Teacher Profile: Jermane Dukes

About Jermane Dukes

Jermane "JD" Dukes was born in Statesboro, Georgia and began playing drums at two years of age. During his formative years, JD studied and honed his skills in the public-school system band program while also playing drums in various churches and gospel groups. Shortly after graduating from high school, JD auditioned and obtained a gig with the U.S. Army Band and became a member of the 77th Army Band in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. While assigned to the 77th U.S. Army Band, JD had the privilege of performing for the Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney. He has performed and/ or toured with : Pocket Change, The Beginning of the end, Rockin Jake, Joey Gilmore, Ethan Bortnick, Dangerflow, Kat Riggins, George Tandy Jr, RCA recording artist Toby Beau, Bill Pettaway, Melton Mustafa, Country music star Craig Morgan, Mike Gerber, Ira Sullivan, Valerie Tyson, Dottie Kelly, Jason Hainsworth, Vaughn Vkeys Henry, Joe Donato, Tim Warfield, Marshall Gilkes, Nicole Yarling, Curtis Lundy, Memphis Lightning, Denny Artache, William Hall, Rachelle Coba, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines, Bobby Thomas Jr. (Weather Report) and numerous others spanning across the US , Canada, Mexico, and Russia.

JD has an Associate of Arts degree in Jazz Performance from Broward College and is a graduate of the prestigious Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk , Virginia. He has taken private lessons from renown percussion Instructors Herlin Riley, Jonathan Joseph, Dave Chiverton, Jody Hill, Rodolfo Zuniga, Ivan Zervigon, and Fred Klatz. JD's teaching experience is extensive from private lessons to working with numerous high school and middle school drum lines. His aim is to help his students find their own style behind the drums, grow in discipline and focus, and above all, have fun!