C h r i s * M a t t o o n
Drummer - Percussionist - Instructor
Biography
Chris Mattoon is in demand both locally and regionally as a drummer and percussionist. He has recently been seen playing with Donna McKechnie at the Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington, MA, and with a host of Broadway Stars at Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, MA. Additionally, Chris is the on-call drummer for many local artists including Jack Waldheim, Mary Verdi, and Tony Lee Thomas. The premier educator in Berkshire County, Chris maintains a healthy student roster of up to 45 students weekly at Wood Brothers Music, the areas largest music store. Chris is fluent in many playing styles, can sight read and write proper score, and has experience with many groups from symphonies to small club bands.
Education
Orchestral and Rudimental Technique
Drum Set Technique
Private lessons with studio legend Bernard “Pretty” Purdie - December 2003 to 2008.
Studying Latin-based drum set patterns with Bob Weiner, player and published author - Spring 2006
Private lessons with Joseph Platz, a percussionist in the Pioneer Valley - Spring 2006
Private lessons with local drummer Pete Sweeny, player and published author - Summer 2000
Private lessons with drummer Max Mattoon, established studio drummer and student of Kenny Arnoff, Max Roach and Cifford Jarvis - December 1993 to 2009
A Sign Before - 2004 to 2010
Drummer with local Hard Rock Group A SIGN BEFORE.
Recorded 17 tracks of original material on debut album, “Reality Exists”.
Playing and promoting through Massachusetts.
Jack Waldheim Group - 2005 to Present
Recorded debut album with Jack Waldheim Group, 12 tracks of original material.
Playing with the Jack Waldheim Group on numerous occasions throughout Berkshire county.
No One’s Kind - 2003 - 2004
Drummer for No One’s Kind, an original Boston-based Hard Rock Band.
Played and promoted through out Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Private Drum Set Instructor - 2000 to Present
Teaching Several students through out the Berkshire county area, as well as full time drum set instructor at Wood Brothers Music, Pittsfield, MA.
Young Musician’s Workshop - 2002 to Present
Co-Director and Head of the Drum Department for Rock On! Band Camp.
Additionally:
Drum set collector and restorer.
A Bachelors Degree in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Third Degree Black Belt in Uechi-Ryu and assistant instructor at the Okinawan Karate School, Pittsfield, MA.
Member Since 2007
Member Since 2008
Vic Firth Endorser - www.vicfirth.com