Drum Lessons in Valley Village, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching method is different depending on the abilities of each student. For beginning students, I use the Haskell W. Harr Drum Method Books 1 2, Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone, and The All-American Drummer 150 Rudimental Swing solos by Charley Wilcoxin. Once I feel like a student is strong enough on the snare drum, I will then work with them on developing limb independence on the drum set. All of the snare drum method books that I use with my students will eventually be adapted for drum set. Read More

Instruments: Drums

For all students I typically teach from Musicians Institute’s curriculum. This curriculum is tailored in a clear and concise form to progress chronologically from the bottom up. The books I use can help to develop performance, reading, and technique etc at levels beginner through advanced. Most kids I try to teach with additional factors to keep lessons entertaining, and for adults I try to give them as much information as possible while catering to where they are trying to get as a drummer as opposed to the overall knowledge a kid needs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Organ Synthesizer Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Djembe

I create custom lesson plans for all my students, integrating their interests, strengths and weaknesses into a cohesive, dynamic education schedule. I incorporate a variety of different lesson books to ensure musical reading while encouraging consistent exercises in using our musical ear. I use modern music to inspire students to learn the songs they like. I also promote songwriting and other creative outlets to inspire students to find their own musical voice. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

When I receive a new student the first thing I do is assess where they are technically and what their interests are. From there I develop custom lesson plans that are design to improve a certain technique while learning new music. For example if a student comes in and really loves Michael Jackson's music but doesn't know how to hold the drumsticks or read music, I will give them basic exercises to improve their lack of technical ability and then we'll apply it to a song. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums

For percussion, I have performed with many star attractions like Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Jr. and Joni Mitchell, to name a few. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Conga Latin Percussion Electric Guitar Djembe Acoustic Guitar

I started teaching right after graduating from Berklee at a school where I actually took lessons during my high school years! It was such a special experience and it made be fall in love with helping people achieve their musical goals and dreams, regardless of how big or small they are. There are few things more special than when a student wants to learn a song and we work on it, lesson after lesson, in as much detail as possible and when they finally get it... that look in their eyes is priceless! Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums

For beginning piano students, I start them with a variety of materials, beginning with John Thompson's piano books, along with stanzas of finger exercises to develop dexterity. But more importantly for me, is that I understand that people, especially now, want to start playing songs as soon as possible. So, I immediately teach them chords and scales. Weekly, I introduce a new one so they get comfortable and then get them used to moving from chord to chord. Read More