PERCUSSION FACULTY
As professional drummers and teachers, our drum instructors have experience in a broad spectrum of musical styles. Lessons are tailored to fit the level and unique needs of each individual student in a fun and inspirational environment.
Chris Kenney
PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR
Chris Kenney is a Chicago Area musician/educator specializing in percussion. Since graduating from NIU in 2020 with a B.M. in Percussion Performance, Chris has taught private lessons around the Chicagoland area and works as the frontline percussion instructor at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, IL. Chris currently plays drums for the Chicago based band GECHO and is the sole member of his solo project Little Library.
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While at NIU, Chris was involved with many ensembles, including the NIU Steelband, NIU Percussion Ensemble, NIU Latin Jazz Ensemble, NIU Wind Ensemble, and NIU Wind Symphony. Chris has experience with mallet percussion, snare drum, drumset, Latin percussion, and steelpan (bass pan, double seconds). In addition to his percussion experience, Chris regularly plays guitar, bass guitar, and piano in musical projects.
Tony Erazmus
PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR (ONLINE)
Tony Erazmus has been a percussionist in Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri and Arizona for the last thirty years and has spent the last twenty years teaching in these states. He received his bachelor's degree in percussion performance from SIU-C in 2003 and his master's degree in percussion performance from EIU in 2006. Since this time, he has taught college, high school (band, drumline, steel drums and percussion ensemble), junior high (band, drum and fife and percussion ensemble), grade school (general music) and private students between the ages of 5-60. He has helped his students prepare for college auditions, solo and ensemble contests, chair auditions, DCI auditions as well as other performances.
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Mr. Erazmus has also been active as a performing musician. During this time he has performed multiple styles including: rock, jazz, calypso, blues, concert band, ragtime, Latin, and classical. He has toured throughout the United States and Canada. He also has performed on multiple instruments including steel drum, marimba, vibraphone, Latin percussion, drum set, concert percussion, piano and bass.