Drum Lessons in Van Nuys, CA

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Djembe

Evan Michael H. brings over 30 years of drumming experience to teaching you or your child the percussion fundamentals, from simple rolls and rhythms to more advanced techniques. Evan’s students learn how to drum along with their favorite songs in just the first few lessons. You’ll also learn how to drum with a band and participate in creating music. As a member of the Total Drummer drum teaching program, I have access to enormous libraries of teaching material, including the main syllabus, famous song charts, drumless play-along tracks, and everything else my students may need. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Accordion Ukulele Mallet Percussion Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I've found that being flexible and adaptible is most important to me, as everyone learns in a different way. I place a lot of importance on following student interest and goals as well, since it doesn't matter how great your instruction is if you're bored and don't want to keep playing. I think every student should get as much out of their lesson experience as they want, whether that means a more casual experience where you're not practicing too much throughout the week, or holding my student more accountable if they express more ambitious goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trombone Drums Synthesizer Ukulele Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

After I first received my Bachelor's Degree from CSU Fullerton, I opted to showcase my original music through distinct outlets. One of the resulting projects, themattsmithneujazztrio, has recorded three full-length records; my other project, JUICEBOX, has recorded two. I gained a masters of music in jazz drum set from California Institute of the Arts, where I was honored to record my own composition for the CalArts, 30th Annual Jazz CD at Capitol Records. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar

I believe that motivation begins with excitement and there is no better way to help a student stick to a practice routine than teaching him or her to play their favorite songs. Of course, a knowledge of music theory is very important, but I always make sure that we don't get bogged down in minutia, and that each student is allowed to proceed at his or her own pace. A practical and usable knowledge of music's fundamentals is employed to get results and keep the student motivated and actively learning. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion

I primarily use original material when I teach, but occasionally Ill work from standard method books such as Stick Control, Master Studies, and Syncopation, or assign pages from more recent books like John Rileys The Art of Bop Drumming. Ill also pull out books specifically for sight reading such as Anthony Cirones Portraits in Rhythm. For beginning and intermediate students I focus on fundamental technique, basic sight reading skills, and drum set playing (independence/coordination of the limbs, relaxation and balance, time and groove, fills and solos, introduction of musical styles, etc.) For advanced students I get into more conceptual and creative aspects of playing the drums, but I also introduce the Spivack/Wilson technique which I learned during my studies with Murray Spivack and Richard Wilson in the 1980s [check out the 4-part series featured in Modern Drummer magazine in 2011-2012]. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Recorder

From Newbreed to Chapin to Afro-Cuban Rhythm for drum set, there are many methods that are worth exploring. That being said, sometimes learning songs (covers) can be the best way to learn quickly and it can be a lot of fun. Something I've done many times too is writing precise exercises for students in order to address and target specific needs. Let's say a student has difficulty with his ghost notes on his/her left hand, I can easily come up with fun exercises in order to speed up the progress and get improvements for that student. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga

During college, a woman and her son saw a Jazz combo show I played drum set in and after the set, She asked me if I would teach her son. I agreed. I taught her son for a year. Sadly, they moved away but the word spread and the next year I had two more students. It contuied that way as I progressed in college my teaching improved. When I moved to California in 1997, I had seven students to teach on the weekends. Read More