Jimi started playing the drums in 1980. Before that, he simply played the snare drum in the school band. In 1985, Jimi took a bold step and joined the Air Force. He played in a rock band in the military, and just like high school played events and parties. His band Critical Force even played "The Strip" in Hollywood. All of this work landed them a recording contract with Barracuda Records. But, because he still had a year and a half on his military contract, the record deal fell through. But, while stationed in California, he had the opportunity to play the bigger clubs and develop contacts that he would use when he was to be discharged from the military. In 1989, he left the military and moved to Orange County. There he was involved in two bands: Strength in Numbers, and Rockabye. Both were hard-rock / metal bands. He even did a short studio gig with Loren Black, the bassist of Great White. In addition, he was going to college to pursue a degree in business. However, in 1992, Denver's appeal was too much and he moved back to Colorado. At that point he decided to finish his degree at the University of Colorado.

While going to school, Jimi started to teach drum lessons and played in local bands to make a living. He received a scholarship and minored in music while earning his Bachelors of Science in International Business in 1996.

A few months later, he used his degree to start the Colorado Drum Institute. In no time at all, his business grew to over 100 students. At that time he decided to hire more help. After 6 years the Colorado Drum Institute grew to include Guitar, Bass and Keyboards. Today he has 13 employees, 7 studios, and endorsements from very reputable companies such as Vic Firth, D'Addario, Evans drum heads, and Zildjian. He has also written three drum books. One is a rhythm reading book, The Musician's Guide to Common Rhythms The second is an innovative independence system for the drum set. The third, and probably his most prolific work, is the 140 page Double Bass book. Everything someone needs for double bass is in this book. He is currently working on another rhythm reading book to include studies in odd-meter, rolls, and other miscellaneous teaching material.

In 1999, Jimi had the opportunity to play for the Pope during Christmas Mass at the Vatican through the church group Musicians of St. Claire. This group played a number gigs here in Denver, and then went on a tour of Italy. Starting off in Milan, they generally completed a big circle going through Venice, Florence, Assisi, and then Rome and the Vatican. Playing for the Pope and his immediate staff was probably the biggest performance that Jimi has ever given.

Jimi plans on continuing the success of the Colorado Music Institute and providing the best and most complete music lessons in the state.

Bill Larson has been playing drums since 1985, starting in 5th grade in his hometown of International Falls, Minnesota. After many opportunities to perform with peers and working with the areas finest players, he decided to continue to pursue music by attending Musicians Institute. After graduating in 1995, he moved to Denver, Colorado, were he has been keeping a busy schedule as a teacher and performer. Bill has been an instructor at the Colorado Drum Institute since 1998. His instruction focuses on the importance of musical versatility and developing strong fundamental skills.

Matt began playing the drums at age 10. He has taken advantage of every drumming opportunity, and by 1999 received his B.M.E. from the University of North Texas. During his senior year in high school he was the section leader for a marching band that traveled to California for the Disney Magic Music Days Parade and the Hollywood Christmas Parade. He made the all-county band for jazz and concert bands and also played in the pit for The Sound of Music. He has studied with Doc Schietroma, Paul Rennick, Ed Soph, Henry Okstel, and Harol Bosarge.

Matt has played in many top bands in Denver Colorado. Matt Moon and Stranger Neighbor, Columbine United Methodists Simple Gifts, Funkiphino, The Lavellas, Musa Konate, and the Lost Tribe, just to name a few. Matt also played in the awesome musical Menopause.

Matt currently works with AOA (Alive on Arrival) and the B3 Project. He is also the house drummer at Herb's Hideout, one of Denver's premier nightclubs where many of the areas top musicians come to jam. He has been teaching at the Colorado Drum/Music Institute since 2001.

Listen to an audio clip using the free Real Player.

Bill has a Bachelors Degree in Percussion Performance, studying under Dr. John Pennington. Bill has instructed high school drum lines, leading one to first place at the state championship in Denver. He has taught private lessons since 1996. Bill's style and ability contributed to many bands in the Denver area: Esovae, Salus, Drug Under, Love 45, and Ben Park Drive just to name a few. Bill's fluid style of composition provides a solid backbone and delivers dynamic intensity to every band he has played with. He has also played in some extremely notable venues: Invesco Field, Red Rocks Amphitheater, the Whiskey in Hollywood, and Carnegie Hall! He now teaches a full schedule here at CMI.

