Dominic Zarro created this online article as part of a series about great percussion educators on his website, zarropercussion.com. He contacted me about William Schinstine, my mentor and friend from Pottstown, PA. My educational career was planned and shaped from his office at S and S Music along with many other successful performers and educators. Here is the link and a paragraph from the article. Check out Dom’s work on some other great educators!
William J. Schinstine
What was your relationship with Mr. Schinstine?
I should mention how I met Bill. I placed first in my District Band audition in West Chester, PA as a Junior in high school by performing Schinstine’s “Synco Stix.” After attending LaSalle University in Philadelphia (Political Science – 1975-1977), I left school to tour with Danny Rapp of Danny and the Juniors. When I decided to return to college, I got in my car one day and drove all over Pottstown looking for The S&S School of Music at Keim and Buchert Roads – the address that appeared at the bottom of Bill’s article in Percussive Notes Magazine about “Roll Saturation.” Well, I found him and set up a lesson – we both were amazed to find out how much we had in common concerning the technical aspects of drumming. Turns out he had never heard anyone play “Syncho Stix” in a swing feel. I never knew that it was supposed to be done in a straight feel. Instant connection. He took me under his mentoring wing and here I am. While studying at the S&S School, Bill recommended that I review a recording of brush instruction by Sam Ulano for Percussive Notes. This was my first published piece and also led to weekly trips to New York for lessons with Sam. Bill also accompanied me to the Knoxville PAS Convention to work at the S&S booth where he introduced me to William Ludwig, Jr., Lenny DiMuzio of Zildjian and many other music business figures. I also attended every seminar possible, including one by Fred Wickstrom, my future percussion department chair at the University of Miami. I also had the opportunity to teach for Mr. Schinstine at his store until I moved to Philadelphia. This gave me the opportunity to be mentored by one of the greatest teachers I have ever encountered, particularly with early to intermediate students. He was incredibly astute at teaching beginners and was particularly proud of the fact that his Mel Bay Primer Book would be included in the snare drum setup that most students would purchase. Mel Bay at this time was the definitive elementary level publisher particularly for guitar and, after Schinstine, the drums.
singingdrummer.com 