Drum, Percussion, and Digital Music Education with Todd the Rocket

For Students of All Ages and Interests Seeking to Learn About Today's Music

 

Todd the Rocket Richard is a performing and teaching drummer, percussionist, DJ and producer educating in contemporary musical idioms and issues.

 

Todd strives to utilize all available resources and technology to prepare students of all needs for lives with music, whether as professionals or life-long lovers of musical arts.

EMAIL FOR MORE INFO

 Todd the Rocket Richard | 207.671.6461 | toddtherocket@me.com

Hello students and parents! My name is Todd Richard, but many friends and fellow musicians call me Todd the Rocket. I am a career musician,  performing and educating in drums, percussion, music technology, and other areas of professional music for over 25 years. 

I’ve had the honor of studying music from phenomenal teachers and organizations, as well as learning from thousands of my own performances, offering invaluable on the job experience that can’t be replicated.

If we understand music to be a universal language, then we also understand that it needs to be available to everyone, regardless of their interests and what they decide to do with it. I’ve  instructed students ranging in age from 4 to 74, and worked to inspire and educate students looking for a new hobby, looking for a new creative outlet, or wanting to explore a career.

The approach is universally the same. I strive to attach techniques and lessons to practicum, applying new skills to familiar music as quickly as possible. Students can expect to be seated at a drum set the first lesson, and virtually every lesson thereafter. Fundamentals are taught from the perspective of the drum set, unquestionably one of the most essential and exciting elements in modern music. 

In addition to instruction and performance, I’ve worked in arts and entertainment management and marketing for over 20 years, and use these skills to mentor students who are seeking to audition for school programs, college admission, and various professional opportunities within arts & entertainment. 

For Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters, I will be offering private, group, and family lessons either at my home studio in Glastonbury, or at your residence in the Greater Hartford area.

With the holidays upon us, giving the gift of music could change the life of a student.  If you are considering asking for a drum set as a gift, or considering gifting your aspiring student an instrument, please be in touch! I’ve worked with countless students and parents to price and procure the right instrument for each student. 

As technology and popular music have evolved, one thing has stayed the same; music is a vital language to connect the people in our world, and the practice and art of music is as valuable to students as ever. 

I’d love to speak with you, students and parents alike, about bringing your drumming to the next level, whether a beginner just getting started, or more seasoned and experienced players. 

Past Institutional and Organizational Teaching Experience:

Maine Academy of Modern Music | Portland, ME | Hip Hop Camp Administrator

Waynflete Academy | Portland, ME | Interim Percussion Instructor

Lexington Christian Academy | Lexington, MA | Jazz Ensemble Director | Private Instructor

Nantucket Chamber Music Center | Nantucket, MA | Faculty Percussion Instructor

Private Studio | Portland, ME, Nantucket, MA, Beverly, MA | Private Instructor

The Music Connection | Beverly, MA |  Private Percussion Instructor

Workshops and Lectures:
Parks & Recreation Department | Kennebunk, ME | Percussion Playshops

Boys and Girls Club | Greater Portland, ME | Hip Hop Summer Camp

Spurwink School | Casco, ME | Hip Hop Artist-in-Residency Program

Artist Site at: www.therocket.name

Music Business Site at: www.rocketresources.com

RECENT & PAST WORK

JONATHAN EDWARDS

In spring of 2021, the Rocket’s recording sessions with the inimitable and legendary singer/songwriter Jonathan Edwards were released on his album, “Right Where I Am,” on Jonathan‘s independent Rising Records imprint

DON CAMPBELL BAND

In fall of 2021, Todd The Rocket returns to the road as a special guest with the Don Campbell Band for a string of dates, including Midwest and New England tour stops. During his tenure as the full-time drummer for Don Campbell and the Don Campbell Band, Todd The Rocket performed over 10 seasons worth of tour dates, and contributed to three original music recordings, as well as a 2-CD set in tribute to the music of Dan Fogelberg. Highlights with the Don Campbell Band include: opening for Willie Nelson for a capacity crowd, performing at the 1st Annual Country Music Festival at Gillette Stadium, feature sets at the Nashville Country Music Association Fan Fair, and opening credits that include Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, Big & Rich, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, Marshall Tucker Band, Three Dog Night, and countless other luminary artists and legendary venues.

