About

Teaching Experience

Vance has been teaching private lessons for the last 35 years. He has taught private lessons at home, in public schools and through music stores such as The Melody Shop & School of Music and The Drum Exchange.

He currently teaches at his own studio “Studio V” which is located at the StudioWorks building in Ballard!

Playing Experience

Vance Nurkala has been a drummer/percussionist for 41 years and has performed in a wide variety of musical groups. Throughout High School and College he performed in marching bands, jazz bands, pep bands, concert bands and percussion ensembles. He also played with local variety and wedding bands such as Center Stage & Runaway. In 1993 Vance moved from his home state of Michigan to Seattle. He and has been drumming in the local music scene with the bands Crybaby, Simple Machine, Chill Factor, Stranger By The Minute, iCandi, Idol Eyez, ML3, City Eagles,  Charlie Drown, Rock Shop, Crash and Hysteria-Def Leppard Tribute Band.

Vance has honed his drumming skills over the recent years by playing along with click tracks and sequences during his live performances.  He is known for keeping a solid beat!  He has pro gear, reliable transportation, and is dedicated to any project that he gets involved in. He is very punctual, organized, a fast learner, and he is very easy to get along with.

Instructors Vance Studied drums and percussion with:

Wayne Oien – DCA 2011 World Champion: Snare Drum / Master Performer and Drum Instructor.

Ed Hartman – Yamaha Performing Artist

Simone LaDrumma – Conga/Djembe Instructor and Performer

Bob Simonson –  Cold Shot Blues Band

Dr. Robert Stephenson – Percussion Instructor; Northern Michigan University

Vance has also had private drum lessons with: Bryan Hitt – REO Speedwagon and Allen White – YES.

Groups Vance Performed In:

Def Leppard Tribute Band: Hysteria

80’s Hair Metal Tribute Band: Rock Shop

90’s Cover Band: CRASH

Original and Cover Rock Band: City Eagles

Original Hard Rock Band: ML3

Top 40 Rock Band: Idol Eyez

Top 40 Rock Band: iCandi

Original Blues Band: Stranger By The Minute

Original Goth Metal Band: Charlie Drown

Top 40 Rock Band: Star 69

Top 40 Rock Band: Chill Factor

Top 40 Rock Band: Simple Machine

Original Rock Group: Soulfolk

Top 40 Rock Band: Crybaby

Variety Band: Center Stage

Rock Band: Runaway

Influences:

Neil Peart, Peter Criss, Eric Carr, Rod Morgenstein,

Alex Van Halen, Bun E. Carlos, Alan White, Bryan Hitt,

Rick Allen, Taylor Hawkins, and Dave Grohl, Wayne Oien.

Current Releases:

Crybaby: self-entitled CD

Stranger By The Minute: Shameless Nights

Charlie Drown: Perfect Strangers

City Eagles: Various Tracks