By Megan Mitchell - Denver Post
Rick Henson started Rocky Mountain Steel Bands in 2003
Many of the students in Rick Henson’s steel drums beginners class have already been playing for a year or more. Their affinity for the light and happy percussion persuasion was eventually part of the reason he needed to expand Rocky Mountain Steel Bands to Aurora earlier this year — more space for more students.
“We moved from a little space in Englewood last April because we needed something bigger,” said Henson, who has been teaching drumming lessons for more than 20 years. “Our old studio was the size of just one of these rooms here in Aurora, and now we have about triple the capacity that we used to have.”
Henson’s new studio, at 10691 E. Bethany Drive in southwest Aurora, is a repurposed dance studio where he operates his weekly classes for steel drums, ukulele and hand pans. He started Rocky Mountain Steel Bands in 2003, and in 13 years, the small production of curious tinkerers has grown to include two community bands that play all over the metro area, year-round classes, summer camps and regular festivals.
Replies