Mike Michalkow is quickly becoming one of the most
respected drum instructors in the world. His revolutionary
Drumming System has helped 6,288 students learn to play
drums - at their own pace and from the comfort of home!
About The Drumming System
The Drumming System is the result of 21 months of careful research and planning by Mike Michalkow and the publishing team at Railroad Media. It was designed from the ground up to change the way people learned how to play the drums. The entire project was based on a simple vision:
Goal: Create a truly revolutionary system that will teach absolutely anybody how to master the drums. Use cutting-edge technology to simplify the process into step-by-step lessons that make learning fun and easy. The content should be comprehensive, but flexible enough that the student can pick and choose exactly what they want to learn at any time.
After nearly two years of research, development, filming, post-production, and planning - the all-new Drumming System launched in the summer of 2009. It was an instant success, selling the first run of 1,000 units in just eight short days. Since that time, over six thousand students from 75+ countries have used it to change the way they learn and play the drums!
Choosing Mike Michalkow
Right from day one, the Railroad Media team knew Mike Michalkow was the right man for this unique project. His extensive experience as a private instructor, touring clinician, and gigging musician made him the easy choice. In fact, Mike is widely regarded as one of the most respected drum instructors in the world - having taught hundreds of private students of all skill levels over 20+ years of teaching!
Mike Michalkow has worked as a clinician with Yamaha for the past 5 years. I am pleased to say he is one of the most energetic and positive educators I have worked with to date. When called upon Mike steps up and performs his clinics as though it was his first. Mikes approach is dynamic and easily understood by beginners and pros. What never seizes to amaze me is each of Mike’s clinics are new and if this can be possible - better than the last.
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Mike perform in one of his many bands you are also missing something very special. He has a great understanding for all styles of music and continually looks for new ways to improve on his art. It’s easy to see why he is so successful as a music instructor and why he is well respected in the professional community.
Mike is truly a student of His craft with a sincere desire to improve as an educator and a professional drummer.
We at Yamaha are very proud to have Mike on our team.
Ken Infanti
Sales Consultant
Yamaha Canada Music Ltd.
I am so impressed with Mike as not only a player, but also as a teacher. I
respect both talents immensely. As a player he wants to continue to learn
and as a teacher he wants to continue to share. I have seen Mike in both situations
and believe he has captured great values to pass on for our drumming community. Mike, keep the spirit going!
Dom Famularo
World Renowned Drumming Ambassador
and Advocate of the Moeller Method
Mike Michalkow is a great musician who understands the needs of today's drummers. His teaching and performance techniques are innovative and inspiring. He is a true professional.
John "JR" Robinson
The Most Recorded Drummer In the World! Performed
with: Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Eric Clapton,
Frank Sinatra, Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey, and more!
I'm proud to have Mike as a friend. It's been a pleasure being able to share our love for drumming and music together. As a drummer and percussionist, I've enjoyed Mike's playing ever since we met. As a teacher, comments from his students, and hearing them perform, tell me that Mike definitely knows the How and What of teaching.
Chuck Silverman
World Renowned Drum Instructor and
Modern Drummer Best Selling Author
Mike Michalkow: A fine drummer - a well
respected teacher.
Peter Magadini
World Renowned Drum
Educator and Author
Mike has made the trek to where most drummers wish to be, always
riding the peak! He has pushed himself, with humility, to contribute
a level of greatness to our drumming community. I beam when he says
to me that I've contributed something to his learning.
Mitch Dorge
Crash Test Dummies
The Story Of Mike Michalkow's Life As A Drummer!
Mike Michalkow has been performing, recording and teaching drums for over 20 years. His storied career has him brushing shoulders with some of the most recognized performers in the industry.
Mike hails from Vancouver, BC Canada and would be considered by most as a late bloomer who didn't start playing the drums until he was 17. Under the direction of Mitch Dorge (Crash Test Dummies), Mike quickly achieved more than many of his counterparts and soon began his performance career.
Focusing early on hard rock, punk, blues and pop music, Mike soon discovered a whole new world listening to some of the great drummers of our time such as Neil Peart, Steve Gadd, Bill Bruford, Stewart Copeland, Alex Acuna, Dave Weckl, and Terry Bozzio. As a result, Mike's technique improved greatly and he began to see the potential of his talents. Mike reached a watershed of sorts when he heard his first Jack DeJohnette album and began to take drumming more seriously than ever before. He applied for and was accepted into Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, Alberta where he majored in Latin and Jazz and graduated at the top of his class.
During the summer of 1993, Mike spent his time in New York City where he took private lessons on the drumset and conga at the "Drummers Collective". During the evenings he hung out at local jazz clubs where he could learn and see many of his favorite artists perform, such as: Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Max Roach , Tony Williams and many other greats.
After graduating from Music College in 1994, Mike relocated to Vancouver Canada to jump start his music career. After a few years playing in various original and cover bands, he decided he needed a change and in 1997 was hired by a popular Cruise Lines as the Orchestra Drummer.
After his gig with the cruise line, Mike returned home, eager to hone his craft even more. He began taking lessons from John Fisher, Jim Chapin, Chuck Silverman, Peter Magadini, Virgil Donati and Dom Famularo and soon realized that music wasn't only to be his career, but a way of life.
Mike's passion for drums and percussion has earned him a name in the business and his summers consist of heading the drum department for the West Coast in the USA for the "National Guitar Workshop" which he has been doing since the year 2000.
As well as keeping a busy teaching and performance schedule, Mike spends many of his days and nights in the recording studio with song writers and bands with styles ranging from Progressive Rock, Latin, Jazz, Blues, Pop, Folk, Celtic, Country, Metal, and R&B.
While at home in Canada he records and performs with Symphony in Demeanor, "R30 – RUSH Tribute", and The Brent Ellis Group, as well as various other freelance projects.
Symphony in Demeanors first album released in the fall of 2005 won "Best Album Award" for the IOMA Online music awards with over 15,000 votes on hand.
He has also performed at the "Vancouver International Drum Festival" in October 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 , 2005, 2006, 2007, & 2008 by invitation of Yamaha Drums and has shared the stage with drummers such as Dom Famularo, Chad Smith, John "JR" Robinson, Virgil Donati, Cindy Blackman, Kirk Covington, Robby Ameen, Matt Frenette and Mitch Dorge.
He currently plays and endorses Yamaha Drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth drum sticks, Hansenfutz accessory pedals, & LP Percussion. He is also a clinician for Yamaha Drums on the full acoustic & electronic line.
In June of 2006, Mike's first Instructional DVD "The Moeller Method Secrets" was released worldwide by Railroad Media.
Mike's follow up to his first DVD were 2 huge training packs (DVD, Books and Play-along CD's) by Railroad Media entitled "The Jazz Drumming System" and "The Latin Drumming System" which feature "Jody Fisher"–master guitarist, "Baba Elefante" on Bass, and "Tilden Webb" on Piano. In the summer of 2009 Mike launches his biggest DVD project to date: "The Drumming System"
Mike's goal as an outgoing performer and enthusiastic teacher is to excite and motivate people about drums and music. This has been proven time and time again in everything Mike is involved with.
Boost your drumming progress with Mike's free Practice Routine Generator! Simply fill out the short form below to get instant access. It will help make the most of your valuable practice time!
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