"Without music, life would be a mistake."    -Nietzsche

ABOUT TODD BIFFARD

I suffer from relentless curiosity and a complete fascination with the joy of sound. I have been fortunate to study my craft under the tutelage of some of Canada’s foremost drummers: Mark Kelso, Aldo Mazza, Bob McLaren, Alan Hetherington, and Paul Delong. I have attended countless workshops and masterclasses with many of the modern masters of drumset and percussion. I have a diploma in Jazz Performance (Humber, Toronto) and a Bachelor of Arts degree (UBC, Vancouver).

I create music in many genres. My origins as a musician are in the study of jazz. From there I have grown into a thoughtful drumset artist who enjoys the challenge of crafting sounds that convey a depth of emotion. Inspirations include Levon Helm, Jim Keltner, Steve Jordan, Jay Bellerose, and Elvin Jones. I try (but usually fail) to balance my time between financially viable work and music that is purely creative. I am most inspired by minimalism and absurdism in composition and improvisation. Inspirations include John Zorn, Ornette Coleman, Frank Zappa, John Cage, and Brian Eno.

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add,
but when there is nothing left to take away.”
   -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

From 2007-2014, I was a member of well-known Vancouver band Maria in the Shower. We toured North America as a way of life, performing more than 600 shows and sharing the stage with artists such as Man Man, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Chali 2na, Tanya Tagaq, Veda Hille, Shane Koyczan, Cadence Weapon, Bernard Adamus, and Geoff Berner. Some of the other folks I have worked with include:

Jaron Freeman-Fox, Hannah Epperson, Rolla Olak, Jeff Gladstone, Steve Charles, Illiteratty, Simon Kendall, James Lamb, CR Avery, Paul Pigat, Ken Whiteley, Fred Penner, Will Stroet, Jess Hill, Veda Hille, Don Amero, Tim Tweedale, David Sinclair, Jeff Younger, Joanna Chapman-Smith, Lindsay May, Marie-Josée Dandeneau, Jen Hodge, Ethan Collister, Zachary Stevenson, Sister Says, The Human Statues, Arctic, Sudanda, Matthew Roberts, 400 Squadron Pipe Band, Toronto Escola de Samba, Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, Kelowna Pipe Band

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible, is music.”    -Aldous Huxley

CONTACT
Email: tbiffard (at) gmail (dot) com

I am available for performing, recording, composing, touring.
I have experience in a wide range of styles.
I am currently based in Vancouver.
I often travel great distances for the pleasure of playing music.

“I would teach children music, physics and philosophy;
but most importantly music, for in the patterns of music
and all the arts are the keys of learning.”    -Plato

TEACHING
I offer lessons to drummers of all ages and abilities. In addition to drumset, I teach Scottish-style rudimental snare drumming.
I travel a great deal throughout Canada, and am available for individual or group lessons wherever I may be. Please inquire.
Visit www.vancouverdrumlessons.com for more information.
If you are a school music teacher, please visit my workshops page for information about in-class education programs.

“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and
good rhythm depend on Simplicity.”    -Plato

CREDITS AND AWARDS

www.toddbiffard.com