Press Releases and Credits
Press
“DCI Hall of Famer Tom Aungst on John Rozum” – WGI.org Featured Interview, April 17, 2007
“WGI Focus on: Tom Aungst”
What is your marching history?
My marching percussion experience started in 1972 where I played rudimental bass and later snare in a local drum and baton corps. I continued playing snare in my high school marching and in 1979 I decided to march with a senior corps, the Reading Buccaneers. This was very interesting, because at the time I was 16 years old and I was marching in the snare line with players two, three, or even 4 times my age. I decided to march one more year with the Buccaneers, in 1980, and then in 1981 I tried out for the Garfield Cadets.
Before I go on, I must mention my private drum teacher, his name is John Rozum. I started taking drum lessons with him in the 5th grade and he is really the one that got me involved in the baton corps, the Buccaneers, and brought me to the Garfield Cadets, where at the time he was the tenor tech. He has always been a great teacher and mentor for me. So in 1981 I started with the Garfield Cadets, now just called The Cadets, and aged out in 1984, still one of my favorite drum corps shows ever. In 1985 I became the snare tech for the drumline and in 1989 the caption head and arranger. Twenty-five years later I am still teaching and writing for the Cadets.
My marching percussion experience started in 1972 where I played rudimental bass and later snare in a local drum and baton corps. I continued playing snare in my high school marching and in 1979 I decided to march with a senior corps, the Reading Buccaneers. This was very interesting, because at the time I was 16 years old and I was marching in the snare line with players two, three, or even 4 times my age. I decided to march one more year with the Buccaneers, in 1980, and then in 1981 I tried out for the Garfield Cadets.
Before I go on, I must mention my private drum teacher, his name is John Rozum. I started taking drum lessons with him in the 5th grade and he is really the one that got me involved in the baton corps, the Buccaneers, and brought me to the Garfield Cadets, where at the time he was the tenor tech. He has always been a great teacher and mentor for me. So in 1981 I started with the Garfield Cadets, now just called The Cadets, and aged out in 1984, still one of my favorite drum corps shows ever. In 1985 I became the snare tech for the drumline and in 1989 the caption head and arranger. Twenty-five years later I am still teaching and writing for the Cadets.
“Bucs 'Spring Preview' Showcases Seniors, Alumni” – Drum Corps World, May 13, 2006 by Gary Dickelman
DCW Staff
The Music Express of Cinnaminson, NJ, was simply outstanding. John "Murph' Pugliese's drum-corps-cum-big-jazz-band pushes the boundaries of the activity. Again, Larry Kerchner has created an amazing book that includes The Gypsy (a Kerchner original), Cute, Smile, Killer Joe, My Romance and Cherokee. The latter has the most amazing running contra bass line, particularly in terms of its sheer speed!
Between the solos of members, including "Murphi" Pugliese, John Urspruch, Bob Gaff, plus the amazing percussion work of John Rozum, this was a most entertaining performance, reminiscent of Doc Severinson's "Tonight Show" band. Music Express is a tribute to the creative spirit of drum corps and the dedication of members whose experiences in the activity stretch as many as six decades.
The Music Express of Cinnaminson, NJ, was simply outstanding. John "Murph' Pugliese's drum-corps-cum-big-jazz-band pushes the boundaries of the activity. Again, Larry Kerchner has created an amazing book that includes The Gypsy (a Kerchner original), Cute, Smile, Killer Joe, My Romance and Cherokee. The latter has the most amazing running contra bass line, particularly in terms of its sheer speed!
Between the solos of members, including "Murphi" Pugliese, John Urspruch, Bob Gaff, plus the amazing percussion work of John Rozum, this was a most entertaining performance, reminiscent of Doc Severinson's "Tonight Show" band. Music Express is a tribute to the creative spirit of drum corps and the dedication of members whose experiences in the activity stretch as many as six decades.
“Yankee Rebels 'Dixie Stinger' Brings Alumni Corps Together” – Drum Corps World, April 6, 2006 by Gary Dickelman
DCW Staff
The clear highlight of the evening was Music Express of Cinnaminson, NJ. Is this a drum corps? Yes; an alumni drum corps true to the tradition of becoming more musical more innovative, stretching the boundaries and increasing our capacities for amazement!
Arranger and instructor Larry Kerchner has composed and/or arranged the book-of-all-books of music, including Cute by Neal Hefti and Stanley Stein and Cherokee by Ray Noble, The Gypsy by Larry Kerchner himself, Smile by Charlie Chaplin (really!), Killer Joe by Benny Golson and My Romance by Richard Rodgers.
