Education/Performing Experience
Jeff W. Johnson is extremely active as a performer, author, educator, and clinician. He has an extensive musical background, having studied classical percussion under Robert Nowak, drumset with Steve Fidyk, and hand technique with the legendary Joe Morello. His formal education includes Wilkes University, Capital University Conservatory of Music, and Drummers Collective.
Jeff has extensive performing experience. He has toured with the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, performing in concert halls and jazz festivals throughout the United States. He served as the house drummer for Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, for over 10 years. He also performed at special events in Williamsburg and Las Vegas for Busch Entertainment Corporation. He has worked for Carnival Cruise Lines as a show band drummer, performing on the MS Fantasy and MS Fascination. At Carnival, Jeff played Broadway- and Vegas-style shows and backed various singers, comedians, and variety acts. He also performed with the Washington, DC–based jazz big band, Swing Machine. With that ensemble, he backed notable artists such as trumpet legend Wayne Bergeron, America’s Got Talent winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., and the lead vocalists from the Temptations, Drifters, and Platters. He recorded Swing Machine’s first CD, Mid-Life Crisis. Jeff also played on albums by vocalist Jason Paul Curtis.
Writing/Published works
Jeff’s first book, The Level System (Alfred Publishing), was runner-up in Drum! magazine’s Drummies Awards for Best Drum Book of the Year. He has also written technique articles for Modern Drummer magazine. Jeff reviews drum books for the Percussive Notes journal as well as Rhythm! Scene magazine. He has also contributed blog posts to the RTOM website.
Jeff Johnson officially endorses Vic Firth sticks, mallets, and accessories. He is also an endorser for Sabian cymbals. For more information, please visit www.johnsondrum.com.
Teaching Experience
Jeff is very active in education, being a member of the Vic Firth Private Drum Teachers Program, Sabian Education Network, and the Percussive Arts Society. In his teaching practice, Johnson Drum Instruction, Jeff instructs both in-person students from Richmond, Virginia, and online students worldwide. Dom Famularo and Modern Drummer recognized Jeff on a list of drum teachers from around the world who offer “top-notch instruction”.
Jeff has conducted clinics and workshops in public and private schools. He was also on faculty at various jazz camps, where he instructed students and conducted percussion ensembles. He designed and taught the Introduction to Drumming class for the University of Richmond’s School of Continuing Studies. For more information about drum lessons, please visit Jeff’s website www.johnsondrum.com
