2008 Kipawa Country Jamboree With Searson                w/Albert Kaprieilan at NAG (Photo On Right By VanBeek)

        I have performed professionally in the provinces/territories of Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Quebec, British Columbia and Nunavut, in the states of New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Montana as well as in Jamaica and in The Caribbean Sea (cruise ship show band). I have also been requested to perform in China (though the short tour was cancelled).

        I have performed at many music festivals, concert halls, event centers, restaurants and miscellaneous venues across Canada and The U.S.A., as well as on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines “Enchantment of The Seas” cruise ship as a member of “The Enchantment of the Seas Orchestra”. I have performed numerous times at The Ottawa Bluesfest including on the main stage, numerous times at The Ottawa International Jazz Festival Rideau Center Concert Series, once at The Tremblant International Blues Festival and have performed at many other music festivals across Canada and The U.S.A.. I have also made a few television performance appearances (CTV Morning Live Ottawa, Rogers Daytime Ottawa among others). I’ve also performed many times at The Casino du Lac Leamy, The National Art Gallery, The National Arts Center (private event rooms), The Chateau Laurier, The Chateau Cartier, The Westin, The Marriot, The Holiday Inn, The Hilton Hotel, The Delta Hotel, The Crown Plaza Hotel, The Museum of Civilization, The Canadian Museum of Nature and hundreds of other places.

Click Here For Audio and Video Samples of My Playing

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

w/Billy Richard’s Coasters (Billy Richards Absent)         w/Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters & Tony Williams

East Coast Music Awards Nominee Neil McDaniel

Canadian Aboriginal Music Award Winner Melisa Pash

Juno Award Winning Musician Steve Marriner

Singer/Songwriter Cory Mervin Coons (who was recently awarded The Producers Choice Award for Studio Album of the Year by the Los Angeles Music Awards)

Stéphanie St-Jean (2016 Winner of La Voix/The Voice Canada)

Boom Desjardins (Juno Award Nominee and Lead Singer for La Chicane)

Etienne Drapeau (Top 10 Finalist on “Star Académie”)

Christian Marc Gendron (Roch Voisine)

Marie-Ève Fournier (La Voix/The Voice Canada Season 2)

JF Dubé and Rudy Caya

Manon Séguin

Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters (pictured above right)

Billy Richards Coasters’ (pictured above left)

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines “Enchantment of The Seas Orchestra”

The Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Singers and Dancers

Howie and Bert On The Edge Comedy Jugglers

Tia Brazda

Hundreds of other musicians, variety artists and bands

Click Here For Audio and Video Samples of My Playing

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

       (Photo By Richard Lebel)

        3 months working as a cruise ship show band musician (drum set) for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines “Enchantment of The Seas Orchestra”

        5 months of busy intermittent touring of Canada and The U.S.A. as a professional backing musician

        I have written professional drum charts for Grammy Award Pre Nominee Rocco Ventrella and Yamaha Drum Set Artist/Zildjian Cymbals Artist Volkan Oktem

    In approximately 12 years working as a full time working musician, I have performed on over 2000 gigs/recording sessions at major music festivals, recording studios, a cruise ship, concert halls, event centers, restaurants and miscellaneous venues across Canada and The U.S.A. including some local television performance appearances. I have also performed on a number of recordings (with various artists) that are available on iTunes.

        Approximately 3 years working as the drummer for the weekly house band at Knox Fine Dining Restaurant

        I have performed and recorded with original artists as well as cover/tribute bands in many styles and under all sorts of conditions (performing with rehearsal/without rehearsal, performing with charts/without charts, performing music I am familiar with/music I am not familiar with, performing with a click track/performing without a click track, performing with a band leader/performing without a band leader.

Click Here For Audio and Video Samples of My Playing

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

• Bachelors Degree in Music (Carleton University, 2007)

• 1.5 years of study with Juno Award winning musician and Humber College of music faculty member Paul Delong (David Clayton Thomas, Kim Mitchell)

• 2 Lessons with world class drummer and Head of Percussion Studies at Humber College Mark Kelso (Michael Buble, James Taylor, Gino Vannelli)

• 4 years of lessons with world class drum set instructor Chuck R. Burrows

• 1 lesson with world class jazz drummer Ian Froman (Mike Stern)

• 1 group master class with Randy Cooke (Kelly Clarkson, Ringo Starr)

• I have attended many educational drum clinics provided by world class musicians

• Approximately 8 years of piano lessons

Click Here For Audio and Video Samples of My Playing

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

        As a drummer and holder of a bachelor of music degree from Carleton University, Mike is continuing on a music career which has already seen him perform on just over 2000 gigs and recording sessions (since going full time in 2007, in a wide range of musical styles both locally and internationally at major music festivals, concert halls, event centers, special events, weddings, restaurants and more. It has also seen him tour Canada and The U.S.A. as a professional musician, work as a cruise ship show band musician for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines “Enchantment of the Seas Orchestra” and perform drums in the production show “Stage to Screen”, which is a musical that includes music from West Side Story, Sweet Charity, Chicago and Hair Spray.

