Over the course of 35 years thriving in the jazz drumming and singing industry Dave Tull has played 1000's of gigs all over the world. He has been on the jazz faculty at Pasadena City College (Pasadena, CA) since 2008, where he teaches all of the drum set lessons, the Drum Set Techniques class, the Rhythm Section Techniques class, leads a jazz ensemble and serves as a clinician/adjudicator for jazz festivals.
Dave has conducted clinics at University of Miami Frost School of Music, California State University Fullerton, North Dakota State University, Central Washington University, Western Washington University, University of Arizona, Arizona State University, The Croatia Jazz Drum Camp, Odessa College, Bellevue College, Berkeley High School, The Santa Barbara Jazz Camp, The Frank DeMiero Jazz Festival, Mt. Hood Community College, Clackamas College, Willamette University, The Bakersfield Jazz Workshop and many high schools throughout California. Since 2012 Dave has been the drum instructor for the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s annual “Bill Greene Mentorship Program”.
All of Dave’s teaching and clinic topics are inspired by his real-world experience working with a wide range of artists, singers, and leading his own jazz-vocal trio. He has the rare ability to work with both vocalists and instrumentalists, holding the unique perspective of a career rhythm section player who also knows what it feels like to stand in front of the band and sing.If your school or organization is interested in having Dave work with your students, send an email to dave@davidtull.com.
Jazz Clinic at Clackamas College, Portland OR
Drum Set Clinic - Jazz BD & Snare Activity
A clip from a clinic with a drum set class. I discuss how the jazz drummer decides what kind of activity to play with the BD and snare in a jazz setting.
Clinic on learning to be a better listener on the stand.
In this clinic, I used an anecdote to make the point that listening to the other players on the stand, and engaging them in a musical conversation is the whole point of small-group jazz. Later in the clinic, I went through the quartet and told what I specifically listen for from the various members of the band. The goal is to impress jazz students with how important listening and communication is, and give them some specific answers to the question, "What does it mean to be a good listener?"
Scat Singing Clinic at CSU Fullerton
I worked with the Vocal Jazz Ensemble at Cal. State Univ., Fullerton (directed by Laura Harrison). I talked about how critical it is to listen to a large amount of instrumental bebop if one wants to learn to scat sing. I brought a handout with a step by step plan detailing what to listen for in small-group instrumental jazz in order to develop one's understanding of jazz soloing. I provided a list of specific tracks that would be excellent for a vocalist who is new to bepop to listen to. And of course I had fun doing some scat soloing with the excellent CSUF trio!
Big Band Clinic w/ Pasadena City College Lancer Big Band
Here are some clips of a recent clinic with the Pasadena City College Lancer Big Band. I was working with them to tighten up the groove on the swing lines and also helping the drummer to improve his big band set ups and foreshadowing.