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Boettcher's Got The Beat (Age: 5, Flanders, New Jersey -U.S., ) Zach has been playing to a beat since he was 1-year-old. Playing with spoons and containers was an everyday event in Zachs life. At the age of two, Zach was given a little three-piece wooden drum set for his birthday. It was then that his family really noticed his talent and passion for playing drums. For the next year, he would play this little drum set on an average of six hours a day. He played the drum so much that; all of the wooden pieces, plastic canvases and metal cymbals were destroyed. It took the creativity of mom to piece it back together from time to time! At 3-years-old, Zach got a Tama starter 5-piece drum set. This was the turning point for his development as a drummer. Zach had started putting together all kinds of grooves and beats. His passion for music had also greatly increased and he would listen everyday to CDs of various artists from the pop, rock, R&B, jazz and soul genres. Zach started to take actual drum lessons and during this time, Zach would not only learn his weekly lessons but would also play along to various musical compositions. Above picture is Zach with Chad Wackerman former Frank Zappa drummer. Zach is now 5-years-old and is studying jazz interpretation utilizing both matched and traditional style playing. He practices everyday and also plays from time to time with his dads band at various outdoor events. Zach has recently been informed that he was selected by "The Percussive Arts Society" as a winner in the 1 to 16 year old category for 2005.This picture is Zach performing at the Long Valley Music Festival with "Bernard Purdie" - Worlds most recorded drummer, watching. Zach is also in the studio recording his first CD called "Zach with Friends" in which all the proceeds from the Cd will go to Sheila E's "Lil' Angel Bunny Foundation". Below left picture is Zach with Terry Bozzio former Frank Zappa drummer and below right is Zach with Rick Van Horn (Senior Editor In Chief of Modern Drummer Magazine) and Neil Garthly (owner of "The Academy Of Drums"). You can visit and hear Zach play at www.smoothcatzach.com Click Here for Music Page Click Here for NJ State Page