Drum Lessons in Birds Landing, CA

Instruments: Drums

I do not have formal homework for students under 8. For students 10 years old and older I have a strict policy of teaching Music Theory including basic scales, rhythms, notation and triads. Drum tabs and beat charts are also covered; but my goal is create a well rounded musician which many drummers are not. Like adult and teenage students; the goal is teach the child to teach themselves- as repetition and commitment are key to gaining full competency with the drumset. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I am largely a self-taught player. I play for 1-3 hours each day, honing my skills and feel. I dont teach reading, although I use basic notation for exercises and grooves. I have played in numerous musical situations, from jazz to rock, blues, country and even Cabaret, both on the East Coast and in the Bay Area. I have been in groups that have played in the Cow Palace, in front of thousands of people, the Concord Pavilion, and the former Keystone Korner jazz club. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Ukulele Mandolin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I approach teaching in a way that encourages students to learn at a pace that's comfortable for them. Since the lessons are one -on-one, there is no need to keep up with a herd like you're in school. So I try to give a healthy balance of goals that are attainable only if the student practices and reviewing material from the past to see what has been retained while also showing how certain musical material is not like riding a bike... you will forget without some upkeep. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Synthesizer Keyboard

My method is to have fun to make the student feel motivated and challenge to learn and get better with the instrument. There is no recipe to improve your skills than just practicing and practicing. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Organ

For beginner students who are pursing music on the tonal instruments, I typically start with learning the names of the notes on the instrument and the major scale in every key as it relates to the piano. For the bass guitar I start of with basic finger strength techniques and exercises while incorporating the major scale fingering form and Nashville numbering system for all tonal instruments. For voice, I start off by finding the range of the individual and then teaching warmup techniques while building the individuals technique through finding a song and learning how to sing along.  Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

We will began with two drumsticks and a pad. Core fundamentals are the building blocks for everything we do behind the kit. We will first need to get the mechanics working before we drive the car. How to hold the sticks, how to strike a drum, and the basic of reading rhythms, will be the focus of the first 2-3 lessons. It is at this point we can start putting the two together. Read More

Instruments: Drums Latin Percussion Keyboard

For beginning learners I will focus on drum stick hand placement, grip, and control. This will fundamentally give the student more comfort in rhythm later on in the lessons. A proper hand grip and finding a comfortable position is key to starting the foundation of being a great drummer. We will also focus on the nomenclature of the drum kit. We don't just want to hit the drum kit, but we want to learn what it is we are hitting. Read More