2 years ago there and was honored and excited to be asked back. Hopefully I may have inspired a youngster to play the drums. Later in May I was asked to be a guest speaker at "Career Day" at Donovan Elementary School, again in Lebanon, Ohio to explain the ways a person could make a living as a musician. Again BIG fun for me. I'm hoping to be asked again to participate.

Teaching Schedule

2008-05-20T11:13:00.011-04:00

I am happy to be teaching drumset and snare drum at Moeller Music's West Chester location on Moday,Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings. I've been teaching there since November of 2004. Prior to that I have over 15 years of teaching experience at Band Aid Music in Lynnwood, WA. (Seattle) I currently have students paticipating in all types of drumming at various levels. some playing professionally... Several have made Local Honor bands for high school and junior high. I have students in marching bands, concert band and jazz bands all over the Cincinnati area. Way to go to all the guys and girls who are practicing and reaching their goals !!
I accept beginner thru advanced level students. I have currently have a dozens of students playing in their high school and junior high drum lines and jazz bands...and others playing out in their own rock and jazz groups as well. Rudiments, rock, jazz, latin, blues...Whatever your drumming goals and aspirations I can help you get there.

Contact Moeller Music ...(513) 777-7474 or me directly ..(513 288-4943

Mike Tapogna - Bio

2005-10-14T18:06:00.004-04:00

Mike Tapogna...Pro Drummer For Hire...

With over 30 years of continuous playing, performing and studying, my drumming is definitely still a work in progress. I've shared arena stages with big name artists and played "dives" with friends for the love of the music and the love of playing the drums..From my time living in Los Angeles I was fortunate to be invited to play in several .I have drumming credits on several gold and platinum recordings as well as countless local-regional releases and demos that I'm equally as proud of. I have lots of experience over dubbing "live" drums to pre-recorded music as well as playing live to sequencers and click tracks. My background includes rock, funk, blues, country and jazz performances and recording sessions. While in Seattle I appeared on drums in a video for Bob Rivers' Twisted tunes that featured an appearance by none other than Ozzy Osborne. It received extensive play on MTVand VH1.

Some of My Performance and Recording Credits Include:

• Dan Aykroyd Film "Loose Cannons"
• Jermaine and Tito Jackson Projects @ The Ponderosa, Encino, CA
• Clarence Clemons (E Street Band)
• British blues ace Ted Turner (Wishbone Ash)
• Roger Fisher (Heart)
• Major League Baseball Players All-Star Jam Band
• Microsoft
• Seattle Seahawks House Band "MAGIC BUS"
• Kazuo Takeda (JVC-Japan)...( platinum)
• Start (GoNow Records)
• Seattle radio Icon Bob Rivers' Twisted Tunes (Atlantic Records)..(gold)
• ESPN
• Lucas TeleProductions
...Gene Hughes and the Casinos... The SoulCasters....Gary Jeffries and 'Gator Stew....

My drumming has been heard on jingles for Jack in the Box, Burger King, Cal Worthington, PSA Airlines and on the soundtracks for films Loose Cannons, Night Fighters and others. As a founding member of Seattle band SWEET SISTER SAM, we toured for two months as the opening act on Queensryche's Empire tour playing sports arena shows in Canada and the west coast in 1990-91.

I've been fortunate enough to have studied with some great teachers/players including Carmine Appice, Fred Gruber, Jimmy Green, Chad Wackerman, Les DeMerle , Mike Derosier and others.

I've recently relocated back the Cincinnati-Dayton area and I'm currently playing with "THE HIGHWAY JUNKIES " see more at facebook/ the highway junkies......I'm in the studio currently with two members of the Michael Harris Transfusion..Keyboardist Jeff Davis and a seperate project with bassist Jay Luis. . I am also active teaching private and group drumset lessons at Moeller Music in West Chester.. I am available for your recording projects and "sub" work.

Please contact me.. (513) 288-4943 or e-mail.. miketdrummer@aol.com

2005-10-14T07:09:00.000-04:00

MIKE TAPOGNA