Five Questions With Drummer Todd Isler

Todd Isler is a drummer, percussionist, and teacher who’s been active in the New York City jazz and world music spheres for more than 20 years. He’s released two albums, “Two Step: Duets and Beyond” and “Soul Drums,” and is also the author of “You Can Ta Ka Di Mi This,” which teaches the South Indian syllable system of rhythm. When he’s not teaching, Todd plays with Mike Gordon of Phish, International Orange, and TriBeCaStan. Todd is also a world traveler, having studied in and incorporated into his play and teaching the techniques of African, Brazilian, and Indian percussion, among others.

You can learn more about Todd and his music on his profile page.

Lessonface: How did you first get introduced to the drums, and what kind of music were you listening to at the time/growing up?

Todd Isler: I think I was seven or eight. I was at a bar mitzvah of a family friend and there was a live band. I couldn't take my eyes off the drums and my dad noticed this and brought me over to the drummer. He showed me how to hold the sticks and I remember thinking, "This is awkward, why can't I hold them each with the same grip?" (He was showing me traditional grip and I felt like matched grip would be better.)
 
Even before this event, I was playing on upside down waste baskets and pots and pans. Charles Chips used to come in a big tin can that sounded good, too.

Lf: Did you have any particularly influential mentors early on, or later as you progressed?

TI: I started taking formal lessons at 10 with Don Friedman, a drummer from Cleveland, who I am still friends with. It wasn't until high school that things really opened up for me. To learn the whole story, there are some interviews on my site, ToddIsler.com. I will say that I feel very fortunate having grown up in Cleveland, where the music scene was vibrant and eclectic. I was introduced to many genres, especially jazz and world music, at a relatively early age.

Lf: What got you interested in teaching online? How long have you been teaching?

TI: I've been teaching in NYC for more than 20 years. I prefer teaching one on one, although I've done many group lessons too. I have some friends who have used Skype for teaching, with mixed results. It seems that Lessonface uses cutting edge video technology, and therefore will be better in the long run. Although I feel that nothing is as good as being with the teacher in the same room, Lessonface may be the next best thing. I'm pretty perceptive about musicians, and people in general, and my years in New York, playing in many situations, will be helpful to the students.

Lf: If you had to recommend one video or performance for prospective students to check out in order to understand you and your style, what would it be?

TI: This a tough one. First of all there are a limited number of videos out there, and of those, few have good sound quality. The one I added to my profile is pretty good because it is recent and shows me playing with some great musicians on very little rehearsal. For the rock/jam band/funk fans, there are some Mike Gordon videos out there (one is embedded below), but often the quality is not good. You're better off going to Phish.com and downloading MGB concerts. My favorites are Burlington, VT, and Portland, ME, from December of 2010. Also, there are some videos of me explaining and demonstrating the South Indian syllable system, and using it on drum set.

Lf: Can you tell us a bit about what's going on with any musical projects you're working on, and any latest news about them?

TI: I try to keep my site current with the latest news about gigs, projects, etc. You can go to ToddIsler.com for more.

Click here to book a lesson with Todd or here to learn more about how Lessonface works. You can also check out our blog here to read more about Lessonface and our teachers.
Find more Drum Classes and Tutorials