Drummer | Biography | Samuele Merino

Drummer and Percussionist

I was born in Varese on October 21st 1983.
The passion for this instrument started when I was a child, when I opened the kitchen doors to take the pots and start playing them.
At the age of 13 I started a course of study at a music school in Varese and then continued with the years with different artists focusing on particular specializations.

I studied drums with Emilio Bonvini, Ivan Ciccarelli, Chrystian Meyer, Marco Iannetta, Jojo Mayer and Horacio El Negro Hernandez.
At the same time as drums I continued my graduate studies in Computer Engineering in 2006.

In addition to my studies, in 2008 I actively participated in a percussion drums in the Rio de Janeiro carnival parade.

Artistic training

Yes, the style of an artist also derives from his training and received influences.
This is the chronology of my studies.

2017 - Masterclass with Horacio El Negro Hernandez.
Topics covered: Conversation in Clave, Indipendenza nella musica Afro Cubana.

2015 - One Day Intensive Masterclass with Jojo Mayer.
Topics covered: Finger technique and speed, Moeller technique, Pedal technique.

May 2015:private lesson with Marco Iannetta
Topic covered: pedal technique (slide up technique).

2013 Deepening Course for drums at the Milan Academy of Sound, with Christian Meyer, drummer of Elio and the Storie Tese.
Topics covered: grip, precision, timing, groove, polyrhythm and swing.

2010 - 2012 Advanced private study course with Ivan Ciccarelli
(Drummer by: Max Pezzali, Eros Ramazzotti, and current drummer by Antonella Ruggiero), Topics covered: Advanced snare technique (in-depth analysis of the 40 PAS rudiments), study recording sessions aimed at analysis, polyrhythmia: Rhythmic Illusions, Swings and independence.

1996 - 2006 with Maestro Emilio Bonvini (Anna Oxa) at the Tenzi Music School in Varese
Topics covered: Grip, Rhythms and Grooves, Funk and Latin groove, independence, polyrhythmy, timing and specialization on Brazilian grooves: Bossa Nova, Samba etc etc.