You see many familiar faces from the alumni drum corps scene, but they were sitting like so many jazz musicians in their almost-all-black attire. Striking is the trap set and amazing drum work of John Rozum (clearly in the tradition of Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Max Roach, et, al.) and the solo work of John Urspruch and Bob Gaff.
The clear highlight of the evening was Music Express of Cinnaminson, NJ. Is this a drum corps? Yes; an alumni drum corps true to the tradition of becoming more musical more innovative, stretching the boundaries and increasing our capacities for amazement!
Arranger and instructor Larry Kerchner has composed and/or arranged the book-of-all-books of music, including Cute by Neal Hefti and Stanley Stein and Cherokee by Ray Noble, The Gypsy by Larry Kerchner himself, Smile by Charlie Chaplin (really!), Killer Joe by Benny Golson and My Romance by Richard Rodgers.
You see many familiar faces from the alumni drum corps scene, but they were sitting like so many jazz musicians in their almost-all-black attire. Striking is the trap set and amazing drum work of John Rozum (clearly in the tradition of Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Max Roach, et, al.) and the solo work of John Urspruch and Bob Gaff.
The Music Express is one quality organization that makes us all proud to be a part of the tradition of excellence that has its roots in the alumni movement. Great work, Larry, Chris, Ray, Phil, Gabe, Joe, Bob, Cindy (that would be Tru Crawford's daughter) and the rest of you from the Yankee Rebels, New York Skyliners, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, Hawthorne Caballeros, Reilly Raiders and who knows, there may be a few Apple knockers in the mix!
“In Drum Circles, You Can't Beat John Rozum” – Reading Eagle, December 06, 2001
By Jim Speese Eagle/Times Correspondent
John Rozum, a Berks County drummer of some renown, will present a free clinic Saturday at noon at Zeswitz Big Z Music, 5550 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township.
Called "Adventures in Solo Drumming", this presentation will include exercises such as "Shifting Accents", "Sticking Variations with Sextuplets" and "5 Against 4". In addition, topics like "Stick Response-Rebound Control" and "Feet Patterns-Foot Technique" will be covered.
If, like me, this is all Greek to you, be assured that basic topics such as "Quality of Sound", "Grooves" and "Creativity" are also on the docket.
Also be assured that drummers, those most often overlooked of musicians, know what Rozum is talking about. And when Rozum talks, drummers listen - for good reason.
Rozum has grown up with the drums, and has trained many of the best drummers in the Berks area. (In fact, one of Rozum's more notable pupils is his own son, Shane, now playing with Mercy River.)
The elder Rozum has been playing and teaching drums professionaly for 34 years.
John Rozum, a Berks County drummer of some renown, will present a free clinic Saturday at noon at Zeswitz Big Z Music, 5550 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township.
Called "Adventures in Solo Drumming", this presentation will include exercises such as "Shifting Accents", "Sticking Variations with Sextuplets" and "5 Against 4". In addition, topics like "Stick Response-Rebound Control" and "Feet Patterns-Foot Technique" will be covered.
If, like me, this is all Greek to you, be assured that basic topics such as "Quality of Sound", "Grooves" and "Creativity" are also on the docket.
Also be assured that drummers, those most often overlooked of musicians, know what Rozum is talking about. And when Rozum talks, drummers listen - for good reason.
Rozum has grown up with the drums, and has trained many of the best drummers in the Berks area. (In fact, one of Rozum's more notable pupils is his own son, Shane, now playing with Mercy River.)
The elder Rozum has been playing and teaching drums professionaly for 34 years.
.jpg "John Rozum Holding Drum Stick")
In that time, he has placed many of his students in county, district and state bands and orchestras, and even in many of the top Drum Corps Association and Drum Corps International drum and bugle corps in the country.
Along these lines, Rozum has arranged and instructed more than 40 percussion lines for drum corps and marching bands - everyone from Reading's own Buccaneers to Harrisburg's Westshoremen to Montgomery, Alabama's South Wind.
And established free-lance jazz drummer, Rozum has played with big bands and combos all over the Northeast. As such, he is an accomplished live and studio musician, and has played with a number of celebrities, including Helen O'Connel, Dick Shawn, Al Cohn and Richie Cole. He has also performed with former members of the Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Glenn Miller, Henry James and Tommy Dorsey orchestras.
Additionally, Rozum was the percussionist for more than 30 Reading Civic Opera musicals, and he was the musical director of the marching percussion segment for the NFL animated cartoon "Grunt and Punt".
