Gary Chester

Hello everyone! Although I didn't study with Gary direcly I feel like I did in a big way because I studied with a former student of Gary's - Mr. Mike Marble. Mike is a fine drummer and turned me on to Gary's systems back in 1996. Right off the bat I knew this stuff was HOT! Three years and over 2000 hours of practice later I finally finished New Breed I and II in their entirety - all the systems left and right handed and the singing of course!! I was so into it I didn't just play the suggested melodies with a particular system...I had to play them all. Call me crazy! Currently I am hard at work going through Marco Minnemann's Extreme Interdependence book in the same methodical fashion as the New Breed books. Marco was a big Gary Chester fan and his book is pretty much the New Breed with speed! I like to call it New Breed III. I really got a lot out of learning his method - it changed the way I play the drums dramatically. I teach drums privately here in Connecticut and as you may have already guessed The New Breed is the core of my program. It's amazing how the younger students pick it up quickly due to their lack of bad habits and a fairly blank slate in their head. It's the older students who seem to struggle more. "Play it at 60 bpm please - not 59 and not 61!" LOL! Anyway I thought I would chime in with my two cents worth as I feel I am part of the extended family of students. I feel Gary was watching me those many long hours of perfecting his systems. I wish we could have met in real life. I know we would have had fun. I am addicted to this stuff!! A warm Hello to Chris Adams!

I studied with Gary starting in 1974 up to sometime in 1984. I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing. He was a great teacher, mentor, friend, and was always willing to talk about anything that was bothering you. I did not realize at the time just how lucky I was to have Gary as a teacher. His system of teaching and approach truly allows a drummer to grow and expand creatively more than you realize. I currently teach Gary's method to a few young kids and attempt to explain to them the infinite possibilities of patterns they can be developed with what Gary has done. It is the most challenging and most rewarding method I've ever come across. I miss Gary and feel the least I can do is pass what I've learned onto the next generation.... I'm sure Gary has them all Dancing to Dixieland upstairs!

I studied with Gary the last 5 months of his life; I came up for the funeral from Wilmington, Delaware. I studied with Gary by correspondence through the mail and by telephone. I'm so glad I had the chance to study with Gary...I was in a Barnes and Noble bookstore tonight and a song by a French vocalist was playing over the store speakers, the song had a very intense groove and I started to sing quarter notes to myself trying to capture the intensity of the music and it reminded me of Gary. I came home and ended up putting Gary's name into a search and found this site. The website truly captures Gary's sprite as a great Teacher, Musician and Person. Dave

1985 or 86 thru 1987 and then on tape with Chris as I was attending The Hartt School Of Music for a year or two.

I started with Gary when I was 10. My elementary school teacher recommended him when Gary's daughter Amanda started at School. I studied with him until I was 14, stopped, and then started again when I was 16 and stayed until I was 19 or 20. Although I'm not playing prefessionaly, the systems I learned from him have stayed with me to this day. The coordination and concentration it took to achive the things he challenged me with carried over to my school work. I was concentrating in my classes more and my grades improved. I also remember not only the drum lessons, but the life lessons you walked away with every time you spent time with Gary. Arriving early and staying late was always a treat. I stopped by and said hello to Gary about a month before he passed. I'm so happy that I got to see him then. I didn't relaize how much I missed him and then I read in the paper that he died. I just walked into my room and cried. I lost a friend, mentor, motivator, financial adviser, psychologist, and as many of his students felt, a father figure. I'm glad this site is here so we can all share our memories. I knew I wasn't alone.

I studied with Gary from 1983 through 1986. I remember I cried like a baby when he passed from this earth. Back then, I felt cheated that I no longer had my friend around - to talk to, get advice from, get scolded by and learn from. Now, years later, I cannot begin to express the privilege it was to have spent the time I did with him. I carry his thoughts, teachings, views and humor with me today. And, I'm a much more grounded human being for it! Lou Contino

1978-1987 - i have so many great memories from my years with gary. i was his youngest student for most of that time, i started with him when i was 8. i remember he told my parents that he would give me a month trial period to see if i would stick with it, and then almost ten years later i was still going to his house week after week. i used to cut his lawn on weekends for a bit, and just listen to the lessons go on from outside. the sound of that electronic metronome he had was pretty soothing. gary passed away on my 18th birthday, so since then that day has become a mixture of emotions for me. i was just ready to set out on the world and he was leaving it. it has been so long, but his influence on me is that of a father who passed away at an early age in my life - i know he is a huge part of who i am, even though i have a little trouble remembering what he was really like. i am still drumming for a living, and i actually sing and drum for my band, which i owe to spending those years with gary's systems.

