Fueled by passion and a burning desire to teach is the motivation behind the idea, success and innovation behind Mikeslessons.com. What started as a an innocent video on YouTube as a way to communicate to Mike's students while he toured with Simon Says became a game changer for online drum education. No doubt the success of Mikelessons.com is evident giving us online live lessons, downloadable drum instruction even drum camps throughout the year, there is still more to Mike Johnston than a drum instructor from Sacramento California. To be honest I'm not going to re-write what has already been said, in fact if you are unfamiliar with Mike or want to read more about his humble beginnings check out Mike Dolbear's interview with Mike. It's definitely inspiring to read about where he started and what has become a story of Innovative Passion.
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I will be the first to admit, I'm an online drum education junky! I've tried various sites and I'm currently an active member of a few drum communities which I personally think have something unique and different to offer. The one thing that I've seen with Mike is that he's constantly finding ways to use modern technology to better communicate to his students. Along with that is the uncanny ability to relate and teach to a vast number of people from different parts of the world and any level of playing. I truly believe that it's this passion that drives his innovations and we are all benefiting from it. If we can step back for just a moment to that YouTube video that was intended for Mike's students, this video was only supposed to have 70 views but ended up with 20,000 by the weekend. It was obvious that there was a need and a want for online drum instruction. Mike simply could've settled with providing downloadable content for purchase, or even lesson packs but the wheels were in motion already and a couple years later the birth of "Live Drum Instruction" was born and it would change how drum instruction was presented but also make it affordable and accessible to everyone around the world.