He has been honored by being listed in the International Drum Teachers Guide for Modern Drummer magazine. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, and is on staff as percussion arranger for the periodical The International Association of Rudimental Percussionists, and is the three-time Drum Corps Association drum set champion.
These days, Rozum performs with the Sam Peters Swing Band and the Kutztown and West Chester Aluni Jazz Bands. He also is the percussion arranger and instructor for the Reading and Oley Valley marching bands, and spends a lot of his time judging for marching and jazz contests throughout the state.
What all this means, of course, is that drumming is the John Rozum's life. And instinctual feel for the instrument and a disciplined adherence to practice, as well a sa curiousity that always drives him to listen to new and different players, has combined to create Rozum, essentially the archetype of the drummer/drum instructor.
If not for love of the instrument, he might get frustrated. If not for the discipline, he might grow careless. If not for the curiousity, he might become apathetic. Luckily, Rozum is none of these, and his energy, desire and love of all this percussion continue to drive him to new heights.
Rozum the instructor is not new to drum clinics either. He has been a clinician for the Vic Firth drum stick corporation, The Percussive Arts Society, The Berks Jazz Fest, The Mid-Atlantic Percussion Society, The Cavalcade of Bands and The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.
Any drummer who has not had the opportunity or pleasure to meet and learn from this Berks drumming legend needs to visit his clinic at Zeswitz this weekend. As an added incentive, Zeswitz will be giving away door prizes, including a snare drum.
A splendid (if somewhat noisy) time is guaranteed for all.
Along these lines, Rozum has arranged and instructed more than 40 percussion lines for drum corps and marching bands - everyone from Reading's own Buccaneers to Harrisburg's Westshoremen to Montgomery, Alabama's South Wind.
And established free-lance jazz drummer, Rozum has played with big bands and combos all over the Northeast. As such, he is an accomplished live and studio musician, and has played with a number of celebrities, including Helen O'Connel, Dick Shawn, Al Cohn and Richie Cole. He has also performed with former members of the Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Glenn Miller, Henry James and Tommy Dorsey orchestras.
Additionally, Rozum was the percussionist for more than 30 Reading Civic Opera musicals, and he was the musical director of the marching percussion segment for the NFL animated cartoon "Grunt and Punt".
He has been honored by being listed in the International Drum Teachers Guide for Modern Drummer magazine. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, and is on staff as percussion arranger for the periodical The International Association of Rudimental Percussionists, and is the three-time Drum Corps Association drum set champion.
These days, Rozum performs with the Sam Peters Swing Band and the Kutztown and West Chester Aluni Jazz Bands. He also is the percussion arranger and instructor for the Reading and Oley Valley marching bands, and spends a lot of his time judging for marching and jazz contests throughout the state.
What all this means, of course, is that drumming is the John Rozum's life. And instinctual feel for the instrument and a disciplined adherence to practice, as well a sa curiousity that always drives him to listen to new and different players, has combined to create Rozum, essentially the archetype of the drummer/drum instructor.
If not for love of the instrument, he might get frustrated. If not for the discipline, he might grow careless. If not for the curiousity, he might become apathetic. Luckily, Rozum is none of these, and his energy, desire and love of all this percussion continue to drive him to new heights.
Rozum the instructor is not new to drum clinics either. He has been a clinician for the Vic Firth drum stick corporation, The Percussive Arts Society, The Berks Jazz Fest, The Mid-Atlantic Percussion Society, The Cavalcade of Bands and The Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.
Any drummer who has not had the opportunity or pleasure to meet and learn from this Berks drumming legend needs to visit his clinic at Zeswitz this weekend. As an added incentive, Zeswitz will be giving away door prizes, including a snare drum.
A splendid (if somewhat noisy) time is guaranteed for all.
