Hi, I'm Taylor.

Since 2012 I've taught percussion in Texas band programs from 4A to 6A — programs competing at Bands of America, and programs building from very little. Percussion director, assistant drumline director, front ensemble tech, and the person a program calls when a section has stalled.

The work is the same every time: rebuild the section, write the curriculum, and leave behind systems that outlast whoever is standing on the podium.

I'm currently taking consulting and clinic work across North Texas, and private lessons through my partner campuses.

• Castleberry ISD — Fort Worth 4A · Assistant Band Director and Percussion Director 2020–26
• Duncanville ISD 6A · Assistant Percussion Director. Bands of America. 2019–20
• Lewisville ISD 6A · Assistant Percussion Instructor, high school and feeder middle schools. 2018–19
• Wedgewood and Crowley Middle Schools — Fort Worth MS · Private lesson instructor 2018–19
• Cleburne ISD 5A · Assistant Percussion Director and Middle School Percussion Coordinator. USBands. 2015–18
• UNT Green Brigade Marching Band — Denton College · Cymbal line and field technician 2012–16
• Grapevine High School 5A · Assistant Drumline Director and private lesson instructor 2012–15

Percussion coordinator for region and district bands — TMEA Regions 2 and 30, and ATSSB Region 5/30. I also run beginner placement testing for programs each year and take regular clinic and guest instruction across Texas.

Before college, I was quad section leader with Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps and performed throughout the Flower Mound High School band program — drumline, percussion ensemble, musical orchestra, and concert bands. The drumline won two PASIC titles during those years. At Flower Mound, I studied with Sandi Rennick, Nick Werth, Alicia Welch, Dennis Carty, and Matt Quinlan.

I earned a BA in Music with a concentration in Percussion from the University of North Texas in 2018. My studies there included work with Mark Ford, Christopher Deane, Paul Rennick, Nicholas Williams, José Aponte, Henry Okstel, Mike Drake, Poovalur Sriji, Ed Smith, Dave Hall, Matt Jordan, Rich Bono, Daniel Darrah, Chris McWilliams, Ryan Kilgore, and Doc Schietroma.

I performed with the Green Brigade, Brass Band, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensembles, Afro-Cuban Ensemble, and Brazilian Ensemble. I later returned to the Green Brigade staff and taught its cymbal line for several years, serving as a cymbal-line and field technician from 2012 to 2016.

I founded Backwerd Rimshot, LLC to turn repeatable solutions from band halls and lesson rooms into products. The goal started simply: make life easier for percussion directors. The work is widening as the same kinds of problems show up across music programs.

Praxis Percussion brings program, studio, and tech work together. Passoffs is being developed as its own performance-review system. Backwerd Rhythm Shop keeps practical browser tools free and easy to use.

Visit Backwerd Rimshot Open the Rhythm Shop