        Highlights in 2008 include 5 months of busy intermittent touring of Canada and the U.S.A as a professional musician as well as performing at the London, Ontario Sunfest. Highlights in 2009 include a performance at the Cisco Systems Ottawa Bluesfest Main Stage (Bank of America Stage) with Jeff Rogers and The Liquid Sound. Highlights in 2011 include a request to perform in China (though cancelled), the release of artist Deneece’s CD “From Bromont To Broadway” which Mike performed on and a recording session in which Mike recorded drum tracks on 3 songs for Paul Blissett’s album “Luna”. Highlights in 2013 and 2014 include 2 performances at The Ottawa RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest with Firebelly and 1 performance at The Tremblant International Blues Festival with Firebelly. Highlights in 2016 include working as an adjudicator for a graduation recital for The Carleton University Music Program.

        Mike’s career as a drummer has also provided him with the opportunity to perform with such artists as Billy Richards’ Coasters, Bill Pinkney’s Original Drifters, Juno Award winning musician Steve Marriner, East Coast Music Awards Nominee Neil McDaniel, Canadian Aboriginal Music Award Winner Melisa Pash, Singer/Songwriter Cory Mervin Coons (winner of the 2014 Producers Choice Award for Studio Album of the Year by The Los Angeles Music Awards), Stéphanie St-Jean (2016 Winner of La Voix/The Voice Canada), Boom Desjardins (Juno Award Nominee and Lead Singer for La Chicane), Etienne Drapeau (Top 10 Finalist on “Star Académie”), Christian Marc Gendron (Roch Voisine), Marie-Ève Fournier (from La Voix/The Voice Canada Season 2), JF Dubé and Rudy Caya, Manon Séguin, Howie and Bert On the Edge Comedy Jugglers, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines “Enchantment of The Seas Orchestra”, The Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Singers and Dancers, numerous choirs and hundreds of other musicians, variety artists and bands. He has also performed drums for many artists’ albums, 5 of which can be found on iTunes (3 albums and 2 singles). Mike has also written professional drum charts/transcriptions for Yamaha Drum Set Artist/Zildjian Cymbals Artist Volkan Oktem as well as Grammy Award Pre Nominee Rocco Ventrella.

        As a local freelance musician, Mike has performed professionally with numerous Carleton University associate performance teachers including Tim Bedner, Mark Ferguson, Roxanne Goodman and Rick Rangno and he has also had the privilege of performing with some other great local musicians including Mark Ferguson (Tony Bennett, Holly Cole), Mike Mullin (Natalie Cole), and Carmelo Scafidi. Mike has also filled in on gigs for Sonor Drum Set Artist/Endorser and Carleton University associate drum set performance teacher Jeff Asselin.

        Having studied many aspects of music, Mike has specialized in drum set and has studied with Chuck R. Burrows (highly respected drum set instructor), Juno Award winning musician Paul Delong (Kim Mitchell, Tom Scott), Mark Kelso (Herbie Hancock, James Taylor) and others. Mike has also taken a group master class with Randy Cooke (Ringo Starr, Kelly Clarkson) and a lesson with world class jazz drummer Ian Froman (Mike Stern). Mike’s pursuit of music and the drum set have allowed him the opportunity to play live and/or in the recording studio with a wide variety of artists including musicians, choirs, a DJ, jugglers, comedians, variety acts and dancers. It has also required him to play many styles of music ranging from rock to cha- cha, jazz to African Pop, metal to samba and blues to avant-garde classical as well as many other styles within the spectrum.

        From Ontario to Jamaica, from the U.S.A. to the Canadian prairies and from the middle of the ocean to Nunavut in the Canadian North, Mike has successfully performed as a professional musician. Mike has performed in many venues including the cruise ship main stage and orchestra pit, outdoor festival stages, hotels, event centers, recording studios and restaurants all while dealing successfully with the professional demands of chart reading/writing, rehearsing, playing to a click track, improvising, learning music by ear and performing with little or no rehearsal when necessary.

        Currently working as a full time performing musician in his home town of Ottawa, Mike is known for his strong sense of time and his desire to constantly push himself by discovering new envelope pushing drumming techniques and learning new styles of music.

