Robert Shipley is an assistant professor and director of Jazz Studies at Hope College, where he leads the college’s jazz ensembles, teaches jazz history and mentors the next generation of musicians. A Grammy-nominated versatile drummer and educator, Shipley has toured internationally for more than three decades, performing with Grammy-winning artists including Diana Ross, The Temptations, Natalie Cole and Chaka Khan.

As both performer and teacher, he brings a deep understanding of the jazz tradition, balancing respect for its history with an openness to contemporary expression. He is the author of several widely used drum method books — Complete Drum Methods for the Well-Rounded Drummer, The Art of Commercial Drumming, and The Evolution of the Groove — which reflect his practical, holistic approach to musicianship.

In addition to his work at Hope College, Shipley is an active clinician, adjudicator and conference presenter, sharing his expertise with students and educators at festivals and professional gatherings, including the Michigan Music Conference. His commitment to jazz education is rooted in a lifelong passion for rhythm, collaboration and the cultural power of music as a universal language.