Drum Lessons in Brentwood, NY

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

Everyone is different. Some students learn faster by using their ears and some by reading. Both of these skills are clearly important but one will always be weaker. This is where knowing your student and what they're trying to achieve is important. Some students want to learn a simple drumbeat, some want to learn a specific song. I have two goals in my lessons. One: What does the student want to learn? Read More

Instruments: Drums Bass Guitar Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

Although I have my own methods and "prescribed" teaching materials, I love to keep a dialogue with the student. I always ask what their goals with music are, as I will then tailor the lessons accordingly. If a student says to me that they want to work towards an audition, I know that I can push them harder in terms of expectation and material. Or, I've had students who want to learn how to play a specific style or song, and those lessons can be much more mellow. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums

On piano, for beginner students, I often start them on some of the primer level method books, either from the Faber and Faber "Piano Adventures" series or the Alfred beginning piano series and then transition to having the students learn music they want to learn and are excited about playing. I often will make custom transcriptions/arrangements of songs my students like that are especially designed for their skill level. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I first like to see what music the student is into. Most of the time students who take up drums want to learn a groove from their favorite band or song. It helps get them engaged immediately and want to play. It's good to take the first couple of lessons to gauge my students pace and see how they progress. At the beggining of each lesson it's good to just warm up with some simple playing excercises and lossen them up. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums

My teaching includes all aspects of music; Musical theory, sight singing, as well as Music History. My teaching style allows the child to have fun while they learn their instrument, but I emphasize a strong practice regiment. Your child will understand that while learning music and an instrument can be fun, there will be some work involved if they want to become great. I usually use either the Alfred or Rubank method books to supplement a curriculum that I tailor make for each individual student. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Drums Mallet Percussion

For beginning students, I usually work with Hal Leonard's essential elements as well as use the piano as a tool for them to hear the pitches they are playing. Once the fundamentals are grasped we can work on introductory solo repertoire. For children I'd like to make this a bit more fun as well, introducing some easy tunes they will be familiar with or excited to play. (for example, Jason Derulo's song "Trumpets") For adults, I think its best to find out what their interests are and we can target what to work on from there. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

We begin by playing simply and slowly on the snare drum, focusing on stickings, control, dynamics, technique and mechanics, move the rhythms around the kit in common patterns, add bass drum and sometimes HiHat support. Meanwhile, common rock/funk/pop grooves are introduced and combined with the rhythmic exercises to achieve fluidity to playing rock repertoire. The same process is used with Triplet meter as jazz and blues styles are developed, then with world music contexts, Bossa Nova, Samba, Baiao, etc. Read More