Ronnie Negro

Ronnie Negro has been a performing drummer since 1988 and an educator since 1991.  Seen primarily with his longtime band Powderfinger, Ronnie is also a first-call freelancer for live and studio performances. Broadway experience includes ROCK OF AGES, NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, SCHOOL OF ROCK and HEAD OVER HEELS. Ronnie also can be seen playing with the country’s top tribute bands such as EagleMania, Dark Side of The Wall, SoulShine and The Ultimate Queen Celebration. Always thoroughly prepared, Ronnie brings authenticity, intensity, conviction, and a positive attitude to any performance.  Ronnie's passion for teaching matches that of his performances.  In addition to giving private in-home drum lessons for almost 30 years, Ronnie also provides drum instruction at Rose Hill Music Center and The Clear View School (day treatment facility for children with severe emotional disabilities).  With the help of Ronnie's instruction, several of his students have achieved tremendous success ranging from perfect scores on their NYSMAA solos to touring the world as professional musicians themselves.

Private Drum Study with Nick Mangini (faculty member of Westchester Conservatory of Music) (1989-2012) - in-depth study of several styles and eras of music, reading, improvisation and hand technique. Bachelor of Arts, Fordham University, Bronx, NY (1987-1991).

The drums are a perfect vehicle through which I can reach and help each student in a unique way.  I am currently an artist-in-residence at The Clear View School, an establishment for children and young adults with severe emotional and mental disabilities such as autism, depression, mental trauma, social anxiety, severe ADD, and ADHD.  I have also worked privately with students with disabilities such as blindness, epilepsy, and dyslexia, and students who are juvenile deliquents and recovering from alcohol and drug use.  Through my instrument, I have been able to help my students focus, gain confidence, listen, read music, relax, express themselves, and relieve aggression, among other things.  In my own studies, I have come to realize that learning an instrument ultimately teaches you about yourself.  I understand, respect and embrace the role I play as mentor, role model, and motivator.  Working directly with such varying personalities and disabilities provides me with ideal "on-the-job training" through which I am constantly refining and adapting my approach to teaching.  From 2005 through 2018, I assisted the Director of Instrumental Music at The Millbrook School (a private high school in Millbrook, NY) in a week-long program called Rock Band Workshop where the goal is to get young musicians to sound like a fully rehearsed band and culminates in a performance in front of the student body. As mentioned above, I have been an artist-in-residence at The Clear View School in Briancliff Manor, NY since 2006 where I give both individual and group drumming lessons to children and young adults ranging from 9 to 21 years old and help them work as a cohesive unit in a group setting.  As confidence is built and camaraderie is fostered, we prepare selections for the Holiday and Spring Concerts, marching music for Family Day, and percussion to accompany music in plays and presentations. Past residencies though ArtsWestchester include multiple stints at Westchester's Exception Children School where I worked with children with severe special needs, Enrico Fermi, School 17 and Museum School 25 in Yonkers, and Edward Williams and Graham Elementary Schools in Mount Vernon.