Adam's Page

Adam Westover - Drum Teacher

When I was a kid going to Grandma's house was always great fun because my Uncle Leon played drums and had a kit set up there. I'd bang away as long as they would let me! When I was 10 and the school system offered instrument lessons, I jumped at the chance and began a life long obsession with music and drums. I also took private lessons with local legend Bob Morisson, and I had a great marching band drum instructor by the name of Mike Ferlazzo, who led our drum line to many High Drum Awards at TOB competitions and currently writes for Drum Corps World Magazine. I played in every band I could through high school, earning the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award my senior year (not to mention the Music Merit Badge on my way to Eagle Scout), was involved in 7 musicals, sang in school choir for two years, and even took sax lessons for a year. During the summers of 1988 and 1989 I was accepted as a member of the United States Music Ambassadors, which consisted of a concert band, jazz band and a choir of students from the tri-state area, and toured through Europe. After high school I enlisted in the Army and attended the Army, Navy, Marine Corps School of Music, where I had to take Music Theory classes as well as play in concert, jazz, rock, marching bands and percussion ensembles. I served three years, including a six month tour in the Middle East during the first Gulf War, and then returned to my home town of Montoursville in 1992.

Since then I have played in several bands including Lyonnesse, who won an area Battle of the Bands in 1998, and local rock/dance/party favorite, the Flu Shots. Through the years I have also worked as a Sound/Light/Stage Technician for many other bands/artists(including some big names) in many different venues from bars to theaters and arenas.

When I was approached by the Uptown Music Collective, I was flattered and honored to be considered by the prestigious organization to be added to such a talented group of staff. Now, after being here for a while, I am even more excited about the future and sharing my 29 years of musical experience.