ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Born in 1980 into a musical family in Athens, Georgia, Keio Stroud started playing drums and performing at an early age. After studying at the University of West Georgia, Stroud moved to Nashville in 2000 and soon became and in- demand drummer for recording sessions, touring, and television performances.
Currently touring with Big and Rich and playing sessions in Nashville, Stroud has had an impressive and diverse career drumming for some of Nashville’s most successful and well-respected artists, producers and musicians;
Rodney Crowell, Richard Marx, Jake Owen, Deana Carter, Little Big Town, Hank Williams Jr, Emmylou Harris, Keith Urban, Roseanne Cash, Lee Brice, Taj Mahal, Nashville Star, Jason Aldean, , Tommy Simms, Kip Moore, Buddy Miller, Keb’ Mo’, Randy Houser, Guy Clark, The Randy Rogers Band, Jamie O’Neal, Leroy Parnell, Stoney LaRue, Peter Collins, Chely Wright, Booker T. Jones, Florida Georgia Line, and others…including 2018 Grammy winning TajMo Album.
ABOUT THE CLINIC: What it takes: Defining and exploring the skills and qualities of the successful modern drummer.
My presentation will explore and highlight the most essential skills and characteristics a drummer should possess in order to succeed and flourish at the professional level. During the lecture portion of the program, I will outline and define the role of a professional drummer, explain the attributes one must have and how to apply them, and a provide guide for strength and weakness assessment and developing personal presentation/growth.
Utilizing performance, I will demonstrate the more nuanced and advanced concepts of musical flexibility/adaptability, listening and exercising restraint by playing examples from my own professional experience. This section’s goal will be to highlight and stress the importance of understanding the fluctuating conditions of “what it takes” to serve the client’s needs in the varied landscape of today’s musical environment.