Listen to an audio clip using the free Real Player.

James started playing drums at the age of 12! He studied music and percussion all the way through school and joined the Pomona High School marching band. He continued his studies at Metro State College in Denver Colorado. He played with local bands such as Living Insanity, Chili Whip and Kingpin. In 1999, James joined local D.J.'s Lewis and Floorwax Blues band the Groovehawgs. He has been playing to crowds of over 100 thousand people and more every year. He has shared the stage with ZZ Top, BB King, Def Leppard, James Brown and more. His band is probably the most popular band in Colorado. James has recently released his solo debut CD Running out of the West. He is a great addition to the Colorado Drum/Music Institute.

Adam has been playing drums since age 10, in various styles and situations. He studied marching, jazz, and concert music while in school, and began performing these styles as well as funk and rock during college. He attended St. Mary's University of Minnesota for a degree in Physics, and kept music as a minor. He performed with the college jazz combos and ensembles as well as with the school's Brazilian drum ensemble, Batucada Nossa Senhora. Outside of school, he was involved gigging and recording with the jam-rock band Paco.

After graduating, he moved to Denver to teach at CMI and perform and write music. He has since played for many bands such as Twenty Two, Rekha, 12:13, and some smaller projects, with styles ranging from ethnic to hard rock. He is currently performing and recording with the groups Wadi Rum and The Otone Brass Band.

Kevin, CMI's newest drum teacher, has been playing the drums for 18 years. He got his start in elementary school band and orchestra, and kept progressing from there. He went on to do formal training as a Music Performance major at the University of Wyoming under the tutelage of Dr. Stephen Barnhart. Kevin has extensive performance experience on drum set in jazz, rock, Latin, and funk styles, as well as classical percussion and in percussion ensembles. Originally from Rapid City, SD, Kevin has been in Denver for 5 years, and is in two local groups, up-and-coming funk band Filthy Children, and a New Orleans-style brass band, the O-Tone Brass Band. He also subs for a couple of different groups and is a freelance jazz artist.

Listen to an audio clip ("Knuckle Shuffle" by Filthy Children) using the free Real Player.

"Scott was born in Alaska and started playing guitar in Colorado Springs at age 16. He got into guitar because a friend of his suggested that he take a guitar class his Sophomore year. After a week, Scott was hooked on music and hasn't looked back. He moved to Denver in 2006 to study music at University of Colorado at Denver and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 2010. Taking influences from modern/hard rock, classical/finger-picking, movie scores, pop, and progressive music, Scott always has admired music that is creative, original, and personal.

In addition to playing live with numerous local bands, Scott currently plays guitar in alternative, hard rock band Glass Delirium. On top of opening for numerous national bands, Glass Delirium has toured the United States, self-produced a full length album, and played multiple Denver venues including The Bluebird Theater, Gothic Theater, Fiddler's Green Amphitheater, and many more.

With a mixture of music theory, technique, and teaching favorite songs chosen by the students, Scott's teaching style keeps the learning process creative, fun, and challenging."

Kirk has been a Denver native all his life. Although he is 44 years old, he has managed to play guitar for 38 years and has been teaching for 23 of them. His "on the stage" experience is paralleled by none, having played 5 nights a week for 12 years - that is a lot of stage experience. Most of his works can be found in the Rock / Hard Rock and even Metal Categories. He is now investing his time into the new and very influential Country / Rock Arena. Between opening for acts such as Clay Walker and Neil McCoy, Joe Diffie and Trent Tomlinson, just to name a few, he has begun traveling extensively to the Nashville area and will soon break into that circuit.

Kirk has studied with Dave Beagle and Renee Heredia, and has managed to find time to do a course at the very prestigious Berkeley School of Music in Boston. Kirk now invests his time into teaching 50 or more students a week at CMI. He is a valuable asset and will be a major part of our curriculum.

