Nick Costa

Nick Costa is an educator based out of Philadelphia, a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) candidate, and a member of the Percussive Arts Society’s Drum Set Committee. He is also an independent drummer, clinician, and drum technician, with both national and international touring experience. Nick has focused on providing ways to integrate drum set studies into K-12 Music curriculum, and is an active session musician engineering and recording drum tracks remotely from his studio. As an educator, Nick has focused on providing ways to integrate drum set studies into k-12 music curriculum to bridge the gap between general and instrumental music studies. He has also played a pivotal role in integrating “Modern Band” curriculum for the School District of Philadelphia by creating relationships with Conn-Selmer, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Remo Heads, The Recording Academy (Grammy’s), and Little Kids Rock, to outsource all 220 schools with drum sets. The School District of Philadelphia’s music education model is what motivated the Pennsylvania Department of Education to create and implement “Modern Band” into the State’s music curriculum. Additionally, Nick has also written and recorded lessons for Modern Drummer Magazine, and the Percussive Arts Society’s Rhythm!Scene. As a performer, Nick is actively performing throughout the Philadelphia region with various groups ranging from rock, to jazz trios and big bands, to being a first call musician for local theater groups and schools for their annual musicals. Nick was also a candidate for the Mamma Mia and Green Day’s American Idiot National Broadway Tours. Currently, Nick has been active as a session musician recording and engineering drum tracks remotely for various artists including Shane Henderson (Valencia), and MAHANA (Iranian Pop star on NAVAHANG records). Nick also teaches privately, has facilitated workshops helping educators learn the drum set, and has been praised by numerous producers including Mike Watts (The Dear Hunter, Story of the Year) Steve Haigler (Brand New’s Deja Entendu, Fuel’s Sunburn, The Pixies), Jason Elgin (Collective Soul, Terrible Things), Fred Mascherino (The Color Fred, Taking Back Sunday), John Naclerio (Brand New, My Chemical Romance) and Eric Plesha (Cobra Starship, Valencia) for his consistency and energy while recording. Nick is an educational artist for Ludwig Drums, Vic Firth Sticks, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo drumheads, and Prologix Percussion.