sept. 1983 through 1986

I studied with Gary for almost a year, up until his death. He systems were rather challenging, to say the least. My favorite story is when I broke my right ankle, I went to my lesson the day after, my drive was four hours long, I had a cast on my right foot. To help with my walking I wore a sandle. When I walked into the studio, I showed Gary my foot and asked him what he thought. He very quickly complimented my sandle, he said he once had a pair like that in Florida. I asked him to look again at my foot and he noticed the cast, he asked what happen and I told him. Then he said, as only Gary would say..."we'll just slow the click down a bit, get over to the drums and let's get started." I had the cast on for four weeks and did not miss a lesson with him during that time. He is sadly missed but not ever forgotten.

I studied with Gary via tape for over two years leading up to his death. I remember having a lesson due the week following August 17. (I remember and honor the date annually by playing through his books, enjoying a warm glow inside, listening to his voice on tape and recalling the many great hurdles I overcame from working with him.) Gary taught me and explained how I was to teach his systems to serious students. "No Bums." When I inquired about certain famous students, he gave only a brief explanation. Later, he replied a most salient response, "Don't worry about him. Focus on YOU. " Gary played for me one time. He played between the table top and an ash tray. Ofcourse, it grooved hard. I was on the road playing a hotel club gig one time. I practiced after the gig from 2a.m. - 6.a.m. Gary received the tape with night crew people talking and cleaning. I was exhausted. He simply explained: "When you have a desire to play, it's like a nothing else in the world. nothing can stop you." Okay this is the last one... My MLB team was in the world series. Gary called me and we talked for hours as we both watched the championship game. I'm a fair weather baseball fan. But, I'll never forget talking to Gary during the game. Thank You Gary, for your wisdom and guidance about life.

I had the honor of learning about drums and life from Gary for two years from 1984-86. the first year was at the farm, the second by tape. I was a bit intimidated by him at first but when I realized just how kind and sensitive he was the "hard exterior" was all about getting me to be the best that I could be. If I thought I could slack off by doing a lesson by tape I was only kidding myself!, Gary was always on time sending it back to me and his comments made it obvious that he took the time to listen to what I sent him. I didnt become part of the extended family per say, as did many of his students, because I lived far away but Gary always made me feel that way and I will never forget him for that. Im glad I found this site. Its only fitting for a man who gave so much to so many.

1984-1987. Gary helped me bring my playing to places I could have never reached with other teachers. Gary was much more than a teacher to me. He helped me grow as a person. He was a true mentor. I miss him dearly.

1983 to 1987. I was just nine years old when I started with Gary, and had no idea at the time how lucky I was. He was my first teacher and no one has ever come close to filling those shoes. Although I make a living as an audio engineer now, I play out often in various situations. Thanks to the tools Gary gave me all those years ago, I can still hang. Along with all of us, I miss him dearly and think of him often. Lastly, here's a good chance to say what I never really said to him: thanks, Gary!

1982 to 1985 throughout most of my high school years. I loved Gary and considerd him a surrogate father to me. He had a heart of gold and taught me me to have confidence in my tallents. I played drums for 15 years and then stopped abruptly due to some major changes in my life. I have picked them up again after a 17 year hiatus and I must say that Gary's intense way of teaching helped me to keep my chops! I am so happy to see his daughter Katrina contributing this website to his memory. May Gary be given the credit he deserves for being the best teacher and studio drummer ever. God bless you Gary and I'll see you on the other side!

Early 80's. I took a lesson every week right after Dave Weckl.

I studied with Gary in the year 1983, when I was a junior in high school. Simply put, Gary was the greatest teacher I ever had, period, end of disscussion. I was only a high school kid at the time, and I had some growing up to do, but he saw the true potential in me to become great, so he put up with me, and I will always love him for that. I have and always will consider Gary a true genius teacher of life and the drums, and I look forward to truly honoring him one day, by showing the world just how great of a drummer I have become, largely due to him. I miss the dear man terribly. I hope he's jammin right now in heaven. You were the best man.

Dec. 1972 - 1984

Yes, 19083-1987

Two wonderful years! 1983-1985