Aquarian Family

Phil Smith

Phillip Smith is the Director of Percussion at South Plains College. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music from the University of Tennessee and a Master's Degree in Music from the University of Memphis. His career includes international tours, masterclasses, and residencies, along with thousands of domestic performances and recording sessions. He has a prominent online teaching presence through his YouTube channel, @drummersweeklygroovecast. There you can access his podcast as well as the very popular video series Two-Minute Lessons.     Since arriving in West Texas, Phil has grown the South Plains College commercial music percussion studio and established Groove Day, which has featured legendary drummers Omar Hakim, Kenny Aronoff, John JR Robinson, and Sonny Emory. Groove Day is a public, annual event that celebrates percussionists through a full day of masterclasses, performances, Q&A sessions, and giveaways. He also continues his research and writing with his latest article, Real-Time Hearing, which was published in the Percussive Arts Society's official journal, Percussive Notes Magazine. Phil is also a member of the Percussive Arts Society Drum Set Committee.     Phil's former students have gone on to study at the Berklee College of Music, the University of Georgia, the University of Tennessee, the University of North Carolina School for the Arts, Columbia University, the University of North Texas, Brigham Young University, Texas Tech University, Georgia State University, Ohio State University, and other prestigious schools of music. Other students have toured with various international acts, including Cirque Du Soleil, Lindsay Ell, Reba McEntire, Five Eight, The Psychedelic Furs, and various symphony orchestras.