From St. Louis, MO, Adam Tevlin has been drumming since he was ten years old. Coming from over 100 years of family drumming, his uncle inspired him to take up the drums. Not being able to afford drum lessons, Tevlin joined his grade school band at age twelve to learn rudiments and how to read music. A year later after studying with his first private teacher; Dan Luebbert, he was promoted to the high school marching band. At fifteen, he started teaching private lessons to students entering the high school band program. His sophomore year, Tevlin began studying under Mike Davis (now DCI judge and cofounder of Freedom Percussion) learning the traditional grip and drum corps style playing. His involvement in many musical groups such as the Missouri All State Lion’s Band, Colts Drum and Bugle Corps (receiving an 81.0 out of a 100.0 in the solo competition placing 2nd in the DCI championship of multi percussion), and the Brentwood Symphony Orchestra kept him very busy during his high school years. During that time, Tevlin has won awards such as: The Most Improved Musician, Most Promising Young Musician, Outstanding Musician, as well as receiving the highest rating with the Missouri State High School Association district and state solo competitions two years in a row. Subsequently, this led Tevlin to decide that music is what he wants to do for the rest of his life.
Tevlin attended Lindenwood University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in composition. While at Lindenwood, he studied percussion with Michael Faris and Kim Shelley and drum set from Daryl Whited, Kevin Gianino and Rob Silverman. Tevlin performed with many musical groups of all varieties stemming from the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, the St. Louis Brass Band, Dwayne Estes as well as St. Louis’s favorite, Tony Viviano. He’s performed many musicals with the St. Charles Repertory Theater, as well as played in various cover bands. Through college, Tevlin continued to teach privately and instructed high school marching bands such as Kirkwood High School and Ft. Zumwalt North High School; in of which, he was awarded the “Appreciation Award” for going above and beyond the call of duty in exemplary coordination, planning, and leadership of the percussion section. After studying at Lindenwood University and working gigs around town, Tevlin left St. Louis and moved to San Diego, CA.
In San Diego, Tevlin met and worked with Matthew Stewart on Stewart’s solo album “Matthew Stewart, No Stone Unturned” from the independent label, Stone Seed Recordings. While he was with the Matthew Stewart Project, he has played alongside with established composers, David Helpling and Jon Jenkins. It was Helpling who recommended Tevlin to the local rock band, Stout which was heard on MTV’s “Undressed” and the independent film, “As Adults”. He has also played with many cover bands and jazz groups; including the most traveled band in the world according to Guinness World Record®, Liquid Blue and San Diego’s IndieFest founder Daniel LoPresti (Say it Records). Throughout his years in San Diego, Tevlin has taught hundreds of students holding up to 50 students a week.
Currently back in St. Louis, Tevlin is the founder of @MS Works and continues to be active in St. Louis playing with the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, his local church, as well as freelancing as a drummer/percussionist/composer. Tevlin has performed with top acts such as Sha Na Na, The Lettermen, El Monstero, Mario Frangoulis, and many others. Tevlin currently teaches out of his book, Learning to Drum Book 1: A Beginning Study in Rhythm, Rudiments, and Music Terminology. This book is featured on the drum show, Learning To Drum. Given his background, Tevlin felt a need for a drum platform that would take viewers from ground zero, to beyond. This fall of 2021, LearningToDrum.com was launched debuting Season 1. Adam Tevlin proudly endorses Aquarian Drumheads, Majestic Percussion, Mapex Drums, and Vic Firth sticks/mallets.