176 – Joe Crabtree: Drummer, Educator, Developer, Drumming For Wishbone Ash, Developing Apps (PolyNome), Creating Comprehensive Online Lessons

Joe Crabtree played his first professional gig at 14 and was teaching by age 15.

After studying Physics at Durham University (where he spent the majority of his time playing with function bands, small jazz bands and the university big band) he returned to teaching and playing in the North of England for a few years before moving to London to embark on a career as a professional musician.

He played and recorded with a number of original bands before joining the David Cross (King Crimson) band in 2004. He played shows with David Cross in Japan, Italy, and the UK before leaving to join Pendragon.

After a couple of European tours with Pendragon including 2 DVD releases he joined classic rock legends Wishbone Ash in 2007 and remains their drummer to the present day.

His sense of rhythm and melody led to production and and co-writing credits with Elena, the David Cross Band, and Wishbone Ash. Joe co-wrote songs on Wishbone Ash’s “Elegant Stealth” and “Blue Horizon”which he also co-produced.

In his down time from touring Joe created an online music school – JoeCrabtree.com, as well as an extremely versatile and useful metronome app called the PolyNome. 

He has also helped to redefine how we learn and understand complex odd time signatures with a revolutionary method called the Key Counting Method. 

Discounts available for WDP listeners for Joe’s website and the Key Counting Method

To receive 10% off, enter the affiliate/discount code for KeyCounting.com : http://keycounting.com/workingdrummer

At http://www.JoeCrabtree.com/join, you can get 20% off an annual Gold Pass, or the lifetime Platinum Pass with the coupon code WORKINGDRUMMER

In this podcast, Joe talks about: 

* Learning how to write code and developing the PolyNome app

* Facing and overcoming your fears 

* The many useful features of the PolyNome

* Drumming for Wishbone Ash

* Creating content that you enjoy 

* The “Key Counting Method” as a tool to understanding odd time signatures

* Drumming “vocabulary” as key

* Cultivating other interests outside of drumming

Joe endorses: Sonor Drums, Vic Firth Sticks, Zildjian Cymbals and Evans Drumheads