Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Capers.
Hi Aaron, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
My name is Aaron Capers, but feel free to call me AC. I’m a drummer and educator in the DFW. I suppose this is where I give you a story about how I’ve gotten to this point, we’ll buckle up.
The love interest with drumming started at church (The Potter’s House), where I was lucky enough to sit behind one of the best drummers I’ve ever known, Gino ‘LockJohnson’ Iglehart. Watching him made me evolve from a young fan, to really thinking that “I want to do that!” Unfortunately, I wound up moving from the DFW to live with my dad in Valdosta, GA, where I wanted to do what I could to keep up. However, I went a different route and joined orchestral band in Middle School. Not having a drum teacher, or percussion director didn’t do me any favors. The percussionist in the class really had to fend for ourselves, with very little direction and a lot of emulating what we saw and heard from others. So, in time we learned to drum but never learned how to read, but our hands were pretty good because we didn’t know any better. After a couple years I figured I wanted a better chance in a bigger town with more resources so I moved back to Texas with my mom, and continued my musical journey at James Bowie High School. This is where I learned not only how to read music, but what it means to really put in work. Because as an incoming freshman who can’t read music, to make it in good percussion program you’d have to learn how to read AND THEN catch up on all of what you missed along the way, to catching up to where the other students were at that time. It was a lot and completely overwhelming, but I had a great lessons teacher who was very patient with named Ron Schermerhorn. Ron not only taught me how to read but gave me a focus away from wanting to play Drumset to focusing on marching. It was at this moment where Marching Band (Drumline) took over as the priority.
As eventful as that freshman year (2001-02) was the next three years would take on a life of opportunities I never thought imaginable. I took on a different lessons teacher in Dustin Schulze who taught me a different approach to drumming and open my eyes to different techniques, as well as the art of practicing smart versus practicing hard. He convinced me to audition and try to join as many ensembles as I could, because I would be taught by different people, from different backgrounds and techniques, and whether I made the group or not, the experience would make me a better musician and… he was absolutely right. I would go on to partake in the University of Texas at Arlington’s (UTA) Winter Percussion Bash’s taught by Jeff Ausdemore (and would continue to do so until I graduated in 2004-05). Crazy looking back on it how I was able to watch a clinic and share the stage with acts like Terry Bozzio who was probably more known for his work with Frank Zappa, and later Horacio ‘El Negro’ Hernandez who use to drum for Carlos Santana. Aside from that group, I would take this opportunity to audition for indoor marching groups, starting with Insignia Indoor Percussion which was also taught under Jeff Ausdemore in 2004, and then I would join Surround Sound Percussion in 2005 winning gold in our class in a National Competition. So, at this point in my life, it’s full-throttle on drumline and continuing to work my hands and drum as often as I can.
Following High School, I went to Stephen F. Austin for two years 2006-2008. Where I was used to being the student that was behind and finally starting to catch up and surpass those who I thought were light years ahead of me, I found myself in Nacadoches, TX, where I would be one of the better percussionists in the studio. I lost my drive to want to get better so I would drive 3.5 hours back to the DFW on the weekends to partake in Surround Sound while attempting to be a student during the week. As draining as it was, as a musician I feel as tho it was completely worth it because that activity was not only fun, but little did I know it was as if I was knocking on future doors waiting for them to open. Between the 2007 and 2008 seasons, I decided to drop out of SFA and moved back to the DFW (yet again). Except this time, I was on my own no family backing. I lived basically between my car and my college roommate’s parents’ place in West Ft. Worth. But I knew Arlington was a great place with great opportunities to teach some of the experiences that I gained. But I couldn’t find work and was stuck trying to find odd jobs. And word gets out about my living situation and I get a call from the man who runs Surround Sound Percussion, Brandon White. I’ve never second-guessed or questioned his reasons for what I’m about to tell you but what happens next once again would shape my life. As I’m still hunting for work, I get a call from Brandon. He asked “How I was doing?”, and I broke down and told him that I had been bouncing between my car and a friend’s place for months, and I was at a breaking point. He says “Calm down, I’ve got some things in the works. Some clients are wanting a drumline to play at their events. I’ve got them scattered throughout the week and they’ll be going strong for about a month. So, you’ve got a car that runs, how about I give you the drums and you make it to these events. I’ll pay you to transport the drums, and to do the appearance.” I didn’t know what to say, so I said yes. He went on to give me an advance on it and I moved out of my car and into my first apartment later in a couple weeks.
