About

I started playing drums at the age of 16. My first drum kit was an electric drum kit, which I modded with mesh heads to reduce the acoustic sound from the drums. Very quickly I decided to get lessons from Antero Seppänen. The shock when this man played rim shots was unreal. After witnessing a real drummer play real drums, I saw that the e-kit was no longer an option and I needed an acoustic set.

At the time I was getting into heavier and heavier music, which reflected on my playing a lot. I spent lots of time working on my endurance around double bass and blast beats. I still felt I could use a couple lessons, so Antero recommended Kai Hahto for more detail on metal. I visited Kai in 2014 and then again in 2024, after a 10 year break.

I don't consider myself self-taught. I have had lessons, DVD's, books, and CD's that I've learned from. In addition, many of the drummers I've enjoyed listening to have shared their wisdom after a show. However there was a big 10 year gap between lessons, during which I spent time figuring out things on my own. I believe this is the case for most musicians, at some point or another you gravitate towards finding your own way of playing.