Paul Nieft, Jr. - Drum   Paul Nieft, Jr. is a dedicated teacher and an active player with forty years of experience. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude from the University of Toledo, and is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society.

     In addition, he is a seasoned session veteran who has played on hundreds of jingles and recording aired in the US, Europe and Japan. Some of these recordings include custom music for Champion Spark Plug, Pizza Hut, the University of Toledo, Marco's Pizza, Toledo Zoological Gardens, American Cancer Society, the Andersons Toledo Mud Hens, and jingles which have aired on ABC, NBC, and CBS Broadcast companies. Mr. Nieft has also performed in the orchestra for professional theatrical productions of "Show Boat", "Tom Jones", "Fiddler on the Roof", and "Mame". He is the senior instructor at Durdel's Music in Toledo, Ohio, and performs with the "Night Hawks" jazz band in venues throughout the Midwest.

     Mr. Nieft's areas of expertise include the drum set (jazz, rock, Latin & ethnic styles) and snare drum, (contemporary rudimental style, and ancient European Swiss style, concert and symphonic styles). He is also an ethnomusicologist who has studied the hand drumming of many cultures including Cuba, East Europe, Brazil, Africa, and the Arabic Middle East. Mr. Nieft has undertaken studies in comparative ethnomusicology to glean out the fundamental building blocks of rhythm that are the foundation of all drumming styles. He conducts ensemble classes in various hand drumming styles.

     Mr. Nieft brings thirty-five years teaching experience to his students and stresses the importance of developing their own unique identities on the drum set. Drumming is an art and a great joy and these fundamental concepts are at the heart of Mr. Nieft's teaching program.