So, besides the drum gigs, I had to find something to do during the days so I took the “first” teaching gigs and mean that I had to do after school rehearsals for little pay because if you wanted to make money and teach drumlines you needed a bit more experience than I had. I needed to march drum corp. And I had auditioned for a couple in years prior, but I was on my final year so I had to do something. Long story short I wound up making and would march with the Blue Knights Drum Corp, where I would rehearse on a weekend every month until May where we would move in, and then we’re in it every day. Rehearsing for 14 hours a day sleeping and doing it all over again. Except this time, I got to do it, in Denver, CO. When I got back from that tour, I started emailing directors and by the time I got back home I would have a teaching job working in the afternoons, and still having sporadic gigs here and there, during the slow times I needed something so I started waiting tables. This would expose me to listening to different types of music and gaining an outside perspective on my life and the drumline gigs I partake in. So, at this point I was waiting tables during the day, taking drumline appearances at all times of the day or night with Brandon White (Dynamic Rhythm Entertainment), and I started drumming with the Dallas Mavericks Drumline in the evenings. And I decided to add more things to my plate as the money I was making for teaching drumline was good, but I could ask for more with more experience. So, I decide to teach a Drum Corp called The Revolution from San Antonio, TX.
The first year on staff, in 2009 we were on our way to a weekend drum camp and I got a call from my uncle and says he was looking for me, he went to my waiting tables job to see if I was at working, I told him I wasn’t and where I was going. He said stay by the phone your dad’s gonna call you. I get a call from my dad and he tells me that my mom died in a car wreck. My entire world came to a screeching halt as we’re stuck in traffic making our way from Dallas to Austin. So, as I continued my new life without my best friend in it, I again started to see things differently and I just wasn’t going to do or go places where I wasn’t appreciated. When my drum corp career came to an abrupt end after the summer of 2011, I had met many of my heroes and made plenty of connections to continue my journey through this life that I am carving out for myself, and they all would tell me the same advice, “You’re at the place where you have to say Yes to the gigs”, so I do just that and a couple years down the line (now 2014)I get asked about playing Drumset for a hip hop band called The Boxer’s Brain. I hadn’t played Drumset seriously since before middle school, but I had a Drumset and a working car, and some time on my hands so why not, and before I know it were on the road opening up for Ces Cru and Mursday! of Strange Music.
In 2015, I was still drumming for The Boxer’s Brain which parlayed itself to its brother Folk-Rock/Americana band Loyal Sally who were some of the same band members minus the rappers. So that was an easy transition to make, as a fan of hip hop it made drumming to it a lot easier. As I attempted to get better at that craft, I stopped waiting tables and started teaching more and between schools, I would practice.
A couple of years go by and it’s 2017, and I’m just grinding and taking every gig I can (Drumset and Drumline), drumming as often as I can, and slowly starting to get better. Over time I would have to go where the money was work-wise so I can continue fueling my new passion of playing Drumset. So, I take a job at Lone Star Percussion, where I would make so many valuable connections, friends, acquaintances, and overall, some really great people in general. And from that I would start getting called to sub in for different bands, one of the biggest at the time being was with The Effinays. Due to my performance with The Effinays that opened the door to play with a Latin/Peruvian Rock Band in need of a drummer named Mayta.
So fast forward a year to 2018, at this point I’m no longer teaching, still working for Lone Star Percussion, The Boxer’s Brain broke up, but still drumming for Loyal Sally, Mayta, Dynamic Rhythm Entertainment and the Dallas Mavericks Drumline. All the while, still taking calls to sit in with bands and hip-hop artist like High Note, Shoose McGee, G Champion, Michael Heathen, Mozez the Great, and Juq’o Vibe. Later that year I would go on to be nominated for “Best Drummer in the DFW” by the Dallas Observer Music Awards (DOMA’s). Although I didn’t win, it was a huge milestone considering just 10 years prior I was living out of my car.
