BIO
Brian Calhoun is a versatile Professional Drummer and Percussion Educator from Long Island, NY. Brian has an extensive background in both Drum-Set & Marching Percussion. Brian is known for his innovative teaching methods & ability to adapt even the most complex lessons to any students learning style. Brian has had tremendous success teaching both General Education & Special Education students. Brian has numerous history making accomplishments to his credit & is considered one of the top instructors in the world for students with disabilities.
Brian has studied with some of the top drummers in the world, including Dom Famularo, Joe Bergamini, Mike Mangini and Bill Bachman. Brian received a Professional Certificate in Drums from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he studied with Yoron Israel, Rod Morgenstein & Jim Payne.
In 2009 Brian created the first Drum Corps in the world for people with disabilities & ran it for over a decade under the umbrella of a large non-profit. Under his leadership the Corps was featured on every major news network across the nation, went viral multiple times and performed at world class events in stadiums and arenas for the top Marching Arts Organizations (DCI, WGI, DCA, USBands, PASIC).
In 2020 Brian left the Non Profit to start my his own company. Brian built a state of the art teaching and recording studio, where he teaches private Drumset & Marching Percussion students of all ages and levels, throughout the US and Internationally.
In 2021 Brian created a new All Abilities Drumline the "Calhoun Drumline" through his company, the Calhoun Drum Academy that is being turned into a professional documentary film by award winning filmmakers from NYC. In 2024 The Calhoun Drumline went viral on numerous social media platforms, gaining well over 30 million views. The Calhoun Drumline was featured by several major news networks across the US (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX) and internationally. The Calhoun Drumline had their first performance on Long Island, NY in December 2024, it was a HUGE success. The Calhoun Drumline is now preparing for an exciting 2025 Marching Band Season where they will combine with the 300 plus member Farmingdale HS Marching Band.
Since 2004, Brian has been the drummer for "Year of Confession" a Long Island, NY based Metal, Rock, Hardcore Band. YOC can be found on all major social media and streaming platforms. YOC is set to release numerous singles from their upcoming Self Titled Album in 2025.
Brian also provides various services for Schools, Universities, Non-Profits, Events, Bands & Artists and is available to hire as a Drum Teacher, Drumline Instructor, Pro Drummer for Live Gigs, Session Drummer, Education Consultant & Clinician.
Brian proudly endorses Sabian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads and Vic Firth Drumsticks, he is an Artist Educator for all three both brands.
"In 2015 Brian was listed in Dom Famularo's suggested teacher list in MODERN DRUMMER as one of the top Drum Instructors in the country!"
History about Brian...
Brian began his drumming career back in 1990, when he was 9 years old for his elementary school band. In his formative years, Brian received private instruction on the drum set from several local instructors. He was also a member of his school concert band, orchestra, jazz band, marching band and actively participated in NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) for both snare drum and drum set. Brian continued his formal music education in the fall of 2000 by attending Five Towns College in Dix Hills, NY. At Five Towns Brian studied Music Performance, Business and Education. Brian joined his first band at the age of 12. He would spend the next 15 years recording and touring with various bands in several genres from Long Island NY, most notably Metal/Hardcore bands, Year Of Confession (2004-2008, 2013-2015, 2022- ) and Heart Of A Lion (2008-2009). In 2022 Brian re-united with Year Of Confession after a 7 year hiatus. In 2022 Year Confession released Expanded Editions of all their previous releases on all Major Streaming Platforms for the first ever. Brian is currently writing a new album with Year Of Confession and actively playing shows again. For more information visit www.YearOfConfession.com In addition to Brian's formal music education and performance career he has been teaching private drum instruction for over two decades to people of all ages, levels and abilities. Brian also specializes in teaching people with disabilities. Brian has been credited numerous times for being innovative with his approach. He has the ability to adapt and break down complex drum lessons so almost any student can understand and learn the material. Brian has spent over 3 decades studying, performing and recording multiple genres of music to help him master the wide variety of drumming styles associated with each (Metal, Rock, Jazz, Latin/World, Funk, Classical, Marching/Rudimental, Pop, Country, Electronic, Hip Hop/Rap, R&B, Motown and Broadway). Since 2014 Brian has been a proud student of Drumming’s Global Ambassador, world-renown Master Drum Instructor, Dom Famularo. Dom studied under some of the greatest drummers of the 20th century, including Jim Chapin and Joe Morello. With a passion for jazz and inspiring others, he began a successful drum teaching career, becoming one of the most sought-after clinicians of his time. Some of the most successful jazz and rock drummers have had instruction from Dom. In 2022 Brian continued his studies with World-renown Author, Educator and Master Drum Instructor, Joe Bergamini Joe Bergamini is a drummer with an extensive resume of