I was born in the city of Kremenchuk in Ukraine. I started playing drums when I was 15 and keen on punk-rock and psychedelia.
I've had two great teachers. The first one was Nikolai Kirilov, who gave me lessons for 5 years while I was playing in different local bands. Nikolai is an excellent jazz musician and has sort of a monopoly on drums lessons in the whole city.
After entering the Poltava Musical College I've met another prominent person in my life - Valerii Stovbyr. He is also an excellent jazz drummer, a xylophonist and a subtle expert in human nature. He taught me to play marimba, vibraphone and kettledrums. That's where I've learned to love classical music and got my musical education.
These two teachers taught me a lot, though their schools had a number of differences. But at some point I've realized that all the differences are just parts of a single Art. I've also realized that you can always learn something, everywhere and from everyone. And you can play everything with everyone!..
