Drums & Percussion Faculty
Brian Randall
Brian earned his Bachelors in Jazz Percussion Performance with a focus on vibraphone and world/multi-percussion from Cleveland State University. Brian’s mentors and private instructors include Cleveland Orchestra percussionist Tom Sherwood, Chicago Symphony principal percussionist Ted Atkatz, and esteemed performers such as drummer Sammy K and jazz vibraphonist Jake Chapman.
As a music instructor, Brian combines foundational techniques with personalized curriculum tailored to each student’s goals and aspirations. He began teaching privately and in group settings during his middle and high school years.
Throughout his ten years of performing Brian has explored a wide range of genres, including jazz, fusion, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, metal, rock, pop, funk, hip-hop, marching, musical theater, and classical. In high school, he was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. He frequents Blu Jazz and The Bop Stop and appears on live and studio releases.
David Shaffer
David earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in percussion performance at California Institute of the Arts. While there, he studied classical percussion and many non-Western music systems that CalArts is renowned for, including African, Indian, and Indonesian music.
David has been teaching for over 25 years in areas including drum set, classical percussion, marching band, and various non-western instruments. He tailors his teaching to each student, as not everyone will learn the same way. Some students like to start with reading notation, and some would rather learn by ear; A combination of these methods has proven to be successful in his teaching studio.
David has performed and recorded drum set across the US and Europe with various jazz and rock ensembles, including Wadada Leo Smith, Larry Karush, Nels and Alex Cline, the renowned Big Apple Circus, and Curb Records artist FEEL. Percussion credits include a rare performance by the CalArts Percussion Ensemble in 1989 of George Antheil’s music score for Fernand Leger’s film Ballet Mechanique, as well as performances and recordings with Tricky Sankaran and Brad Dutz.
PAUL STRANAHAN
Paul Stranahan has been performing and teaching professionally for over 30 years. He earned his bachelor’s in commercial arts with a focus on percussion from Capital University. Paul teaches drum set, snare drum, and mallet instruments. He stresses not just the importance of practice, but how to practice, which can be applied to all aspects of learning.
Paul has proven extremely eclectic, playing in various types of bands including rock, blues, funk, jazz, big band, fusion, metal, reggae, country, orchestral, punk, gospel, and Latin. He has led his own groups such as the modern jazz Paul Stranahan Trio, the Avant/fusion band PSI Paul Stranahan's Insomnia, and he currently co-leads with Tim Mirth the experimental group Night Terrors. Abstract Logix, a progressive instrumental magazine, said of Paul, "As a drummer leading an ensemble with self-penned compositions, Paul is occupying a mantle that few can approach." A career highlight for Paul was when his trio Red Side Visible (an Avant/metal group that Paul plays drums in and composes for) was one of four American bands out of hundreds of applicants that were selected to perform in Belfort, France at Festival International de Musique Universitaire (FIMU). He also has a double CD release titled Gong and Singing Bowl Improvisations on the Infinite Number of Sounds Label, as well as a newer self-release solo recording, Journey to Planet Gong.
Nathan Vendel
Nathan earned his Bachelor’s in Percussion Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music where he studied with members of the Boston Symphony percussion section, Matt Mckay, Dan Bauch, and Will Hudgins. He earned his Master’s in Percussion Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he studied with John Tafoya and Joseph Gramley. Along with a passion for classical percussion and timpani playing, Nathan has also spent much time studying drum set and hand drumming.
Nathan has performed with many esteemed orchestras and other ensembles including the New England Philharmonic, Mobius Percussion Ensemble, the Indiana University New Music Ensemble, and the Akron Symphony. Nathan taught one-on-one lessons and coached larger groups for the Pana Percussion Institute in Medina, and worked as a substitute percussion instructor and advisor for the New England Conservatory prep school.