Charles began playing cello at the age of 10. By the age of 12 he had begun training on guitar and bass which would become his true passion. His bass playing led him to the Denver School of Arts for high school. There he began studying jazz and classical music on a new instrument, the upright bass. Charles worked hard and earned a full ride scholarship to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder. There he studied closely with Chip Stevens, Paul Erhard, and Gonzolo Teppa. He also started his teaching career as a adjunct bass teacher for CU Boulder at the age of 18.

Charles remained at Boulder for only one year, taking the next year off of school and traveling to India to study Indian music. He lived in Bangalore, India for 5 months and studied from the South Indian violin maestro T.T. Srinivasan and North Indian master Ustad Faiyez Khan.

The next year Charles earned a scholarship to study jazz from Kenny Walker, Eric Gunnison, and Lynn Baker at the University of Denver, where he remained for the rest of his college education. During his senior year, Charles went to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music and City University. There he studied with one of England’s top bass players, Michael Mandesir (John Mclaughlin, Tina Turner, Alan Holdsworth).

Charles has become well versed in many styles of music including Jazz, Rock, Latin, World, Funk, RnB, HipHop, and Blues. Some of the musicians/bands Charles has worked with include Hazel Miller, Joe Bonner, Future Jazz Project, The Kinetix, Savage Henry, Elin Palmer, Greg Harris, and James Oneil. He has become and remains one of the top bass players in the Colorado area.

Nate has been immersed in music since the age of ten and became a professional musician at age 15, having to get work permits in order to play in clubs and venues due to his young age. Nate's bands have toured throughout the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

He has studied various styles of music with great interest in the rock, jazz, and classical genres. He has studied under Steve Shurack, a pupil of the great classical guitarist Ricardo Iznaola from the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music, as well as with accomplished Seattle-based Jazz and Classical guitarist Julian Catford. Nate received his degree in music from Seattle Pacific University, while at the same time being trained as a studio technician and keeping busy as a studio/session guitarist.

Nate has been teaching music for 5 years, and enjoys every minute of it.

Kevin started playing guitar at the age of 12 and he is now 31. In those years, he has managed to play in several bands, local and other. During this time he pursued and caught a degree in Music, and more specifically Audio Engineering at the University of Colorado at Denver. His teaching experience goes all the way back to 1991.

In addition to being a full time employee here at the Colorado Music Institute, he doubles as an audio engineer/ Guitarist at Cherry Hills Community Church located in Highlands Ranch Colorado. He excels in many styles such as Metal, Funk, Classic Rock, Blues, and Jazz just to name a few. He also teaches the Bass Guitar for the styles mentioned above. All of this while balancing 40 students, a wife and new daughter. He has an uncanny ability to teach students of all ages, from very young to old, makes him one of the most versatile instructors at CMI.

Eric's love for music began very early as he grew up in his father's record store in Iowa. A family friend taught Eric four chords which started a life long pursuit to become a better musician.

Eric attended Central Missouri State studying Classical and Jazz Guitar, piano, ear training and Music Theory. He supplemented his formal education by forming, and touring the mid-west with, his all original bands Scarecrow and Chain Number Seven.

In 1996, Eric made the move to Denver and soon found himself playing the Denver scene with the original band Great Atomic Motor and a Beatles cover band The Don't Let Me Downs. Along with teaching music, Eric writes and records, engineers, mixes and masters his music along with other local bands and solo artists.

Gregg is a California native that began playing at guitar at the age of 14. At age 18, he moved to Colorado and decided to pursue his musical interest in college. He studied classical guitar and theory under Danny Masters at CCA and later obtained his bachelor’s Degree in business with a minor in music at ACC.

Gregg currently plays lead guitar in the local metal bands Stygian, and Ploy For Extinction, and has several years of recording and live performance experience. His bands have been featured at venues like the Gothic Theatre, and Bluebird Theatre, as well as several bars and clubs in the Denver area. He has opened for several national acts, and has toured all over Colorado and a good number of surrounding states. After working at Guitar Center selling guitars for several years, Gregg decided to take on his real passion for music and began teaching at The Colorado Music Institute in January of 2009. He is now a full time instructor.