performance and education credits, including over 15 Broadway shows, international tours, clinics. As the Senior Drum Editor for Hudson Music since 2009, Joe has worked closely with many of the world’s greatest drummers, acting as editor on books with Steve Gadd, David Garibaldi, Steve Smith, Liberty DeVitto, Mark Guiliana, Tommy Igoe, Stanton Moore, Todd Sucherman, and many others. He is also the co-owner, with Dom Famularo, of the independent publisher Wizdom Media, with books distributed by Alfred Music. Since 2015, Joe has also been Education Consultant for Sabian, designing and directing the Sabian Education Network for drum teachers. Brian has studied Marching Percussion with Bill Bachman (Cadets, Bluecoats, Blue Knights, and Carolina Crown). Bill is a world-renowned specialist in hand technique with a heavy background in rudimental drumming and its application to the Drumset. Brian studied at Berklee College of Music Online, completing the Drum-Set Professional Certificate Program with. At Berklee Brian studied with the Chair of the Percussion Department and world famous Jazz Drummer, Yoron Israel, world famous Rock Drummer, Rod Morgenstein (Winger/Dixie Dregs) and world famous Funk/R&B Drummer, Jim Payne. Brian has also taken lessons with world re-known drummer and educator, Mike Mangini (Dream Theater, Steve Vai, Extreme, Annihilator and former Professor at Berklee College of Music) Brian considers John Oddo (World Drum Corps Hall of Fame) his mentor. John shared his extensive knowledge and expertise of the marching arts with Brian to help guide, develop and transition him from a Drum Instructor to a Drum & Bugle Corps Director. Brian has developed an innovative and unique level system for his students that includes a course by course curriculum to track progress. Students can earn certificates of achievement for each course they complete. The System is part of his private instruction and can be customized based on each students musical interests and abilities.
Making History and working with People with Disabilities
From 2009-2020 Brian worked for a large Non Profit and was employed as the Senior Music Specialist at their Performance & Creative Arts Center, where he taught Music & Drums to over 200 program participants. It was there that he was inspired to put his two lifelong passions of playing the drums/teaching music and working with people with disabilities together. This ultimately led to Brian to create the World's 1st Drum & Bugle Corps, comprised entirely of people with disabilities. Initially in 2009, Brian started with only five members with sticks and pads, with a dream of one day marching in a parade. Under Brian’s leadership the Drum & Bugle Corps grew tremendously. Over 100 members and 25 Instructional/Support Staff , divided into 4 different sections (Drumline, Color Guard, Front Ensemble, Brass) as well as Drum Major's, joined the Corps while Brian was the Director. Brian has won several awards for his service to people with disabilities on local, state and national levels. In addition to being the Founder & Original Director of the Drum & Bugle Corps, Brian served as the Corps main writer, arranger and composer for over a decade, particularly for the Drumline & Front Ensemble. Brian led the Drum Corps to countless history making performances at World Championship competitions in stadiums and arena’s across the country, most notably at the DCI (Drum Corps International), DCA (Drum Corps Associates) and WGI (Winter Guard International) Percussion and Color Guard World Championships, USBands National Championships, Walt Disney World & the NYC Columbus Day Parade. One of the highlights of Brian's career is leading the Drum Corps to a DrumLine Battle Division Championship at PASIC19 and the 1st ever DCA Grand Championship in 2019. Brian has also assisted groups comprised of people with disabilities by working with their respective directors as an Advisor and Consultant, including Inspiration Drum Line and A Plus Drumline from England, Morgantown Stars and Cornerstone Thunder Special Needs Drumline from the United States and another Drum Corps project currently under development in Japan. Brian has also been credited numerous times for his work with the Drum & Bugle Corps as one of the main inspirations for the creation of various groups/projects featuring people with disabilities throughout the United States, Asia, South America and Europe. For his work with people of all abilities as a Percussion Educator, Professional Drummer and Drum & Bugle Corps Director, Brian has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX TV affiliates across the nation, My9, PIX11, FIOS1, and News 12 Long Island. Brian has also been featured by TIME, USA Today, Newsweek, NowThis, Newsday, FloMarching, Modern Drummer, Halftime and Rhythm Magazine in addition to numerous other publications throughout the US and internationally. . In 2021 Brian served as a member of the PAS (Percussive Arts Society) Diversity Alliance Accessibility Subcommittee. The Diversity Alliance coordinates efforts to develop and foster initiatives aimed at expanding membership diversity and enhancing community outreach, with special emphasis on serving historically marginalized populations within PAS and throughout the world.
Looking to the Future with the "Calhoun Drum Academy"
Brian continues to strive to be as diverse a musician/drummer as possible and is excited to share the knowledge he has gained over the course of his extensive 30 year professional career with people of all ages and abilities. Brian is excited to continue to grow and develop the Calhoun Drum Academy, and has many exciting things in the works for 2025!