About
About us
Our Mission
The Drumming For Your Life Institute is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001 dedicated to using the power of rhythm to help children, youth and adults develop the emotional, academic, and social skills needed to succeed in school and in life.
Children who are not successfully taught reading skills become adults who are functionally illiterate. Young adults who cannot read have limited earning options with poverty or crime as a common result. For these unfortunate individuals, and for the rest of society, these are costly alternatives.
Our History
History of Drumming for Your Life Institute / Steven Angel
Steven Angel is the President, Founder, and Program Creator of the Drumming for Your Life Institute (DFYLI), a non-profit organization based in Downey, California.
A recognized musical prodigy, Steven began playing drums at the age of three and made his first public appearance with the renowned Buddy Rich Band at just six years old. By twelve, he was performing with his own band, opening for iconic groups such as Herman’s Hermits and The Animals before audiences of up to 25,000 across the United States and Canada. At sixteen, he recorded an album with Jimi Hendrix’s bassist, Noel Redding, featuring Hendrix himself on one track. After years of performing and touring throughout Europe, Steven stepped away from the spotlight at twenty, eager to find new meaning and purpose beyond his early musical success.
Transitioning into songwriting, Steven’s work appeared in numerous television shows and commercials. In his forties, he rediscovered his connection to drumming, combining his passion for rhythm with an interest in psychology, forming the foundation of his future work in education and mental health.
In 1998, he launched Life Skills Drumming, a program designed to help at-risk youth in juvenile halls and detention centers develop self-awareness, emotional control, and constructive behavior. His innovative approach to behavioral transformation through rhythm has been featured by major outlets, including The Los Angeles Times, CNN, and NBC. The initiative has since expanded to over 100 facilities, including wellness centers, rehabilitation programs, re-entry facilities, and veteran support sites serving individuals affected by trauma, depression, anxiety, dual diagnoses, and homelessness.
Building on this success, Steven developed the Reading & Rhythm program in 2001 after spending four months immersed in an elementary school classroom. The program combines rhythmic training with language arts to improve literacy, academic performance, and classroom engagement. Since 2001, Reading & Rhythm has reached more than 100 schools, libraries, juvenile facilities, wellness & family centers. Additionally, Steven created and led the Rhythm of Learning Professional Development workshops, equipping over 1,200 K–12 educators at over 40 LAUSD schools with effective classroom management and engagement.
Steven’s writings have appeared in Counselor Magazine, Addiction Professional, Annals of Psychotherapy and Integrative Health, and have been reviewed in the Current Research in Complementary & Alternative Medicine Journal. He has also been featured in Marquis Who’s Who in America and Marquis Who’s Who in the World.
DFYL Team
Xavier Marshall
Xavier Marshall is a musician, composer, producer, and professional drummer and is one of the primary Facilitators for the Drumming for Your Life. As a production manager, he has worked on television shows such as The Jay Leno Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, BET Live, and The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Mr. Marshall previously worked with the […]
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Julio Figueroa
Internationally renowned Grammy and Latin Grammy Award Winner as a supporting musician Julio Figueroa, begun playing music at the age of ten. His multicultural background allows him to adapt to any music situation, and makes him a much sought after drummer, percussionist and educator. Versatility is one of his strongest assets, and he has performed […]
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Peter Kerekes
After graduating from University of Miami, Peter started out working in the corporate world as an Industrial Engineer. After realizing he would rather pursue his artistic inclinations, he went to film school at UCLA, which eventually led to a career in composing and producing music and sound effects for commercials, promos, tv shows, video games […]
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Eduardo Valencia
Eduardo Valencia is a percussionist, composer and founding member of QUITAPENAS. He began his musical exploration on the drum set at age 15. During college he performed with several jazz musicians and was a member of several world music ensembles. In 2010 he made his transition to hand percussion as a drummer for folkloric drum […]
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Gabriel J Montes
Gabriel J. Montes is a multifaceted educator, artist, and performer with an MFA in Acting. As the leader of Plenazo Tribe, he blends music and culture, but equally shines in his teaching roles. Gabriel has taught theater and music across diverse settings, from elementary school programs with Bloom Arts Foundation to after-school sessions with Cultivarte. […]
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Staff
Elsa Mendoza
Office Manager
Elsa Mendoza is an experienced office manager, seasoned writer, award-winning author, and dedicated certified life coach.
With her extensive years of experience managing office operations, assisting, supporting, and collaborating with CEOs, founders, and business owners in different industries, she brings organizational prowess and leadership skills to every task.
When not managing the office, Elsa channels her passion for writing into creating inspiring and compelling self-help books and articles to empower others. As a certified Life coach, she guides individuals on their journey to personal growth and fulfillment, helping them unlock their full potential.
