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Jay Gleason
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Jay has been playing professionally since 1986 when a touring rock band picked him up after seeing him play with his high school jazz band. Thankfully, his parents were supportive, and off he went, playing all over New England and Canada. Highlights of that period were: backing the Drifters, backing the Classics Four, and warming up for Squeeze for a crowd of 10,000.
In the late 1990s, in graduate school, Jay started teaching drums and continued to play several times a week. He recorded Dave Keller’s first album and was hired to play on several other albums. Jay was a fixture on the Vermont music scene playing with Dave Keller, Left Eye Jump, Dwight (of Dwight and Nicole), Jay Ekis, Jusagroove, and many others.
In 2004, Jay developed arm problems and had to curtail his music career significantly. The good news is that he learned better hand and foot techniques and better techniques for pain management and emotional regulation. All of which are important in his teaching.
Jay has been a psychotherapist and bodyworker for 25 years. He is equipped to help drummers in pain and to learn the proper techniques and mindsets to play for a lifetime. He currently plays with the Dave Keller Band and can be heard on the Blues Music Award-nominated album “You Get What You Give.” He’s lucky enough to tour around the U.S. and Europe.
In his teaching, Jay wants to create a meaningful bond with his students. He enjoys lessons that are student-driven, easygoing, and fun. He loves helping students embrace the frustration and struggle of doing something hard, like learning to play the drums.