        As a reliable musician with a great professional track record, Mike always strives to do his part to help make music that a group can be proud of in a positive atmosphere with other musicians/artists. He is always interested in meeting and making music with other artists in many different styles (original music as well as cover/tribute).

Click Here For Audio and Video Samples of My Playing

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

        Please click on a musical style below to check out some audio/video samples.

Rock    Jazz     Funk     Country and Country Rock    

Brush Playing   Latin (Various Styles)   

Celtic and East Coast Canadian  Singer/Songwriter         

Alternative Rock      Blues      Swing     

Musical Theater/Variety Production Shows

Acoustic     Pop       Easy Listening         Variety Lounge Act       Hard Rock

Drum Tracks For Your Songs Recorded By Me In My Studio (Samples) 

Jazz With Vocals     Rap, Hip Hop and Modern R&B    Folk and Folk Rock

R&B (Classic & Modern)    Classic Rock        “50’s and Oldies”  

Trio/Quartet Jazz    Television Appearances 

Theater Concerts             Metal       Electronic (Various Styles)         

      Progressive Rock     Caribbean (Various Styles)     

Big Band Jazz     Indie Rock    

Cruise Ship           Disco          Fusion         Show Drumming

          In The Studio               Dancer Accompaniment          Soul       

Flamenco           Various Drum Grooves       Polyrhythms          

Drum Solos

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

w/Alicia Borisonik and The Argentinian Project at The 2008 Ottawa International Jazz Festival

        I am available to perform live with bands of almost any style- either as a regular player or as a fill in player. I can also fill in at the last minute if you are stuck- I show up prepared, can read music/charts, can write my own charts, can play by ear, can play with or without rehearsal and can follow cues.

Click Here For Audio and Video Samples of My Playing

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

I am available to play drums for artists recordings (can be done in a recording studio with the artist or even remotely using my studio with the tracks uploaded to you remotely through DropBox).

Click Here For Audio and Video Samples of My Playing

Click Here To Check Out Samples of Drum Tracks Made in My Studio

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

        I am available to write professional quality drum charts and transcriptions to help with various musical projects and educational books as well as work as an editor/copyist (cleaning up drum set notation and making electronic notation versions of already existing charts).

Basic Chart (Pop/Rock)    Basic Chart (Smooth Jazz/Fusion)       

Note For Note Transcription          Drum Set Notation Key

Click Here To Go To My Drum Chart Service Website For More Info

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

       (Photo By Dave Poulin)

        I am available to teach high quality professional drums lessons through Skype or in person in some cases.

Click Here For Details On My Drum Set Program

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

        Thanks for checking out my drum tuning services!

    I travel to you and do the tuning there. Please read below for a description of my various tuning services. I also offer drum transportation/set up/pack up and return services if you need a drum set picked up, moved, set up, packed up or returned.

        Issues relating to shell roundness, bearing edge problems, bent rims and other structural issues can cause significant problems in tuning and I am not able to diagnose or fix these problems. I recommend going to a skilled drum technician for construction problems of this nature before tuning if you think there may be structural issues.

        If you have new heads to put on, don’t put them on yet. Let me do that (it’s a part of the tuning process).

        The fees for each service are listed below.

        Please note that for tuning sessions that involve significant travel I charge a travel fee (to be figured out on a case by case basis). There is no travel fee for most areas within the Ottawa/Gatineau region.

        There is a $35 minimum fee for any service.

        If I will be changing the heads, I add $1 plus tax for each head I need to change (you would provide the heads).

        13% HST (in Ontario) or 5% GST (in Quebec) would be added to the total for whatever your service comes to.

“Basic Tune Up”

$15 per drum (up to 4 drums). $10 for each additional drum beyond 4.

        Takes about 1 to 2 hours.

        I recommend this service for most people and I think it has the best bang for your buck of all of the drum tuning services I offer. For this service, I will come over and tune all of your drums. I will get the heads closely in tune with themselves. I will tune the top and bottom heads close to the same pitch (for toms and bass drum). I will base the specific tuning range for all of this on what generally sounds good for each size of drum and I will tune for an all around somewhat versatile sound. I will also tune the drums in intervals (relative to one another) that generally sound good based on the various sizes of your drums.

“Economy Tune Up” 

$35 Total

        If your budget is limited, I also offer a quick (30 minute) speed tune up in which I basically do as much as I can (on as many of your drums as I can) in 30 minutes. I can typically get through a 5 piece kit in the 30 minutes. This service can be done as your first service but can also be used as a maintenance service after you’ve had a full service (as long as the same heads are on your kit). If you would like me to spend 30 minutes on one particular drum this service could apply to that as well. This Speed Tune Up option doesn’t apply to the more advanced services below.

