Mike Johnston

Mike is a Guest Performer for TEDxFolsom REIMAGINE 2023 

Mike Johnston is an American drummer and educator from Folsom, California. He currently runs one of the world’s largest educational websites for drummers, Mikeslessons.com, where he offers live and pre-recorded drum lessons. He also hosts 10 drum camps each year at the Mikeslessons.com studio in Folsom, California. 

At the age of 21, he received his first major label record deal with his band Simon Says and spent the next six years touring the world. During that time, he received a gold record for his contributions to the Varsity Blues soundtrack and appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman and MTV’s Fashionably Loud. 

Mike left the touring world behind in 2006 and has focused solely on education ever since. Teaching and performing in hundreds of clinics and drum festivals around the world over the past 14 years, including the Meinl Drum Festival, P.A.S.I.C., The UK Drum Show, The LaBag Show in Paris, and countless others. 

Mike is the only drum instructor in history to be featured on the cover of the four major drum magazines (Modern Drummer, DRUM, Rhythm, and Drummer UK), iDrum Magazine, and SA Drummer. 

Awards 

2013 – DRUM Magazines award for educational website of the year- (mikeslessons.com) 

2016 – Modern Drummer Readers Poll winner for educator/clinician of the year. 

2020 -Modern Drummer Readers Poll winner for educational website of the year (mikeslessons.com)

Website Mike's Lessons