At the DOMA’s that year, I was joined by Joe Martinez, and Pan Blanco of the Effinays, and we along with Jason Rudd decided to bring the Effinays back into the fold so I added another band to my growing resume. As we go through 2019, I’m starting to feel like I kind of belong amongst the DFW musician scene finally I’m in 3 bands and a slew of different acts, and Loyal Sally gets nominated for “Best Folk Band in the DFW”, so I’ve been nominated 2 years in a row. Which was pretty amazing and I think my stock is starting to rise. I’m started to get calls to sub and sit in with touring acts and we’re starting to plan for 2020 as decided to sub in for local Pop Punk band Further North, and ultimately wound up staying with them as 2020 came into fruition. And come March of 2020 we all know what happened. Covid showed itself to be the Defensive Player of the Decade and shut the world down. So, the world came to a screeching stop, and all the momentum I had just built was GONE. I had been let go from the drum shop, as the business was affected, and I started teaching again. Accept this time for the School of Rock and I was teaching drumset. So, I just got used to doing that gig in person when the world shut down and we were forced to figure out virtual learning. So, we did that, started experimenting with beats and social media followings, and trying to create quarantine cypher videos based off the recording equipment I acquired through the years. And it turned out pretty great I was able to do work record and still stay in the minds of people, and when the world opened back up, I had been let go from Mayta, but still with Loyal Sally, The Effinays, Further North, all the hip hop acts, started playing at churches and subbing in for local drummers at their churches, I had started a podcast called Hurry Up and Wait, while still being able to do Drumline gigs when the time was right.
So, we’ve caught up to today (2021), and I’ve joined two more groups. A hip-hop tribute band established by Josh Martin called the Sweet Green Hands. I’m also back to my roots of teaching in public schools as I’m a Percussion teacher for the South Grand Prairie High School and its four feeder middle schools.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m a bit hard-headed honestly, so if it was a smooth road, then I’m not exactly sure I would appreciate where I am today. Aside from the whole living in my car thing, and the emotional toll of not knowing where my life is going, the mental struggles have been a much bigger struggle and at the same time added fuel for me to better myself. I struggle with imposter syndrome, which is a pattern in which an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud”. It’s not that I believe I’m a fraud, but I can’t possibly imagine myself being as good as you might think I am.
Maybe that stems from me being so behind going into high school and having to feel like I need to catch up to those around me. I found that I can’t fight it, and after talking to mentors and other drummers I’ve been able to embrace it and challenge myself to keep up with those friends and mentors. I humbly believe that this is something that will forever fuel me to get better, and keep me in a perpetual state of motivation.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Aside from my passion for playing Drumset and Marching Drums, I’m equally as passionate about passing off information and making those around me better. So, I teach and mentor, the same way I was taught and mentored by those I cherish.
I believe in passing the knowledge that I’ve gained down to the next wave or generation of passionate percussionist. So, we are here to help and inspire, so why not start with those that we care about. As a teacher/mentor, my goal is always to make the student better than myself in whatever field they are in.
I could teach group sessions, or individual lessons, band and drumset clinics, full drumlines, or sectionals. Any avenue to get better involving the world of drums I’m all about it. And if you’re reading this and think your child is too young, talk to a professional, and let’s engage a conversation about ways to get your child into the art. As well as if you’re reading this and think you’re too old to pick up a new hobby, think again. Great cardio workout and mental stimulation is always a plus. I’d love to talk to you about how we can take steps to understanding and appreciating the vast world of percussion.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
1a. Be on time!
1b. Play in time!
1c. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Pricing:
- Shirts – $25-$30 Depending on the cut of the shirt
- Private Lessons – starting at $25 for the half-hour
Contact Info:
- Email: aaroncapers@dynamicrhythm.net
- Website: www.acthatdrummer.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acthatdrummer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACthatDrummer/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/acthatdrummer/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaFsOFsVuzc8Dhtm9wTe0Bw
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/acthatdrummer
Image Credits
Arnie Diaz Photography
Zane Daniel
Andrew Sherman
Drewlio Photo
Carrie Reneau Spivey
