PERCUSSIONIST · EDUCATOR · FATHER OF THREE  //  PAS GOLD MEDALIST 1995  //  UNT A-LINE DRUMLINE  //  VELVET KNIGHTS · SKY RYDERS  //  PERFORMED IN AUSTRALIA  //  PRIVATE LESSONS · FORT WAYNE, IN  //  DRUMSET · RUDIMENTAL · CONGA · DJEMBE · TABLA  //  PERCUSSIONIST · EDUCATOR · FATHER OF THREE  //  PAS GOLD MEDALIST 1995  //  UNT A-LINE DRUMLINE  //  VELVET KNIGHTS · SKY RYDERS  //  PERFORMED IN AUSTRALIA  //  PRIVATE LESSONS · FORT WAYNE, IN  //  DRUMSET · RUDIMENTAL · CONGA · DJEMBE · TABLA  // 
OPERATOR_PROFILE // THE HUMAN BEHIND THE SYSTEM
"Marketing is just rhythm at scale. I approach both the same way — precise timing, layered textures, controlled signal flow."
— Anooj Thakker · Percussionist · Marketer · Father of Three
MODULE_02 // PERCUSSION & PERFORMANCE
DRUMMER.
PERCUSSIONIST.
EDUCATOR.
UNT · PAS Gold Medalist · Drum Corps Veteran
Attended The University of North Texas pursuing a BA in Music Education with emphasis in percussion. Selected for the award-winning UNT A-Line Drumline, Brazilian Percussion Ensemble, and SteelBand Ensemble. Won individual PAS Gold Medal at the Percussive Arts Society Solo Tenor Competition, 1995. UNT Percussion Scholarship recipient.

Drum corps career spans Sky Ryders and Velvet Knights of Anaheim under Paul Rennick and Tom Float. Performed internationally with StickWorx Percussion Group at Conrad Jupiter's Gold Coast Resort, Australia, 2002.

Currently teaching private percussion lessons in Fort Wayne, IN. Methods: Drumset, Rudimental, Conga, Djembe, Tabla. Styles span Classical, Jazz, Funk, African, Brazilian, and Caribbean.
PAS GOLD MEDALIST 1995 UNT A-LINE DRUMLINE VELVET KNIGHTS · SKY RYDERS PERFORMED IN AUSTRALIA PRIVATE LESSONS · FORT WAYNE
30+
YRS PERFORMING
UNT → Drum Corps → recording → teaching
1995
PAS GOLD MEDAL
Solo Tenor · National competition
5
METHODS
Drumset · Rudimental · Conga · Djembe · Tabla
4+
STATES TAUGHT
CO · CA · TX · IN and counting
PERFORMANCE STATUS
Private Lessons
DRUMSET · RUDIMENTAL · PERCUSSION
Thakker & Collins
▶ YOUTUBE ARCHIVED
Late to the Station
ARCHIVED
StickWorx Percussion Group
GOLD COAST, AU · 2002
Velvet Knights / Sky Ryders
DCI · 1993–95
Blue Knights DBC
TECH · 1999
PERCUSSION_HISTORY // CHRONOLOGICAL LOG
NOW
Private Percussion Lessons
Teaching drumset, rudimental percussion, and world percussion — Fort Wayne, IN
ACTIVE
2002
StickWorx Percussion Group
Performed at Conrad Jupiter's Gold Coast Resort, Australia — under direction of Paul Rennick (UNT)
INTERNATIONAL
1998–2004
Percussion Educator — Multiple Programs
Percussion Director, Air Academy High School (Colorado Springs) — state titles & percussion caption awards. Also served The Colony HS, Plano Senior HS, and band programs across Colorado, California, and Texas
EDUCATOR
1999
Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps
Battery/Quad Line Technician
DCI TECH
1994–1995
Velvet Knights of Anaheim, CA
Marched under Paul Rennick and Tom Float · Assistant Instructor, Velvet Knights B-Line
DCI
1993–1996
University of North Texas
UNT A-Line Drumline (1994–96) · Brazilian Percussion Ensemble · SteelBand Ensemble · PAS Convention performer 1993–96 · UNT Percussion Scholarship 1993–94
PAS GOLD MEDALIST 1995
1993
Sky Ryders Drum Corps
Marched under Paul Rennick, Brian West, Quiyan Murphy, and Pat Fitzgerald
DCI
PERSONAL_CONFIG // FAMILY & LIFE
HOUSEHOLD_STATUS // FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
ONLINE

Outside the marketing workstation, the most important system Anooj runs is at home. Husband and father of three — the same discipline that earned a PAS Gold Medal and orchestrates 175+ campaigns a year gets applied to weekend lessons, homework, and keeping a household of five running on beat.

KID_01
High Schooler
The one who keeps you humble
SON
KID_02
High Schooler
The one who keeps you on your toes
DAUGHTER
KID_03
Elementary
The one who keeps you young
DAUGHTER
Beyond the Workstation

The same principles that make campaigns work — timing, layering, consistency, knowing when to lead and when to listen — turn out to be pretty solid parenting principles too. Three kids, a drum kit, and one wife who somehow tolerates all of it.

HUSBAND DAD OF THREE FORT WAYNE, IN PERCUSSION TEACHER
Other Interests

Off-roading, photography, podcasting, true crime, camping, Fortnite with the kids. A global mindset built from years of touring, teaching across four states, and performing internationally.

OFF-ROADING PHOTOGRAPHY PODCASTING TRUE CRIME CAMPING FORTNITE