BILLY VOSS

In the summer of 2018, Todd The Rocket reunited with his longtime musical partner Billy Voss, with whom he got his start in professional music on Nantucket Island many years ago. In the early 90s, they were performing on Main Street Nantucket during the summer for spare change. Months later, they would be getting noticed by industry personalities at open mics and stages around Boston. They quickly moved from casual street gigs to clubs, concert venues, and record label showcases. They later worked with Ozone Entertainment, home of Company Flow, Mike Ladd, and other emerging independent hip-hop artists at the time. They toured the East Coast, on their own self-powered tours, as well as opening for Dave Matthews Band, Vertical Horizon, and even jamming with Edwin McCain playing his hits for an unsuspecting street audience. Billy and Todd were honored to serve as the impromptu backing band for The Voice winner Brynn Cartelli during several of her many trips to her summer home of Nantucket. Billy and Todd have remained working through quarantine, developing creative and recording projects, and now resuming summertime beachside gigs when the sun is shining. They also collaborate as a DJ and drum duo, playing select private events around the Northeast.

MISS FAIRCHILD

Shortly after their founding in the mid-2000s, Todd The Rocket joined the pop funk explosion Miss Fairchild as their live drummer, supporting his younger brother/frontman Travis “Daddy Wrall “Richard. During the ensuing several years, the band toured the US and Canada, as well as headlining shows around the Northeast, and opening for acts such as Chromeo and Nikka Costa. Before the days of Instagram vanity, Miss Fairchild cultivated their own independent style of homegrown and homemade superstar.

KATE SCHROCK &

TODD THE ROCKET

In the late 2000s, Maine-based singer/songwriter Kate Schrock and Todd The Rocket began performing as a duo after meeting at a panel discussion of career defining mistakes in the music business. Their collaboration lasted several seasons, and included live dates with founding saxophonist of Bob Marley’s Wailers, Glen DaCosta, and work with Canadian Punk rock legend Dave Rave, of Teenage Head fame. The duo released a live album, entitled PCMH, and Todd the Rocket also remixed one of Kate Schrock‘s earlier songs, called “Water’s Edge.”

SUMNER MCKANE

GROUP

Todd the Rocket has served as the sometime – drummer for Sumner McKane and the Sumner McKane group, an ambient instrumental guitar-based group based in coastal Maine. Sumner is an electric guitar wunderkind that has released several independent albums,  receiving international acclaim and airplay on NPR‘s “Echoes” program. In addition to several live dates around the region, including one in support of instrumental band Caspian, Sumner McKane Group wrote a live score to the classic silent documentary film “Nanook of the North.” The band performed the score along with a screening of the film at many arthouse theaters and concert halls around New England. The band later recorded a CD version of the score, entitled “Nanook.”

ANDY HAPPEL &

LOS GALACTACOS

tStill pinching his teenage self out of disbelief, Todd the Rocket has been honored and thrilled to serve as drummer, percussionist, collaborator with composer/songwriter/multi instrumentalist/producer Andy Happel, of Thanks to Gravity. Growing up on the island of Nantucket, Thanks to Gravity were a regular stop on the island during the mid 90s heyday of College rock. Their success, despite a sound larger than rock radio, was a constant inspiration and source of envy.

Many years later, after meeting in Maine, Happel would ask Todd the Rocket to play all of the hand percussion parts on his debut solo record “Dreaming by the Sea.“ A band was formed around this recording, and live dates were performed for the next several years.

Happel would later form the pan-global string band Los Galactacos, featuring Todd the Rocket on percussion, and Drew Wyman from Thanks to Gravity on bass, with frequent collaborators Pete Witham and Jon Cooper on guitars. Todd the Rocket would also join Thanks to Gravity on stage playing percussion for a live reunion concert, at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Career pinnacle moment.

"WAITING ON A CAR" (ROCKET'S RELOVE - SMALLER HILL EDIT)

A REMIX OF JONI MITCHELL'S CLASSIC FROM "COURT & SPARK"

 


With all reverence and appreciation due to this hero, legend, visionary.
Thank you, Joni, for everything.
Video Footage Courtesy of the National Archives.

LISTEN ON SOUNDCLOUD

FOLLOW YOU DOWN (Rocket's Sweeter Re-love)

A remix of an unreleased track by my friend, the inimitable Gene McDaniels.