Alberto Netto Image

Image by José Roberto Assis

Alum

Alberto Netto

Professor
Affiliated Departments
Percussion
anetto@berklee.edu
Telephone
617-747-6009
Personal Websites
Alberto Netto's Website(Opens in a new window)

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Alberto Netto is a highly sought-after clinician and educator who travels around the world to hold drum and percussion clinics for the biggest names in the industry, including Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Evans drumheads, and Vic Firth sticks. Videos of his lessons and clinics have been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people on YouTube and drum educational websites. Netto also published the instructional book and CD Brazilian Rhythms for Drum Set and Percussion, which has been a top seller in the US, Europe, and Japan, and praised as a “gem of a book” by Modern Drummer magazine, the world’s number one drum magazine. He is the owner, producer, and engineer of Artdrums Recording Studios and the founder of Brazilian Drum Academy, an instructional website.

Career Highlights
  • Drummer, percussionist, author, and composer
  • Performances, clinics, and recordings with David Costa Pianista, Chico Gomes and Grupo Quartzo, Aaron Scott, Claudio Roditi, Hermeto Pascoal, Aaron Goldberg, Alain Mallet, Alberto Netto Trio/Quartet
  • First solo album, Nova Setembro, recorded in 1997
  • Author of Brazilian Rhythms for Drum Set and Percussion (Berklee Press)
  • Clinician for Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Evans drumheads, and Vic Firth sticks
  • Owner/producer/engineer at Artdrums Recording Studios
In Their Own Words

The most important things drummers need to develop from the beginning are independence, technique, timekeeping, and note articulation. From the simplest groove to the most challenging fills, coordination and clarity are key to getting the best sound out of the kit. Once these concepts are established, it will be easier to find your voice.

Drummers should learn how to play a variety of music styles and their authentic vocabulary. Some of the most widely played styles include jazz, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, rock, pop, and funk/fusion, and I think they are essential in order to find success in your music career. I always tell my students to first listen in order to learn these different languages, then vocalize what you hear, and, lastly, play what you’ve heard. Musicians, especially drummers, are like actors interpreting different roles.

Just as important as understanding this diverse music vocabulary is communicating musically to other members of the band. Listen to what the other instruments are playing and learn what your function is as a drummer on different genres. Music comes first, then you.

I also encourage my students to take their college time at Berklee seriously, because their Berklee experience will help prepare them for "real career" situations. Not just at Berklee, but throughout their career, they will always need to do their homework, meet deadlines, learn to live in the music community, and always do their best. They will have chances to correct things here, but not as many once their career starts. They need to use their time wisely at Berklee.

For more than 35 years as a performer, author, and educator, I have had the opportunity to play in a wide variety of styles in live concerts and television and radio appearances. As a producer and owner of a recording studio since the 90s, I have had the opportunity to work with many great musicians in many music genres. I want to inspire my students to be versatile and have courage and curiosity.