Ted Sirota - Percussion
Ted "The Teacher"
I have been playing the drums for 32 years. Like many people, I started playing the drums in my school band and continued on through high school. Around the age of fifteen, I was fortunate enough to hear the legendary jazz drummer Max Roach play with his band at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago. This was one of many key experiences that lead to my decision to pursue a career in music.
In 1987 I left Chicago to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. While in Boston I had the great fortune to study with two Boston drum legends that left a lasting impression on me - Alan Dawson and Joe Hunt. I graduated Magna Cum Laude (much to my parents’ satisfaction) from Berklee in 1991. I stayed in Boston for another year and racked up some experience playing in the local Reggae, Jazz and Blues scenes.
Ted "The Performer"
I have performed with such musical luminaries as Lalah Hathaway, Von Freeman, Greg Osby, Frank Kimbrough, Ted Nash, Ben Allison, Ralph Alessi, Drew Gress, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Bobby Broom, Jeff Parker, Roy Hargrove, Joshua Redman, Mark Turner, Chris Cheek, Seamus Blake , Jorge Rossy, Antonio Hart, Danilo Perez, Geof Keezer, Dwayne Burno, Rob Mazurek, Patricia Barber, Kurt Elling, Phil Upchurch, Eddie Kirkland, Johnny Adams, Dave Spector, Little Smokey Smothers, and Pinetop Perkins - to name (drop) a few.
I might be most recognized for holding down the drum chair with the Sabertooth Jazz Quartet for sixteen years and counting. Sabertooth holds one of Chicago’s longest running jazz gigs, playing at the legendary Green Mill Lounge every Saturday night since 1992. With Sabertooth I’ve had the opportunity to jam with a number of great musicians including, Harry Connick Jr., Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, Joey DeFrancesco, and others.
Ted "The Band Leader"
I formed my own band, Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls, in 1996. Over the years the band has included a number of stellar young musicians including Jeff Parker, Rob Mazurek, Noel Kupersmith, Kevin Kizer, Josh Abrams, and Jeb Bishop. The band has recorded five CD’s for both the Naim Jazz (UK) and Delmark labels, and has toured in the U.S. and Europe. My band is unique in that I combine revolutionary politics with creative instrumental music. I want our music to be part of the struggle for liberation and freedom throughout the world, and not just “art for art’s sake.”The band ‘s latest CD is entitled “Seize the Time” and features Geof Bradfield on tenor saxophone, Greg Ward on alto saxophone, Dave Miller on guitar, and bassist Jake Vinsel. Mark Corroto of All About Jazz writes “The current roster contains musicians to keep an eye on, as the music is both top rate and engaging.” Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls have performed twice at the Chicago Jazz Festival – once in 2004, and most recently on the Petrillo Band Shell this past August 2010.
Ted "The Philosopher"
I have been teaching drum lessons for twenty years. I believe first and foremost that learning music should be fun and exciting. After all, when we speak about it, we say that "we play music", not "we work music". How many people have you heard say "well, I used to play piano" or "I used to play violin" etc. I find that there are too many music teachers in this world that effectively drain the fun out of learning music. This quite often leads to students losing interest in their musical studies and abandoning their original goals and aspirations. I try to keep the lessons fun by relating to my students' personal interests, musical tastes and ambitions, but at the same time introducing them to new concepts and new musical experiences. As a Jazz musician who spends much of his time improvising, I understand that music is and should be a creative endeavor. I try to help my students tap into their own creative reservoirs.
Unfortunately, learning music cannot be all fun however. In order to be a great musician it does take a lot of hard work and discipline, just like any other endeavor in life. If you want to do it well you have to practice. I try to help my students strike that delicate balance between work and play. It's very important that the student learns the fundamentals of playing their instrument. I liken it to building a house. You need to dig into the ground and build a solid foundation before you can start building upward. If you don't have a solid foundation your house will end up...well use your imagination.
Playing the drum set is unique in that we are dealing with four-way coordination. Most people that have tried playing the drums will tell you that it's not as easy as it looks! However, with a little patience and a little bit of hard work, most students will be grooving along with other musicians or with one of their favorite band's CD's in no time!
Ted "The Father"
I have lived in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago for the past sixteen years. I love the cultural diversity of Rogers Park. Most of my adult life has been dedicated to raising my two daughters. Taima is seventeen and a junior at Whitney Young High School in Chicago. She is a great singer/guitarist, and an all around cool kid. Saifya is twelve and attends Taft High School in Chicago. Safiya is a great singer/piano player and the sweetest person you’ll ever meet.
To learn more about Ted, visit his website:
tedsirota.com
Please contact The Musical Offering to learn more about private lessons with Ted.