Parnell Drum Studio
Professional Drum Tuition in Auckland New Zealand
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Music Teacher and Studio Manager Stephen Galvin LTCL BMus BA MMus [Hons.] Dip. Tchg. is a multi-instrumentalist who teaches Contemporary, World Music and Jazz, bass, drums, guitar, music-reading, music theory, and singing. Based in Parnell, close to the Auckland city centre, he is an experienced, qualified and registered teacher.
He grew up in a musical household with two brothers playing drums and guitar, and a sister who played bass. His early influences include music in church, local musicians Billy and Paul Iota, Graham Potter, Geoffrey Aitken, Bruce McDonald and David Gurr, and later hearing the Sons and Lovers Band at Wellington's Ali Babas nightclub and David Feehan's Tapestry band, while on records listening to international blues artists such as John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, and other recording musicians such as Jimi Hendrix (Mitch Mitchell), Pink Floyd (Nick Mason), Yes (Bill Bruford) classic jazz artists Miles Davis (Billy Cobham), Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dave Brubeck (Joe Morello), Stanley Turrentine, ECM records and others. Stephen credits the hours he spent jamming with friends in basements, school halls and dorm rooms, exploring and creating music. Aged seventeen he toured with Bruce Aitken in the classic rock band Gratis Kinetic. At aged twenty he began piano studies and musical arrangement with a focus on the music of Henry Mancini while drawing inspiration from musical artists such as Miles Davis and Billie Holiday. He began teaching music in 1981 at the New Zealand Guitar Academy teaching courses in Lead and Rhythm. He established his own studio in 1984 and has taught thousands of Aucklanders several instruments in many styles, including jazz, pop, rock, country, orchestral, European classical and gospel. Some of his ex-students are now teachers themselves. Stephen has performed in musical theatre productions of West Side Story, Chess, The Pyjama Game, Rock Nativity, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago and others. He wrote two musicals for the stage, and played several seasons with The Auckland Concert Orchestra. He has performed with many of Auckland's top musicians and in bands such as Clearlight, Crystal Silence, Gratis Kinetic, Neon Quaver, Opinion, Prohibition Big Band, Rewind, and Sounds of Motown in countless gigs and recording sessions spanning four decades. Stephen leads several bands each with a different style; The Residentz with Neil Stewart and Benedict Hagar (Guitar Trio), world music band Parnazz and the Stevie G Band (with students). He sings, plays guitar, bass and drums and programs using Cubase. He has performed with Santiago, Isaiah B Brunt, the West City Jazz Orchestra, The Astronauts, Prohibition Big Band, the musical Chicago, and others. He also teaches guitar, singing, bass and drums in four Auckland secondary schools. Stephen has recorded an album of New Zealand jazz in 2021 Modal Behaviour and available at https://www.abcstudioz.com/. His latest project is the Jazz for Gaza album (unreleased). "My approach to teaching is simple: to share the joy of making music with as many people as possible as often as possible".
Stephen Galvin holds a Performer's Diploma from Trinity College London, Bachelor of Music and Arts degrees, a Master of Music degree with First Class Honours, and a Diploma in Teaching from the University of Auckland.
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