hiː bɪɡˈæn plˈeɪɪŋ dɹˈʌmz æt ðɪ ˈeɪdʒ ʌv fˈoːɹ, ænd stˈʌdid pɚkˈʌʃən pɹˈaɪvətli fɔːɹ tˈɛn jˈɪɹz bᵻfˌoːɹ ɛnɹˈoʊlɪŋ ɪnðə skˈuːl ʌv mjˈuːzɪk æɾ ˌɛmˌɛsjˈuː ˈæftɚ ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ fɹʌm hˈaɪ skˈuːl.
He began playing drums at the age of four, and studied percussion privately for ten years before enrolling in the School of Music at MSU after graduating from high school.