“Intervallic Tune Up”

$20 per drum (up to 4 drums). $15 for each additional drum beyond 4.

        Takes about 2 to 3 hours.

        For this service I will do everything in the Basic Tune Up Service but you can specify the intervals that you want between the drums. This is mostly relevant to the toms, but intervals can be specified for the snare drum and bass drum as well. This service is good for people who have a good idea of what intervallic relationships they want between the drums and have a good reason for needing their drums tuned with specific intervals between them. If you are unsure about this or have not thought about this before, I recommend the Basic Tune Up Service.

“Key Center Tune Up 1”

$25 per drum (up to 4 drums). $20 for each additional drum beyond 4.

        Takes about 3 to 4 hours.

        For this service I will do everything in the Basic Tune Up and Intervalic Tune Up, but you can also specify the key center you want your drum set to be tuned to. Again, this is mostly relevant to the toms, but the snare drum and bass drum will be placed in the key center as well. I will choose the specific fundamental pitches for each drum based on the sizes of your drums and how many drums there are (I will choose them from notes that are in the key center you want). Please note that it is possible for the key center of the drums to be interpreted differently depending on what key your band is playing in on a particular song or if one of your drums (that is not tuned to the tonic of the key center you are trying to tune to) has more resonance then the drum that is tuned to the tonic of the key center you are trying to tune to. A difference of interpretation of the key center of the drums can also occur if you are emphasizing playing one area of the kit over another (for example playing on the toms with not much snare drum or bass drum involved). This service is good for people who have a good idea of what intervallic relationships they want between the drums as well as what specific key center they want their drums tuned to and also have a good reason for needing their drums tuned to this level of specificity. If you are unsure about this or have not thought about this before, I recommend the Basic Tune Up Service.

“Key Center Tune Up 2″

$30 per drum (up to 4 drums). $25 for each additional drum beyond 4.

        Takes about 4 to 5 hours.

        For this service I will do everything in the Basic Tune Up, Intervallic Tune Up and Key Center Tune Up 1. However, you can also specify the fundamental pitches of each drum. For example, you may choose to have the 10” Tom tuned to E, 12” tom tuned to C a major third below and the 14” Floor Tom tuned to G a Perfect 4^th below that  etc.. Please note that it is possible for the key center of the drums to be interpreted differently depending on what key your band is playing in on a particular song or if one of your drums that is not tuned to the tonic of the key center you are trying to tune to has more resonance then the drum that is tuned to the tonic of the key center you are trying to tune to. A difference of interpretation of the key center of the drums can also occur if you are emphasizing playing one area of the kit over another (for example playing on the toms with not much snare drum or bass drum involved). This service is good for people who have a good idea of what kind of intervallic relationships they want between the drums, what specific key center they want their drums tuned to, what specific fundamental pitches they want each drum tuned to and have a good reason for needing their drums tuned to this level of specificity. If you are unsure about this or have not thought about this before, I recommend the Basic Tune Up Service.

“Key Center Tune Up 3”

$35 per drum (up to 4 drums). $30 for each additional drum beyond 4.

        Takes about 5 to 6 hours.

        For this service I will do everything in the Basic Tune Up, Intervallic Tune Up, Key Center Tune Up 1 and Key Center Tune Up 2 but you can also specify the interval relationship between the top and bottom heads of the toms and bass drum (not the snare drum).  For example, you may want your toms to be tuned with a minor 3rd between the top and bottom heads (bottom head being a minor 3rd above the top head for example). This service is good for people who have a good idea of what intervallic relationships they want between the drums, what specific key center they want their drums tuned to, what specific fundamental pitches they want each drum tuned to, what intervallic relationship they want between the top and bottom heads and have a good reason for needing their drums tuned to this level of specificity. If you are unsure about this or have not thought about this before, I recommend the Basic Tune Up Service.

        Please let me know the following before booking your tuning session.

        Do the drum heads have dents holes, scratches or creases in them? Your tuning results won’t be as good if your heads have significant amounts of dents, holes, scratches or creases in them but I can still do some work on them.

        Are the drum heads:

        Brand new and never been placed on a drum or played on?

        Brand new and not played on, but have been placed on drums and tensioned?

        Played on for a few weeks?

        Played on for a few months?

        Played on for more then a year?

        Are there any muffling pads, gels or tape on the drums?

        Is there any tape residue or gunk on the drums left over from tape or a previous muffling device?

        If we are putting on new heads, the tuning will change significantly once you have played on them after the initial tuning. I recommend having a tuning session to get them initially tuned and then booking a cheaper Speed Tune Up session to get them re tuned after you have logged a few hours or playing on them.

