Meet Kevin Katich

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kevin Katich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevin, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The music industry is incredibly broad, especially if you are a freelancer who has developed a number of skills and has multiple interests. I’m a drummer, percussionist, audio engineer and songwriter. I have worked as a professional drummer and percussionist for nearly twenty years, and the frequency of work is unpredictable and thus, so is the pay. I have been a working freelance drum teacher for 16 years, 11 of which I also worked at School of Rock West LA part time. Between working as a drummer/percussionist, audio engineer and teacher, my most consistent income has always come from teaching, hands down. About four years ago, I decided to prioritize the teaching business for that exact reason, which has not only created a far more financially stable and fun life for me that is less stressful, but it’s also positively effected my work as a drummer/percussionist. Prior to prioritizing Kevin Katich Lessons, I would take every paying gig I could get. Now that I have financial freedom, I’m able to be a lot pickier about the gigs/recording sessions I choose to do. This has enabled me to specialize in rock, metal and reggae, the three genres I’m most passionate about and it has enabled me to start getting back to writing my own music, which ultimately means that I’m playing music for all the reasons I pursued music in the first place. Prioritizing this business has been liberating in more ways than one!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a working drummer and percussionist and have been teaching freelance since I was 19 years old (I’m now 35) and also worked part time at School of Rock West LA for 11 of those years. Up to about age 30, I treated teaching as a side hustle to support my music career. Since lockdown, it’s become a main priority, as during that time I was able to pick up students all over the country and world over zoom. Prior to lockdown I would teach at the student’s home, and a year and a half ago, I opened my teaching studio, where local students come to me (and I still teach online to students out of the city/state/country). My teaching philosophy is centered around ergonomics and efficiency and allowing the sticks and pedals to handle the majority of the work. I specialize in Moeller technique and French technique for the hands, slide and heel-toe techniques for the feet, as well as posture, balance and breath work. Fellow professionals, including jazz legend Marvin Smitty Smith and touring metal drummer, Greg Amentt have come to me while on tour or in between tours for me to help clean up their technique and undo bad habits, which is just as rewarding as starting someone on their musical journey or taking a drummer from one level to another.

The journey to getting to this point has been long, unpredictable and filled with some tough life lessons. I never would have envisioned that the path to financial freedom would be through freelance teaching, but it has been incredibly rewarding and liberating. It has also been putting me in touch with my younger self and the reason I even began pursuing music in the first place. I’ve learned that the music industry itself is an unpredictable dumpster fire that is progressively becoming more uncertain and you can only truly rely on yourself. In order to create my reality in such a way that I’m always around music and always creating is by teaching others to do the same. I’m most proud that I’ve been able to build a stable business with consistent and growing income around my passion. It really is fantastic and I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned along the way that brought me to this point.

If you have any interest in starting your drumming journey or are an advanced drummer looking to push past a plateau or undo some bad habits you’ve developed along the way and want to become more fluid and efficient with less physical effort while playing/performing, then don’t hesitate to reach out to me via the contact form at www.kevinkatichlessons.com Allow me to help you! Through sixteen years of teaching experience and revising my methods with more information I have learned through teaching each student, I have a method that works and will get you there quickly and efficiently if you put in the work between lessons. I guarantee it! I also cater the lessons to the student’s needs and interests specifically once we get past beginner territory. Individual instruction based around goals has always been a top priority for me as a teacher.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
That all depends on the friend and what they are into or about. I love secret hiking trails, especially in the Palisades lately. Of course historic venues, particularly in Hollywood, especially if a favorite band or artist is playing. If I am playing a show, of course that would take up one of the nights. My girlfriend and I also love theme parks, so if the friend is down for some extreme coasters, Knott’s Berry Farm and/or Six Flags are always great options. I cook for myself much more often than going out these days, so I’d make dinner (various vegetarian food) some of the nights. There are some great pizza and Italian restaurants in my area, like The Dough Room, Lenzini’s, The Coop. We would likely go to Little Tokyo in downtown one of those nights, which hosts some outstanding Japanese restaurants and great hangouts. I frequent the Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach, so at least one day would be spent at one of those two places (or both, since they are so close) in the afternoon/evening to catch the sunset. It would also be fun to hit a more remote beach one of the days, maybe in Malibu.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give credit where credit is due! I have to thank my parents for raising me right and supporting my passion from the beginning. I got my work ethic from my Dad, who is never one to make excuses and always gets a job done. I picked up financial wisdom from my Mom, who always makes very well thought-out decisions. The late great, Mark Craney (drummer of Jethro Tull, Dweezil Zappa, Jean-Luc Ponty, Gino Vanelli and Tower of Power) was my main mentor growing up. He taught me a lot of musical and life lessons, both intentionally and inadvertently and gave me a greater understanding of the type of drummer I always wanted to be. So I will dedicate this shoutout to all three of them.

Website: www.kevinkatichlessons.com

Instagram: @lucid_drummer

Image Credits
Graveyard shot by Natalie Castellanos The photo of myself and the middle-aged gentleman is of me and jazz legend Marvin Smitty Smith when he came by for a lesson. Photos of students by Kevin Katich