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Rascal Flatts Drummer Jim Riley to Host Drum Set Clinic

09/16/2016

JONESBORO – Students in the Department of Music at Arkansas State University are looking forward to a drum set clinic by percussionist Jim Riley of the country music group Rascal Flatts.

Riley will lead the clinic in the band room of the Fine Arts Center on Thursday, Sept. 22, from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.  Rascal Flatts performs that evening at the Convocation Center, 217 Olympic Dr.

Riley, drummer and bandleader, has played more than a thousand sold-out shows. His television credits include The Grammy Awards, The Tonight Show, The American Music Awards, The Voice, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Oprah and The Today Show.  His recording credits include the Rascal Flatts 2014 release "Rewind," as well as multi-platinum disc, "Me and My Gang," Brian McKnight’s album, "Ten," as well as movie soundtracks for "Heaven is for Real" and "Hannah Montana: The Movie."                      

The artist has been recognized by his peers as being one of the best in the business.  From 2011-2014, Modern Drummer Magazine voted him as the “Best Country Drummer” as well as “Best Drum Clinician” in 2009 and he has been featured on the cover of the magazine. The readers of DRUM! agreed, voting him “Country Drummer of the Year”  for the years 2008-2010 and 2012-2013.

Riley attended University of North Texas where he received his degree in music education. In addition to being one of Nashville’s elite touring drummers, he has become internationally recognized as a clinician and educator. He opened his teaching studio, “The Drum Dojo,” in 2007, and his clinic for Modern Drummer Fest was filmed and released on DVD in 2011.

He also is a published composer and frequent educational columnist for Modern Drummer magazine, for which he has been a member of both the pro panel and educational panel. His first book, "Song Charting Made Easy: A Play-Along Guide to the Nashville Number System" (Hal Leonard Publications) was released in June 2010 and is now in its third printing.

His new book, “Survival Guide for the Modern Drummer” (Alfred Publishing) was released in November 2015.  He is sponsored by Ludwig, Sabian, Remo, Gibraltar, Latin Percussion, Vater, LP Roland and Shure.

For more information about this music event, one may contact the Music Department at (870) 972-2094.

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Riley Jim
Jim Riley