        Please note that in order for your drums to sound good you need to tune and tweak your own drums on a regular basis just like any other musical instrument. The tuning will shift regularly over time based on the physical playing of the drums and changes in temperature, humidity as well as other environmental factors. So, although this tuning service will get your drums into a good tuning range and they shouldn’t move too far from this general range, they will not stay exactly as I have tuned them. Also, even though the fundamental pitches of each drum should stay fairly close to where I have tuned them, the heads themselves may get out of tune with themselves (the exact pitch of each of the lug overtones).

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

I run a jazz ensemble called “capitalJAZZ“

“.

        “capitalJAZZ” plays jazz standards in a variety of feels (Swing, various Latin feels, Jazz Ballads, Light Funk etc..) and is suitable for background music at weddings and special events. We are very customizable- the number of musicians, the specific musical instruments, the booking length, the musicians dress code, our performance/break schedule, the timing of our set up and pack up, whether or not vocals will be included and many other elements can all be customized to suit the nature, musical needs and budget of your wedding or special event.

        For more info on the group including video samples and testimonials from past clients please check out the groups dedicated website at http://www.yourjazzensemble.com

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

        Please note, these are not drums lessons, but rhythmic ear training and rhythm reading lessons for musicians playing any instrument.

        I’ll provide you with lessons on reading, recognizing and writing rhythm through Skype.

        Depending on your needs/goals, this can include some of the following:

1. Rhythmic Reading Exercises which I can send you.

2. Interactive Exercises in which I clap and have you repeat rhythms back.

3. Rhythmic Dictation in which I clap rhythms and you write them down.

4. Numerous other advanced rhythmic training exercises including studies of polyrhythms, odd grouping/phrasings and odd subdivisions.

        I’ll help you trouble shoot issues that may be preventing you from progressing in your understanding of rhythm and we’ll work on your ability to recognize and write down rhythms as well as recognize and play rhythms by reading them.

        Due to time delays on Skype, we’ll probably not be able to play together at the same time. However, this is not 100% necessary for the lessons as most of the time you’ll be playing by yourself.

        If you have any questions feel free to send me a message!

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

      I can also provide band/musician referrals for the public. I can help put you in touch with a suitable band/musician for your event based on style and other preferences.

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

.

        I am available to write interesting educational articles related to music and drumming (for magazines or educational books).

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

        I am available to provide drum tech services for musicians, bands or event planners (drum set tuning/equipment transportation/set up/maintenance/sound check/take down).

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

        I have used drum/music gear available for sale occasionally. Please check out my Used Gear Page Here

        Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about any of the gear. Thanks!

Get in touch with me at:

mike@mcneilprodrummingottawa.ca

Maeve Delia “Heliophilia” (2020)

Red Heaven “Echolocation” (2020)

Firebelly (Self Titled) (2013)

Neil McDaniel and Kyle Felhaver “Salt, Rocks & Roots” (2012)

Cory M. Coons “Here & Now” (2012)

Paul Blissett “Luna” (2012)  For Paul Blissett’s Website Click HERE

Alan Henley “Revelations of a Life Junkie” (2012)

Deneece “From Bromont To Broadway” (2011) To Purchase Click Here

The 40’ERS “Six Pack” (2011)

Bluestone “In The Beginning” (2003)

Karocha “Karocha”

Sacre Mon Blues “Just Chillin!” (1999)

        Here is an overview of some drum set configurations that I use regularly. The drum set configuration, number of drums/cymbals/percussion instruments and their sizes, heads/head combinations, tuning configurations and the types of sticks/brushes/mallets/beaters I use change depending on the type of music involved and the space available at the venue. My “4 Piece Set” and “5 Piece Set A” are configured and tuned to be very versatile and therefore work very well for many styles of music. I can also configure and tune a drum set to achieve a specialized sound for a very specific style of music. Auxiliary percussion instruments are not listed on the diagrams below and are added on a case by case basis (same applies for double bass pedals, auxiliary snare drums etc..). For music festival/concert hall organizers and other event planners who are providing back line, I can send a full equipment rider by email.

        To touch base feel free to send me an email or give me a call

        Email is the best way to contact me and I usually respond within 12 hours or less:

michaelmcneil@sympatico.ca

        For last minute gigs feel free to call or text at (613) 762-9831  

       (Photo By Richard Lebel)

        Please consider subscribing to my YouTube Channel for weekly interesting drum/music content (drum covers, drum improvisations etc..).

        Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmWbD_Bgs37GnVIU2JwYUJg

        Here are links to the websites of some musical colleagues of mine:

Alan Henley Singer/Songwriter