Credits
Organizations
- The Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC)
- The International Association for Jazz Educators (IAJE)
- Drum Corps Associates (DCA)
- United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA)
- Tournament of Bands Outdoor and Indoor Association (TOB – TIDA)
- Cavalcade of Bands Outdoor and Indoor Association (COB – CIDA)
- Keystone Indoor Drill Association (KIDA)
- Mid-Atlantic Percussion Society (MAPS)
Drum Lines (Percussion Arrangements and Instruction for Drum Corps, Colleges, High Schools, and Middle Schools)
Reading Buccaneers SR. and Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps Reading, PA DCA Champions, 1968/1979 Staff Coordinator, 1996
Skyliners SR. Drum and Bugle Corps New York, NY
Sunrisers SR. Drum and Bugle Corps Edison, NJ
Lehigh Valley Chieftains SR. Drum and Bugle Corps Allentown, PA
Westshoremen SR. Drum and Bugle Corps Harrisburg, PA
Garfield Cadets JR. Drum and Bugle Corps Garfield, NJ
Southwind JR. Drum and Bugle Corps Montgomery, AL
Pioneers/Black Diamond Regiment JR. Drum and Bugle Corps Lebanon, PA
Highlanders JR. Drum and Bugle Corps Hazleton, PA
Boutiques Twirling and Drum Corps West Lawn, PA Best Drum Line, Hamburg King Frost Parade, 1975 to1985
Desperados Twirling and Drum Corps Shillington, PA
Kutztown University Kutztown, PA
Lebanon Valley College Lebanon, PA
Wilson High School West Lawn, PA CMBC Percussion Champions, 1991 First Place, Indoor Drum Line Competition Orlando, Florida, 1992
Governor Mifflin High School Shillington, PA
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Norristown, PA
Spring-Ford High School Royersford, PA
Souderton High School Souderton, PA
Schuylkill Valley High School Leesport, PA
Skyliners SR. Drum and Bugle Corps New York, NY
Sunrisers SR. Drum and Bugle Corps Edison, NJ
Lehigh Valley Chieftains SR. Drum and Bugle Corps Allentown, PA
Westshoremen SR. Drum and Bugle Corps Harrisburg, PA
Garfield Cadets JR. Drum and Bugle Corps Garfield, NJ
Southwind JR. Drum and Bugle Corps Montgomery, AL
Pioneers/Black Diamond Regiment JR. Drum and Bugle Corps Lebanon, PA
Highlanders JR. Drum and Bugle Corps Hazleton, PA
Boutiques Twirling and Drum Corps West Lawn, PA Best Drum Line, Hamburg King Frost Parade, 1975 to1985
Desperados Twirling and Drum Corps Shillington, PA
Kutztown University Kutztown, PA
Lebanon Valley College Lebanon, PA
Wilson High School West Lawn, PA CMBC Percussion Champions, 1991 First Place, Indoor Drum Line Competition Orlando, Florida, 1992
Governor Mifflin High School Shillington, PA
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Norristown, PA
Spring-Ford High School Royersford, PA
Souderton High School Souderton, PA
Schuylkill Valley High School Leesport, PA
Oley Valley High School Oley, PA Apple Blossom Champions, Winchester, VA, 1973 Best Music, New Holland Parade, 2005/2006
Fleetwood High School Fleetwood, PA
Reading High School Reading, PA Best Percussion Line, Wilson Cavalcade of Bands, 1992/1993 First Place, Cavalcade of Bands, American Division, 1995
Middleburg High School Middleburg, PA
Elco High School Myerstown, PA
Pottstown High School Pottstown, PA
Kutztown High School Kutztown, PA
Lancaster-McCaskey High School Lancaster, PA
Upper Darby High School Upper Darby, PA
Muhlenberg High School Temple, PA
Downingtown High School Downingtown, PA First Place, Cavalcade of Bands, Yankee Division, 1995
Hempfield High School Landisville, PA
Saucon Valley High School Hellertown, PA
Boyertown High School Boyertown, PA First Place, Cavalcade of Bands, Yankee Division “A” Class Best Percussion, 2005
Owen J. Roberts High School Pottstown, PA
Wilson Central JR. High School West Lawn, PA
Wilson Southern JR. High School West Lawn, PA
Reading Middle School Reading, PA
Governor Mifflin JR. High School Shillington, PA
Fleetwood High School Fleetwood, PA
Reading High School Reading, PA Best Percussion Line, Wilson Cavalcade of Bands, 1992/1993 First Place, Cavalcade of Bands, American Division, 1995
Middleburg High School Middleburg, PA
Elco High School Myerstown, PA
Pottstown High School Pottstown, PA
Kutztown High School Kutztown, PA
Lancaster-McCaskey High School Lancaster, PA
Upper Darby High School Upper Darby, PA
Muhlenberg High School Temple, PA
Downingtown High School Downingtown, PA First Place, Cavalcade of Bands, Yankee Division, 1995
Hempfield High School Landisville, PA
Saucon Valley High School Hellertown, PA
Boyertown High School Boyertown, PA First Place, Cavalcade of Bands, Yankee Division “A” Class Best Percussion, 2005
Owen J. Roberts High School Pottstown, PA
Wilson Central JR. High School West Lawn, PA
Wilson Southern JR. High School West Lawn, PA
Reading Middle School Reading, PA
Governor Mifflin JR. High School Shillington, PA