Steve Yoder
Lawrence Central HS / NFL Colts Drumline / NBA Pacers Drumline - United States
Overview
As an educator, Mr. Yoder has helped many young players develop into highly skilled performance artists. In fact, his students have taken their place in almost every avenue of musical endeavor ranging from studio artist or symphony player, to instrument manufacturer and music educator.
Steve began his teaching career in 1985 by accepting a position as Percussion Coordinator for the Goshen Community Schools, Goshen, IN. In 1987, he became Caption Head for the Emerald Knights D&B Corps, Cedar Rapids, IA, who captured back-to-back D.C.I. A-60 World Champion Percussion Awards in 1987 and 1988. In 1994, he was called to the University of Colorado, where he was a teaching assistant and Marching Percussion instructor/arranger. Soon after, he enjoyed being appointed Director of Bands at Sheridan High School, Englewood, CO, before finally arriving at Lawrence Central High School.
Steve comes by his teaching naturally, having learned from many of the finest and most recognized music educators in the country including: the late Joseph Beickman, Jim Campbell (University of Kentucky), Dr. Doug Walter, Dr. Allen McMurry (University of Colorado), Dr. Tom Caneva (University of Illinois) Mark Dorn and Dr. Allen Schantz (Colorado Christian University), Bret Kuhn (Cavaliers D&B Corps), and DCI Hall of Fame member Fred Sanford.
This teaching pedigree has allowed Steve’s performance experience to become extremely diverse. He is a former marching member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Rosemont, IL marching tenors 1982-1986. During his time with the Corps, Steve captured the Drum Corps Midwest Multi-Tenor Individual Championship in 1985 &1986. His drum set abilities sent him on national tours with many groups including the “Par 3 Jazz Project”, the “Gospel Echoes”, and the “Killin’ Floor Blues Band”. This experience paid off as he became the “1st call” drummer for numerous recording sessions at Triad and Penguin Studios, recording 12 commercials and 4 albums to his credit. As for the concert hall, he has served as a player in countless regional symphonies in Indiana and Colorado and been a featured soloist with the Cedar Rapids Symphony and Midwest Pops.
It is this wealth of experience that Steve enjoys sharing with his students. His passion for teaching excellence has become a trademark wherever he goes, and as a result he is often asked to consult or judge many of the top groups in the music education field today. In fact to date, Steve has served at the highest levels of percussion adjudication for almost every single percussion organization in the country, including the Rocky Mountain Percussion Association, South Florida Percussion Association, the Southern California Percussion Association, Indiana Percussion Association, the Percussive Arts Society, and Winter Guard International. For his efforts, Steve is endorsed by Pearl Drums/Adams Musical Instruments, Innovative Percussion, and has been recognized by the Indianapolis Star for teaching excellence.