Dean is from Liverpool in England. He began playing guitar at the age of 10 being naturally drawn towards a career in music due to Rob, his dad's continuous piano playing and teaching. He adopted an at least 5 hours a day practice schedule, and although he played in several bands with friends he waited until he was 17 before his first live performance. At this time he also enrolled at Wirral Metropolitan College in Liverpool to further his musical academic training. This resulted in GCSE and A Level Music (which are formal qualifications in England) and a College Diploma in Light Music which was actually an intense two year course in advanced music theory (namely jazz). Dean went on to obtain his Bachelor of Art Degree in Popular Music from The University of Liverpool in 2003.

Whilst giving private guitar tuition from the age of 15, Dean also taught at LIPA (Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts), otherwise known as the Paul McCartney College, for several years from the age of 20. This included Rock Summer School which was basically teaching a class of Japanese guitarists that couldn't speak English intense metal guitar techniques! In 1998, Dean formed his band Twin Method with local friends from Liverpool. After touring England, their break came in 2002 when they recorded an EP with producer/guitarist Logan Mader (ex Machinehead/Soulfly) in Hollywood. They then went on to secure a record deal with Crash Music and recorded their debut album The Volume Of Self in 2005, again produced by Logan. Twin Method then continuously toured America from 2005 to 2008 with bands such as Medication, Drowning Pool, Soil, American Head Charge, Type O Negative, and the 2007 Family Values tour headlined by Korn and Evanescence. This saw them play Denver's own Fiddlers Green which is a stone's throw from CMI.

Dean is now a Denver resident and is focused on spreading his musical knowledge to others by teaching here at CMI.

Jimmy started playing guitar at the age of 14. Jimmy always admired guitarists who were a cut above the norm. Soloing and improvisation were his drive to study the art. He started taking lessons from local music stores until his quest for knowledge demanded he attend school. Jimmy enrolled at West Virginia State studying music education as his major. There he took jazz guitar, piano, vocal coaching, choir, music ed, and music theory. He studied under Frank Gambale's star pupil Chuck Biel who heads the guitar department at W.V. State. In school he was injected with Jazz, Classical, Latin, Funk, Blues, and Rock to complete him as a well rounded musician. Jimmy has performed at multiple recitals in West Virginia and Colorado, and has performed with a Classical ensemble in the Charleston area. Jimmy has played in local bands Dark Crystal and Reign of Day along side CMI instructors Stu Miller and Bill Travis.

Jimmy currently resides in Highlands Ranch Colorado and is writing and recording solo albums which display his diverse musical styles. He has been playing 23 years, and has been teaching guitar for the past 12 years. Jimmy is now instructing at CMI, and is excited to share his knowledge of the musical world to inspiring players of all generations!

Kevin earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Theory and Composition, with honors, in 1985 from the University of Northern Colorado. While there, he studied harpsichord, piano and organ. He is a multi-instrumentalist, having his music study on trombone. As part of his degree program he learned to play all band and orchestra instruments, as well as studying voice.

He began playing professionally in 1980, and is currently involved with Echoes of Pink (a Pink Floyd tribute band), Cock-Eyed Junior (Classic Rock), and a host of different groups and studio situations.

Kerry is originally from Laramie, Wyoming, and has lived in Aurora for the last 30 years. She began studying piano at age 7, and accompanied several choirs during high school. She began singing in adult church and community choirs at age 15. She received a BA from the University of Wyoming with a major in French and minors in Spanish, music, and education. She has been teaching piano since 1978 and voice since 1985, and has been certified by the State of Colorado since 1985.

She sings in the Cherry Creek Chorale, including concerts at Carnegie Hall in 1994, Atlanta for the International Choral Festival, and the Lucerne International Choral Festival (Switzerland) in 2008. She has also toured with a 100-voice choir in Italy, Austria and Hungary.

She is a member of the Aurora Music Teachers Association and the Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA) where she was Vice President for Student Activities. She is the current President of Pacesetters Music Teachers.