Gary Chaffee: A Boston Local Legend
Even the highest level professionals took drum lessons (or continue to take lessons) at some point or another throughout their development. Yes, that’s right, even the pros can still improve upon their abilities! But sharpening professional skills requires the guidance of a masterful instructor, and in many cases, that instructor is Gary Chaffee.
With a musical career spanning more than 50 years, Gary Chaffee’s unique instructional methods have helped shape some of the most influential modern drummers. Gary attended the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in 1962 and completed graduate studies at Chicago’s DePaul University in 1968. Upon graduating, Chaffee taught for four years at Western Illinois University before taking a position at Boston’s Berklee College of Music.
In Boston, Chaffee worked his way up to becoming the Chairperson of Berklee’s Percussion Department and played a key role in developing the percussion curriculum that would later be known as one of the strongest drumming programs in the world. During his time at Berklee, he gave lessons to many drummers that later became extremely successful, including Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Smith, Kenwood Dennard, and Casey Scheuerell. Several drum instructors currently at Berklee have studied under Chaffee.
After departing Berklee, Chaffee took a job up the street at New England Conservatory, where he taught from 1996 through 2009. Over the years, Chaffee has done clinics and masterclasses in numerous countries around the world, including England, Germany, Italy, France, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Japan, Brazil, and more.
There’s an old saying around musicians that basically says, “If you can’t play, then teach.” Obviously, that’s not true. But Chaffee never intended to become a full-time touring drummer in a band, despite being more than capable. His goal was to equip students with the skills and desire to simply continue learning. Chaffee has authored many books that primarily focus on his unique system of sticking patterns, linear combinations, and polyrhythmic concepts. Lately, he endorses Remo percussion, Yamaha drums, and Zildjian cymbals, which are manufactured just outside of Boston in Norwell, Massachusetts.
Gary Chaffee currently teaches out of his home studio located in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. But he’s far from the only musical guru in the greater Boston area. Due to the presence of Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, and New England Conservatory, the region is the home to numerous world-class drummers and musicians. Many of the school’s teachers inhabit surrounding towns including Somerville, Medford, Cambridge, Brookline, Watertown, and Newton.
As time ticks on, the older generation of innovative musicians has begun retiring and dying off. Some of the most influential modern drummers have already begun to pass on throughout recent years already. As drummers, it’s our responsibility to study and carry on the teachings of the greats before us. Taking drum lessons under someone with so much experience and influence is incredibly valuable to the furthering development of drumming skills and knowledge.