Musician touts health benefits of drumming
WEST MILFORD. In addition to performing, Michael D’Agostino writes music and teaches.
| 14 Feb 2023 | 10:44
Michael D’Agostino is a professional percussionist/vocalist who lives in West Milford.
Michael D’Agostino of West Milford has played drums and other percussion instruments since he was 7 years old.
Playing drums is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life, says Michael D’Agostino, a professional percussionist/vocalist.
“Drumming is beneficial to your body and aids in the improvement of your personal health,” said D’Agostino, who lives in West Milford, where he owns Intuitive Music, a recording studio. “It promotes relaxation and has a positive impact on the brain and mind and is something beneficial for people of all ages.”
He has played drums and other percussion instruments since he was 7 years old.
He performed with the orchestra playing in front of the Olympic torch at the 1980s in Lake Placid, N.Y., and later as a vocalist in about 30 musical groups on the East Coast.
He writes music too; his work can be heard on the Lifetime Channel, BET, BET on JAZZ, CNN, Fox Sports, the Outdoor Channel, and in films and television shows in the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa and Australia.
He scored for 20th Century Fox’s TV show “The X-Files” and Steven King’s feature film “Maximum Overdrive,” playing percussion and electronic drums for composer Christopher Hyams-Hart.
He has programmed drum sounds for musicians Herbie Hancock, Yoko Ono, Third World, Ronald Shannon Jackson and Kenwood Dennard.
D’Agostino has drummed for producer/songwriter Wendy Starland, who discovered, produced and wrote for rock star Lady Gaga. He’s also the drummer for Ballets With a Twist, a modern ballet company based in New York City.
His solo release, “Future Reflections,” is available on iTunes, CD Baby and Rhapsody.
Tranquil lifestyle
D’Agostino said he enjoys the tranquil lifestyle in West Milford by hiking in the woods and experience nature.
What he especially enjoys at this stage of his career is teaching music to students of all ages.
His has been an electronic drum instructor at the Drummer’s Collective in New York City and has taught acoustic drums, piano and voice at the Orange County School of Dance and Music.
He was fortunate to have had excellent professionals as his teachers, he said. He initially studied with “Red” Snyder, a New York studio musician and drummer for the Les Brown Band.
Later teachers included famed instructor Gary Chaffee, a former chairman of the Percussion Department at the Berklee College of Music, and Jamey Haddad, who performed with singer Paul Simon for more than 20 years.
To contact D’Agostino, send email to riddim981@gmail.com or call 862-377-1025.