Steve Davis (American Drummer) - Educator

Educator

Every year Steve teaches as a faculty member of the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Summer Schools in the US and the Jazzwise Summer Schools in the UK. His teaching method is one that encourages the creativity of the pupil in developing his or her own methods of practice, rather than relying on books. He lists Ted Reed's Syncopation and G.L. Stone's Stick Control as the only books any drummer should need. He places a strong emphasis on knowing the melody and form for as many tunes as possible, and tries to approach any exercise from a musical standpoint. He has played on more Jamey Aebersold play-along records than any other drummer, and has written many transcription books of his playing on these records, 4 of which are readily available and are published by Jamey Aebersold:

• Jazz Drummers: Masters of Time
• Maiden Voyage
• Killer Joe
• Standard Time

Since first moving to New York in the early 80's, Steve has moved around a lot and has at one time in his life, served on the faculty of the following institutions, either as a full-time faculty member, or as a visiting artist in residence:

• Triton College in Chicago
• Webster University in St. Louis
• Berlin Conservatory of Music as Professor of Jazz Studies
• Indiana University
• University of South Florida School of Music