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Information: 453-7337 (Steve’s cell), stevestockmalmusic.com

It’s hard to say whether Steve Stockmal is a better humorist or music instructor, but one thing’s for sure: he’s exceptional at both.

Stockmal is a Santa Barbara native and an honor graduate of MI (Musicians Institute) in Hollywood. He’s toured every hemisphere of the globe as a drummer, singer and guitarist, and lately the mad music scientist has been tuned into using instruments as a means of helping kids improve their mental and social development by bridging the gap between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

“Music — and specifically the physical part of musical training — helps with A.D.D. and A.D.H.D,” says Stockmal. “That’s on the deep and heavy side, but the other side is that it’s just plain fun and it gives kids something that they can relate to.”

Stockmal founded Steve Stockmal Music 10 years ago, and opened up his Band rehearsal studio in order to provide individuals and bands a more conducive environment to learning music, record and rehearse.

“My students range from 7 to 70 years old. Around half of them are teenagers, the next majority is college students and young professionals, and then there’s the 50-and-up crowd that always wanted to play and now finally has the means to take a little time out of their day,” says Stockmal. “The wide range of people makes it fun for me because I’m constantly working with different ages and interests. I’ll have jazz in one lesson, Mozart in the next and thrash metal after that.”

Stockmal has written and published seven books on music, including his neurology-inspired “Drumstick Spinology.” All science aside, Stockmal’s primary focus is to offer the community an outlet for learning, practicing and recording music.

“It’s a crying shame that music and the arts were the first things to be cut from public education,” says Stockmal. “I’m not sure if there is something that should be cut first, so maybe the bigger question is figuring out how to deal with budgets so that everyone gets a full slice of the educational pie.”