Drums
Tommy McMillian got his start playing drums when he was 7 years old, when he climbed into the kitchen cabinets and started banging on pots and pans. This humble beginning led to his parents to buying him a drum set, then to Tommy joining the drum team in middle school. In high school he became a part of the drumline in the marching band, in addition to participating in the Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Winter Percussion Ensembles. During this time he developed his skills in playing marching snare drum, drumset, marimba, and concert percussion instruments.
After graduating from Rangeview High School, Tommy volunteered for a year as the drumline teacher. The following year, he became a paid percussion instructor, leading the group to win several competitions. During this time, Tommy also attended the Community College of Aurora, studying studied Music, Business, and Film. His studies led him to attend the Recording Workshop - School of Audio and Music Production in Ohio, where he earned his certification in Music Production and Audio Engineering.
All of these experiences inspired Tommy to start his own record label and publishing company, Vibrato Music Group Inc., giving him the freedom to be a session drummer, songwriter, and record producer. Working with talented musicians every day has been the highlight of his career.
Tommy's goal as a teacher is to help students go from beginners to professionals, helping them to reach their fullest potential - not just in drumming but in life. The skills he teaches his students are tools that they can apply to anything they choose to do in life, and he shows them that through hard work and dedication to their craft, they can achieve anything. Tommy helps his students learn is by providing visual and audio examples, then demonstrating the real-world application of those examples. His students learn in a variety of ways, including muscle memory exercises, practicing playing at different tempos, and playing along with examples.