Drum Lessons in Tredyffrin, PA

Instruments: Drums Synthesizer Djembe

I combine traditional technique and modern A/V technology to teach immersive drum-lessons that accelerate the student drummers skill, musicality, listening, and notation literacy. While I may reach for a book to cite exercises from books like GL Stones Stick Control or example patterns from Hal Leonwards The New Breed, I do not teach by the book for my students. Instead, I survey students inspiration, goals, and learning style to progress from their passion first, with a focus on learning the drum parts of the songs they love, both by ear and charting in notation. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have been teaching musical arts for quite some time now and really enjoy teaching and seeing my students grow in skill and confidence. Before teaching private lessons and then in a local music school, I was in a working Rock and Roll band, playing mostly original songs. I have played from Pawtucket, Rhode island down to the Outer banks in North Carolina. Of course, we played the majority of our shows in Philadelphia. Read More

Instruments: Drums

For beginner students Ill usually start with George Lawrences Stick Control and Ted Reeds Syncopation. Once I know they have a grasp of the fundamentals, Ill usually see what their interests are or what they are working on personally and help them improve and build upon those things. This could be repertoire for school or auditions or simply a song they have been trying to learn for a while. Once I understand the students interests and goals I try and tailor my curriculum to that. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums

My teaching style relies heavily upon training the ear to dissect what it is hearing. Developing the ear is crucial to being a self-reliant musician. In drums, the visualization how a rhythm works in time is essential to being able to perform that rhythm. Dissection and mapping are the key to furthering one's abilities on the drum kit. In guitar or in piano, being able to isolate frequencies with your ear will lead you to a more accurate understanding for chord structures and progressions than simply looking up tabs, which are often deeply flawed. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

After evaluating a student's understanding and capabilities, I typically choose a method book to parallel their existing skills and work through it at the most enthusiastic, but comfortable pace. The importance of using method books is based in the student's ability to review material between lessons and using them as checklists for progress. Establishment of a solid fundamental approach will be critical to the student's advancement and ability to perform for an audience, regardless of size or venue acoustics. Read More

Instruments: Drums Latin Percussion

I can still remember the joy I felt when I first started playing drums and my passion is helping people experience that joy. In my musical career, spanning 38 years, I have performed with varied groups including: drumset with The Road Runners Blues Band, Catfish and Paul Plumeri Blues Band; West African, Middle Eastern and Afro-Cuban percussion with Groove Merchant Drum Dance Ensemble; bodhran and bones with traditional Celtic bands Kintail, Cwn Annwn and Browne Jenkyn; and snare drum with The First Highland Watch of Pennsylvania and Rev War Re-enactors First NJ Volunteers. Read More

Instruments: Drums Recorder Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Glassboro State College (Rowan University) in Glassboro with a bachelor's degree in Music Education and Percussion. I have been playing for 46 years. I am also a music technologist and can instruct students in the use of Software such as Mixxx (DJ software), Audacity (music creation and editing). I taught Music in Deptford for 11 years, and computers (with emphasis on music) in Salem Conty NJ. Read More