A student during the week and a drummer on the weekends, Tyler Shaver, general studies senior, was raised around music and said he now has it running through his veins.

Shaver is from Georgetown, Ind., and he said he was first exposed to music around the age of three.

His mother, Gina Summers-Emerson, is currently the lead singer for the country rock band Backcountry.

“Being around her and her shows and practices, I just grew up around it,” Shaver said.

Shaver began playing the drums when he was 12 years old and became a member of various bands at Floyd Central High School.

“I did marching band, I played on the drum line and I did every band possible in high school,” Shaver said. “I did concert band, pep band and jazz band. I did full orchestra. That really gave me a wide range of training.”

When he started his college career, Shaver played for the IUS orchestra and concert band in 2007.

Shaver said he joined the band 3 Lane Highway, but the band did not do well.

After meeting different people through the band, however, he was able to move on with his musical career.

“I got an audition with the band I’m with now, which is Rachel Timberlake,” Shaver said. “She got some steam behind her, and they thought I was good enough to go along with them and be their drummer.”

Amanda Taylor, elementary education senior, has known Shaver for about three years and has attended some of his band’s performances.

“I saw his band perform at 4th Street Live and also at the Harrison County Fair,” Taylor said. “Both shows were really great to watch. Tyler is a great performer, and I cannot wait to see where his career goes.”

The band plays two shows every weekend, which are usually out of town. The only exception is an occasional local show in the Louisville and New Albany area.

“Throughout the summer, we were playing at least three or four times a week,” Shaver said. “Then, as school starts, we play two shows a weekend. It’s convenient because I think there’s only going to be one week this entire semester where I may have to miss a class.”

Shaver said he is able to practice maybe twice a week if he gets the chance.

“I do a lot of mental practice — practice in the car listening to music,” Shaver said. “I basically set my steering wheel up as a drum set and mentally go through the motions. That’s pretty much how I learn new songs.”

Besides playing a little keyboard, Shaver does not play any other musical instrument other than the drums.

“There’s the one arrangement of percussion instruments that I play,” Shaver said, “but I don’t [play] any other type of instrument.”

Shaver said he also listens to practically all genres of music.

“I listen to everything from Nat King Cole to the couple black metal bands on my iPod,” Shaver said. “I’m pretty big into heavy metal. To be honest, I really don’t listen to a whole lot of country outside of what I play and have to, but I do listen to literally everything.”

Taylor said she is confident Shaver can make it to the big time.

“I have faith in him,” Taylor said. “He can do anything he sets his mind to. I think that Tyler has a lot of musical talent, and he is great behind the drums. He loves what he does, and it really shows.”

Shaver said he is glad he can follow his dreams as a drummer.

“I’m just glad that I was given a skill set that I’m able to utilize and really follow my dreams,” Shaver said. “It’s everybody’s dream to do what they love to do. I’m thankful and fortunate enough to be able to do it. I’m really appreciative.”

By JENNIFER HARRINGTON

Staff

jeharrin@umail.iu.edu