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Scott Cooper |
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I got my first start in music when I played
the clarinet in the sixth grade. During that summer I was in a marching
band and noticed that the wind instrumentalists had to carry their
instruments between songs while the drummers played a cadence. So I
signed up in another band to play the drums. After a while I turned my
focus to study percussion instruments: drum set, rudimental snare, hand
percussion, and mallet instruments such as marimba and vibraphone. I really enjoyed percussion instruments and
in high school I placed third in the Oregon rudimental snare solo
competition. I received a scholarship in percussion music to the
University of Portland where I started pre-medical studies. Years later
I studied Taiko Drumming at the University of Tokyo. After college I
played in several musicals and joined the rock band, Mile 6. Later I
studied steel drums, and joined a different rock band, Uncle Earl. Professionally, I became a
paramedic/firefighter, and during my full time duty, acted as the Captain in
charge of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). I am also an EMS & fire
educator, teaching at Portland Community & Clackamas Community Colleges,
at hospitals and other medical facilities in the region (primarily from
Albany to the Portland area). I am a parent of three girls:
step-daughters Amber, Alleia, and daughter Cadence. The Oregon State Defense Force Pipe Band
was my first involvement in pipe music and Scottish drumming. I also
perform with Kells Pipes & Drums in Portland, and the Lake Oswego
Millennium Concert Band. I formerly played for three years with the
Salem Concert Band until work interfered with the schedule. My first year with the Oregon State Defense
Force Band I attended the Piping Hot Drummer camp in British Columbia, Canada
and learned a lot from those world class instructors. What I gained the
most was how to write musical parts for not only the side (snare) drums, but
how to integrate them together with the tenor and bass drums. |
