Nic Jenkins

Bio

I was born in 1983. My first memories of music are probably from the age of 8, realizing that tapping on my desk in most of my classes was slightly inappropriate. Thanks to my caring parents, I began an official relationship with the drums around 12 years old, when I received my first snare drum. Thanks to inspiring music teachers of my youth, I learned to accompany other musicians in choirs, marching bands, and orchestras. Thanks to PBS, MTV, and FM radio, my ears were exposed (for better or worse) to a lot of different kinds of music. By the time I graduated high school (Walterboro, SC), I was happily strumming my guitars along with my favorite records & mixtapes.

Upon graduating with a BA in Music Performance (Jazz Studies) in 2005 from the College Of Charleston, I first started giving lessons on the drum kit in 2007, and then took a bit of a break (in 2013 for about a decade) because I felt that my approach was almost too academic and not personalized enough. In recent years, I have become a parent which has allowed a fresh perspective in the areas of instruction, skill-sharing, and mentorship. Nowadays, I feel that my process makes room for exploration within a context of the core essentials.

One of the most challenging areas of my present coaching journey is learning to work with very mixed communication styles and variable intents for pursuing music in the first place. The most rewarding aspect has being able to realize that I am just as much of a student as a teacher. One of the most fun dimensions of instruction is finding ways of bridging the abstract to the familiar. Although my primary instrument is the drum set, I also enjoy playing rhythm and bass guitars, which I also use as a songwriter and bandmate. Because I’ve acquired a lot of my instrumental knowledge from playing-by-ear, I try to bring that into the equation as much as possible. I focus on the basics of traditional/conventional notation and also like to remain open to the joys and freedoms of graphic scores & more visual learning. I am also an illustrator, so this plays a part in my interpretations of music articulation. My first instrument was actually the “air drums”, so as a dancer this is still apparent in my embodiment of music. I’ve been fortunate to build long-lasting community with musicians all over the world, and it has helped me grow in a more flexible and elastic way. I strive to encourage a curiosity in all forms of music with my students (and collaborators).

Music w/ Nic

Nic Jenkins wants to help you learn your favorite songs and to build confidence in various areas of musical situations. He can explore other modes of instrumental relationships (if drums are not your first choice) and other percussion-oriented learning as well. NJ is interested in offering ways to improve your sight reading, ear training, composition, and overall body mechanics. Because all bodies, minds, & ears are different and each human’s journey is unique to them, we’ll build from the intention to start from the special vantage point that you or your child may already have. His favorite books to start with are Belwin Elementary Band Method (for individual/ensemble), Alfred’s Beginning Drumset Method, and issues of Tom Tom Magazine.

For guitar & bass focused lessons, chord formations, lead sheets, and more ear training would be prioritized. If there are pieces of music that a student is interested in learning, those are obviously welcome. Whatever building blocks that might be necessary to achieving your goals, NJ would like to help you realize those elements. Your practice routine can be as specific as crafting a diet/meal plan. What works for you works for you!

Testimonials

“Nic Jenkins is good at creating an open space for limitless understanding of the technicality behind drumming.” – Kiber Selig