MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS

Merritt Partridge
Drums, Percussion, Director Of Education

Merritt Partridge is a freelance musician who has been performing since his teens. He has performed in a broad range of styles including: rock, soul, blues, country, funk, hip-hop, jazz, big band, theater, improv, avant-garde, and classical. Merritt is also an experienced studio producer and recording engineer. His versatility and experience bring a unique perspective and philosophy to his performing and teaching. He has been teaching since 1993.

His influences include Vinnie Colaiuta, John Bonham, Milford Graves, Tony Williams, Art Blakey, Jim Chapin, Kenny Soule, Jason Patterson, Gene Lake, Jabo Starks, Clyde Stubblefield, Buddy Rich, David Garibaldi and Tommy Lee.

Hunter Crews
Drums, Percussion

Hunter attended Drummers Collective in New York City (1994 and 1996). He studied sight-reading, technique, rudiments and various styles under Michael Lauren, Sandy Gennaro and Brad Flickinger. Hunter graduated from the Los Angeles Music Academy in 2001. While attending he studied sight-reading, playing techniques, rudiments, time signatures as well as many different styles including rock, funk, jazz, blues and latin under Ralph Humphrey, Joe Pocaro, Mike Shapiro and Michael Packer. Hunter has played in many bands including Omicron, Severed Existence, Individually Twisted, The Bookem’ Dano’s, Crucible of the Damned.

His influences include John Bonham, Bill Ward, Dave Lombardo, Tommy Aldridge, Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland and Gene Hoglan.

Kevin Rader-Rhodenbaugh
Drums, Timpani, Marimba, Percussion

Kevin took his first drum lesson with revered percussionist, Karl Gilbert, in 1980 at the age of 11. Six months later he boldly announced to the world, "I am going to college to study music". During the following 6 years, he held on to that dream, which eventually culminated in his acceptance to the Ball State University School of Music as a student of renowned tympanist Dr. Erwin C. Mueller. Kevin flourished as a collegiate percussionist and, in addition to his involvement in all of the top collegiate ensembles, became a frequent performer with many of the semi-professional orchestras in central Indiana. It was also during this time that Kevin co-founded the band Neurotic Box, which eventually signed a publishing/development contract with Interscope Music. He later left the band to accept a scholarship at Miami University where he would study under Dr. William Albin and become an award winning solo marimbist. Upon leaving Ohio, Kevin spent 3 years performing and recording as a rock drummer in Washington, DC. In 2003, He and his wife Marcey moved to the Raleigh, NC area where he began teaching privately.

Andrew Munger
Drums, Djembe, Vibraphone, Marimba, Percussion

Andrew Munger is a professional Percussionist, Composer, and Educator living and teaching in the Raleigh Area. After graduating from the Atlanta Institute of Music, Andrew moved to Raleigh and joined the Raleigh and Durham Symphony Orchestras as prinipal percussionist. Since then, he has played with a number of Rock, Jazz, and "World Music" groups. His teaching approach is founded on an "old-school" focus on basic techniques, tempered by a "real-world" understanding of what it takes to be a professional performer in today's music market. For more information about Andrew and his musical projects, visit www.rhythm-art.com.

Abdala Saghir (Habla Espańol)
Drums, Conga, Timbale, Percussion

Abdala Saghir has been teaching drums and percussion since 1998.  His approach to education is straightforward, fun and exciting.  Abdala is well known for his high level of ability in various styles including rock, Latin and Afro-Cuban drum set techniques as well as timbales, congas and other percussion instruments.  In addition to being a great teacher, Abdala is a prolific performer and recording artist.

His influences include Steve Gadd, Tito Puente, Lars Ulrich, Richie "Gajate" Garcia, Patato and Tim Froncek.

Randy Evans
Guitar, Bass

Randy began playing guitar in 1968 in Washington, D.C. and 6 months afterwards started performing in school programs and with other local musicians. He later attended Montgomery Community College in Rockville, MD where he majored in General Music. In 1983 he relocated to Durham, NC where he continued studying with notable local musicians including Brother Yusuf Saleem. In 1987 Randy Began teaching while performing with reggae and World Music artists Mickey Mills & Steel and Charlotte-based MidLand. He also co-founded jazz quintet Shadze (1992-1998) and two other acts-Nostalja and Lejendz-both R&B oldies groups, as well as played and recorded on numerous other projects.

In 2006 Randy was accepted to study under jazz master and columnist Howard Morgen. Among Randy's influences are: Jimmy Reed, Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Nolen (James Brown), Steve Cropper, George Benson, Jimi Hendrix and any Classic Rock and Classic Funk, Carlos Santana, and Larry Carlton.

Tim Pemberton
Guitar, Bass

Bio Coming Soon!

Mary Paul Thomas
Piano

Mary Paul has been playing piano since age 7 when she began study with a Juilliard-trained teacher in the small town of Fuquay-Varina. Upon attending UNC-Chapel Hill, she continued the study of classical piano in their music department for a total of 13 years. As an adult Mary Paul returned to musical pursuits and broadened her experience through cataloging music for the Meredith College music library, discovering jazz transcriptions as well as composers she had overlooked. She plays occasionally for weddings and private events as well as teaching children and adults. Mary Paul is now available here for beginner to advanced piano lessons.

Dave Adams
Rock Keyboards, Rock Voice, Songwriting

Dave Adams has had over 32 years in the music business as a singer-songriter, record producer and keyboardist/guitarist.

His career started off in the mid 70’s when he joined up with a locally popular club band “Glass Moon”. The band toured the East Coast extensively from ’75 to ’79.

The original band broke up in 1979 but Dave re-formed the band and secured a record deal. Glassmoon went on to record 2 albums at the famous NYC studio Electric Lady.

The 2nd of these recordings yielded a top 40 hit in 1981 called “On a Carousel” and went to #1 in Puerto Rico of all places.

The 3rd Glassmoon album was recorded in Bath, UK with famed Peter Gabriel producer David Lord and was released in 1984 on MCA records. Dave wrote all the songs and co-produced this album called “Sympathetic Vibration”.

By 1986 Dave had secured a solo record deal with Elektra Records and recorded a solo album in London.

In 1993 Dave returned to the US after living in London and joined the staff of Rednote Audio in Raleigh as a composer of original music for film, TV, radio and more recently, computer games.

Dave currently plays local club gigs with his 80’s cover band “Suicide Blonde” and will be doing keyboard and voice lessons, songwriting workshops and recording / production workshops in the near future with 2112 Rock School.