Annual Drum Clinic returns to McHenry County College

McHenry County College will host a Drum Clinic at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17, in the college's conference center, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. In its fifth year at MCC, the clinic provides drummers, beginner through professional, everything they need to know to enhance their skills. It includes drum set and snare drum rudimental skills, plus a range of topics, including how to tune a drum and the proper way to hold drum sticks.

The clinic is presented by Steve Fagiano, a drum instructor in Crystal Lake and Huntley. He started drumming at the age of 10. At age 16, he played snare drum with three-time National Champion Chicago Royal-Airs Drum and Bugle Corps and at 19, he was performing with the Commandants Own U.S. Marine Corps Drum Corps in Washington, D.C. The Huntley resident has performed with members of Ted Nugent and Styx, and studied with Steve Smith and Mitch Markovich, who was a three-time undefeated national champion.

Fagiano is also founder and director of The Classic Drum Line, featuring a 16-member drum line of youth, ages 14 to 22, from the McHenry County area. The Drum Line made its debut the clinic two years ago. The members will play classic drum solos from the best years of Drum & Bugle Corps, which includes tunes mostly from the 1960s and early '70s. A special highlight will include a tenor solo, a snare solo and a black light performance.

Another highlight will include Russ Mehle, who specializes in drum instruction for children with special needs, including learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, attention-deficit/hyper activity disorder and autism.

Admission is $10 or $5 for students with a school ID. For information, contact Thomas Takayama at (815) 455-8561 or Steve Fagiano at (847) 404-7806 or visit FagianoDrums.com.