Bartho Staalman is a passionate and experienced drummer, music producer, composer, and music educator based in Westchester, New York. He offers piano, guitar, and drumming lessons tailored toward students of all ages and levels, including those with special needs. His teaching style blends creativity, structure, and patience to create a positive and inclusive learning environment for every student.

Between 2005 and 2009, Bartho studied drumming at the Rotterdam Conservatory, where he focused on rhythm studies, ensemble performance, and music pedagogy. He is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, performing on drums, piano, guitar, bass, and vocals. He is a proud recipient of the Community Engagement Grant from the Bronx Council on the Arts and actively leads educational drumming classes and inclusive drum circles at the James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center.

Bartho has been featured on several albums, including Electronic/Afro-pop artist Rina Mushonga’s “The Wild, The Wilderness” and iET's “Kitchen Records 1&2”. He also toured with Dutch singer-songwriter Michael Prins for sold out shows at prominent venues throughout the Netherlands, including Paradiso. Bartho was also invited by drum teacher Juan van Emmerloot (performed with Steve Lukather) to participate in Tres Mambini, an electronic music trio.

Bartho continues to build upon his musical expertise and fluidity by actively collaborating with others within the artistic community. His innate ability to adapt and adjust across genres is apparent in the many groups and performances he contributes to, from The Bunga Bunga Experience, a cosmopolitan electro-dance group, to Baragan, a pop folk group inspired by the street musicians’ life. In addition, Bartho’s dynamic musical nature enabled him to curate lineups for the Spoel Music Festival.

He is currently creating a method for instrumentalists and music producers to study rhythm, as well as composing. He most recently debuted original compositions that blend modern, classical, and folk music at "Music for the Seeking Soul - Living, Forming, Letting Go in the Old Lutheran Church". Bartho is continuously looking for new ways to express himself as a musician, and finds particular fulfillment with sparking the joy of music within his students. Whether working one-on-one or in group settings, Bartho is committed to making music education accessible, joyful, and impactful for all learners!