The featured artist is Rich Thompson.

Rich Thompson freelances out of Rochester and New York City. After receiving a Masters degree from the Eastman School of Music in May of 1984 in Jazz performance, Rich toured Japan and the U.S. with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He has since toured and/or performed with names such as: The Count Basie Orchestra, Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, The Buck Clayton Orchestra, and played President Clinton’s 1997 inaugural with the Basie Band featuring Stevie Wonder. He has also toured the U.S. and Canada for the past 10 years as a guest artist for various jazz and pops concerts with numerous orchestras including the Baltimore, Seattle, Nashville, Detroit, Vancouver, and Toronto Symphonies.

Rich has made numerous guest appearances at high schools and colleges in the U.S., France, and Canada as a performer, clinician, and adjudicator. In 1996 Rich joined the Eastman School of Music as Associate Professor and has taught summer jazz workshops there since 1985. Under his guidance “Drum Set Day” was instituted, an opportunity for young drummers to attend Eastman for a one day course in drumming and rhythm section performing each July. In addition, Rich serves as artist in residence at the Birch Creek Music Center in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin every summer, where he received the Woody Herman Award for inspirational teaching and musicianship.

Rich’s recording credits include: The Count Basie Orchestra, James Williams, Harold Danko, Marian McPortland, Clay Jenkins, the Eastman Faculty Trio/Quartet and Trio East. His most recent CDs include Trio East’s “Stop-Start” (Sons of Sound), Rich Perry’s “Live at Eastman” (Steeple Chase records), and Kim Richmond’s “Crossweave” (Omni records). A pictoral discography and more bio and contact information can be gained by visiting Rich’s web site at www.richthompson.net or the Eastman faculty web-page at www.esm.rochester.edu/jazz/jazz_faculty.htm.

Rich Thompson plays Ludwig drums, Bosphorous cymbals, Regal Tip sticks/brushes, and Remo drum heads.

Click here for a lesson from Rich Thompson!

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Regal Tip has always supported music education. From endorsing the top music educators to donating sticks and mallets to school bands, Regal Tip wants to ensure that the next generation benefits from the power of music. With the exciting advances in computer technology and the internet, we can now reach even more educators and students than ever before! The Regal Tip Education Web Page, titled the "Regal Tip Institute", will be a source dedicated to music and percussion education.

RTI Archive Albe Bonacci (pdf - 63Kb) Clayton Cameron (pdf - 183Kb)

The Regal Tip Institute will offer suggestions, tips and hints from some of the best music educators and players in the industry on topics such as:

 » Practice/Warmup exercises
 » Style Techniques
 » Teaching Tips
 » Plus Many More!

Teachers and students alike can continue to rely on Regal Tip to provide them with the most current trends in percussion by referring to the Regal Tip Institute. Be sure to check back often for the newest updates!