Stephen Sideroff, PhD
Licensed Therapist as Council
Dr. Stephen Sideroff is an internationally recognized psychologist, executive and medical consultant and expert in resilience, optimal performance, addiction, neurofeedback, relationships, and mental health. He has published pioneering research in these fields. He is a professor at UCLA in the Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences and the Department of Rheumatology, and director of the Wallenberg Institute of Ethics. He was the founder & former Clinical Director of the Stress Strategies program of UCLA/Santa Monica Hospital and former Clinical Director of Moonview Treatment and Optimal Performance Center.
Dr. Sideroff has presented over 600 seminars and professional training programs nationally and internationally. He has helped establish innovative training and treatment approaches in optimal functioning, mind/body medicine and attention deficit disorder in the US, China, and Europe and conducted cutting edge research in brain and behavior. Dr. Sideroff has written and produced a number of self-help audio programs along with his book, “The Path: Mastering the Nine Pillars of Resilience and Success” which has been hailed as “A true Bible for living in balance and spirituality.” Participants of Dr. Sideroff’s lectures and workshops have said that the experience was “life-changing.
Laura Jane Salvato
Grant / Contract Specialist
Laura Jane Salvato is an Independent Fundraising Consultant, Research Specialist, and Grant Writer with over 25 years’ experience collaborating with diverse clients such as Anne Frank LA, Drumming for Your Life Institute, Ensemble Studio Theatre (NYC and LA), LA Stage Alliance, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, The Rushmore Festival, Screen Actors Guild Foundation, Skylight Theatre Company, Virginia Avenue Project, The Walther School, more.
Ms. Salvato is also an award-winning actor, producer, and theatre administrator. As Artistic Director of Ensemble Studio Theatre-LA for eight seasons, Ms. Salvato nurtured 100 new plays annually and produced 19 premieres (winner GLAAD Media Award, nominee NAACP “Best Producer” Award).
Her first produced feature, DOUBTING THOMAS, was nominated for “Best Film” at the Golden Door International Film Festival and won the “Audience Award” at Dances With Films, among other laurels.
Ms. Salvato’s acting credits include LIVING OUT LOUD, “Bosch”, “Big Love”, “Judging Amy” (recurring), “ER”, “Faux Baby” (recurring), and numerous national network commercials and dramatic podcasts. Laura won a Dramalogue Award for her portrayal of “Joan” in the Sean Penn-produced play, REMEMBRANCE.
She is a graduate of The William Esper Studio and Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.
DFYL Board of Directors
Dr. Marvin Southard
1983 – D.S.W. School of Social Welfare, University of California, Los Angeles 1975 – M.S.W. Administration and Community Organization School of Social Welfare, University of California. 2015 – 2019 Professor of Practice of Social Work University of Southern California, School of Social Work. Responsible as C.E.O. for the implementation of the Cohen Clinic for Veterans […]
Read MoreGavin Greenaway
Gavin Greenaway is a British born Emmy-award winning composer and conductor. He studied piano and composition at Trinity College of Music in London where he was awarded the Performers Licentiate Diploma and winner of the Chopin Prize and John Halford Composition Prize. Mr. Greenaway was awarded an Emmy in 2000 for his music for ABC […]
Read MoreGregory P. Meisner, Ph.D.
Greg Meisner received his B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Physics from the University of California, San Diego. After a two-year post-doctoral appointment at Los Alamos National Lab, he joined General Motors Global Research & Development Center in Warren, Michigan, where he has been conducting industrial research for over 28 years. Dr. Meisner has published […]
Read MoreDavid Siskin
David has a wealth of experience in strategic marketing, building brands and growing companies. He was one of the early partners of CKS Partners, the integrated marketing communications company known for pioneering the use of technology and new media in communications. David advised companies such as McDonald’s, Sears, Apple, Motorola, MCI, Visa, and United Airlines. […]
Read MoreAlison Graham
Alison is the Founder and President of AJGpr. After honing her skills at Much and House Public Relations, where she served as Vice President, she launched her own public relations firm in 2008. Recognized for her strategic planning skills, unique content creation, and innovative media campaigns, Alison has consistently driven growth and increased brand visibility for her […]
Read MoreEvette Marie De Luca
Evette De Luca has 20 years of leadership experience in the public and nonprofit sectors, directing multi-sector teams focused on healthcare access, community violence, homelessness, food insecurity, and health disparities. She is the Director of the LA County CHW/P/R Consortium, a network of 90 community-based organizations (CBOs) and health systems working to advance the integration […]
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Partners
