Considered by musicians across the globe as one of the best drummers in the world today, Matt brings his rhythm-rich family background and consummate percussion education to a variety of SoMar Drummers events. 

 

Picking up the sticks at 8-years old, Matt joined his father's band by the age of 12, playing blues and reggae at local venues.  At 14 he met Jo Salines who introduced Matt to Fusion, Funk and Latin music. At the age of 14 Matt appeared in Sallins DVD "Mr. Cool" and released an EP with punk band Backstab in 2006.  His first solo album "Heavy Volume" was released in 2007 - before he even left high school.

 

Garstka is graduate of Berklee College of Music and featured in Gospel Chops.com DVD "Shed Sessionz Vol. 3"  After graduating from Berkeley, he moved to Los Angeles and joined the prog band Animals As Leaders

 

To date, Garstka performed or recorded with artists including Mestis,  Plini, Tigran Hamasyan, Tony Smith, Rohn Lawrence, David Stolz, Doug Johns and more.

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As the SoMar Drummers, Inc Director of Artists Relations, Matt reaches out to drummers at the top of the industry, encouraging them to help SoMar Drummers form a strong foundation of excellence in young drummers.  Now in his 4th year with SoMar Drummers,  Matt brings a forward thinking education model to our events, propelling the art into the next generation.. 

 

He first demonstrated his passion for teaching at SoMar Drummers in 2021 at the Winter Drum Camp. He was Artist in Residence at the Mid Atlantic Drum Camp in 2022 and holds back to back residency at the camp in 2024 and 2025. 

 

He adjudicated the Mid Atlantic Drum Showcase (virtually) in 2023 and in person in 2024, where he also offered an exclusive clinic and private lessons to participants of the showcase.​

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Matt seeks out the finest drummers at the top of the drum spectrum to help develop, encourage and educate the next generation of drummers.

Matt endorses DWDrums, Meinl Cymbals and Vic Firth Sticks