Teacher Profile: Cole Stover
About Cole Stover
Cole completed his bachelor’s degree in percussion performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in 2019. He studied with Michael Spiro, Steve Houghton, Kevin Bobo, and John Tafoya at university, and countless other incredible instructors since he began playing drums in 3rd grade. He grew up in many places as an Air Force child, but calls Colorado and Georgia home. He has benefited from diverse instruction in orchestral percussion, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian percussion, popular and jazz drumset, popular and jazz vocals, and Afro-Cuban folkloric and popular vocal genres. His passion for music has grown exponentially since he began playing the drumset, and today he is an active free-lance musician, songwriter, and teacher based in Castle Rock, CO.
As a performer, Cole is an experienced percussionist, drummer, and vocalist. Some career highlights include performing with Bootsy Collins at the Cincinnati Music Festival, touring with the IU Soul Revue, IU Wind Ensemble, and the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, running and performing with his own cover band Top Shelf, and performances with Michael Spiro, Wayne Wallace, Jeremy Allen, and many others. As a recording artist, Cole can be heard with the Liberation Music Collective, Matixando, Los Niños de la Noche, Soneros de la Caliza, and countless Indiana University faculty and student musicians.
As a teacher, Cole has taught percussion students at Feagin Mill Middle School, given clinics on traditional Afro-Cuban percussion at University of Central Florida and Indiana University, and taught drumset, percussion, and vocal students privately since 2010. He is currently the coach for the Pikes Peak Winds percussion section at the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association, a percussion coach at Pine Creek High School, and a private lesson instructor in Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Denver, and the surrounding areas.
Cole’s approach to instruction is rooted in a solid technical foundation and a thorough understanding of basic musical concepts that are crucial to developing musicianship and understanding music theory. While he has his preferred methods and books to assist instruction and practice, he understands that each student is unique, and is committed to tailor each lesson to an individual’s needs while maintaining a fun and productive atmosphere. He encourages his students to listen to music often and attend live performances whenever possible to help cultivate a passion for music and practice.