Isaiah Michael Pierce was born on July 23 in Brooklyn, New York. Growing up, he was heavily influenced by many Old School R&B and Funk Artists like The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Barry White, Earth Wind & Fire and many others. He was inspired to play drums when he first saw and heard drums in church up close and personal. At home when he was three to four years old, Isaiah would make his own drum set out of a “Royal Danske” butter cookie can, and pieces from a Double Dare board game and play along to music on the radio. The butter cookie can was used as a snare drum, the Double Dare pieces were used as cymbals and Isaiah would use pencils for drumsticks. He started playing the drums at the age of nine when he was in church, and then would go on to play for the schools he attended such as PS 95, Our Lady of Grace, New Utrecht High School, Brooklyn College, and City College of New York.
While studying music in college and even after finishing college, Pierce has played under the instruction of big names such as Salim Washington, Ray Santos, Vanderlei Pereira, Frank London, Arturo O’Farrill, Alon Yavnai and Daniel Blake. Also during his time in college, he would begin playing the piano as it was a degree requirement to be proficient in it. He has played drums in bands and for artists such as the Apache Brown Band, Luke Paige, Kosi, and Sweet Blue Fire. He was also the band leader and consultant for a drumline called “Coney Island Youth Alive.”
Along with playing music, Isaiah’s journey as a music teacher began a few years after finishing college in an after-school program facilitated by a non-profit organization called NIA Community Services Network. He has spent 3 productive years in the after school program educating and sharing his passion for music with children between Kindergarten and 5th grade. During his time teaching music in NIA, he has prepared students for music concerts during the holiday season and the end of the school year. In these concerts, he would have his students sing songs as well as have some students that took private lessons showcase and perform according to what they have learned on their respected instruments they have picked up. Isaiah Pierce has also played drums on a community basis by playing in an ensemble that is comprised of students that take lessons at InPerformance Music Workshop under the instruction of Sean King. After a few years of playing with this ensemble, he would then find himself with drum students of his own to teach at IPMW and is teaching drums to students to this day. Isaiah has received a lot of respect, admiration and adoration from fellow musicians, colleagues, parents, and students as a performer and an educator. As much as Isaiah Pierce has accomplished a sufficient amount in his music career, he still seeks to grow both as a music performer and a teacher and is thankful for the opportunity to do so at Education Through Music.