Drum Lessons in Capitol Hill, WA

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Clarinet Drums Mallet Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

My teaching style is laid back and technical. I like to go at the pace of the student and really make sure technique is perfect. With good technique you set yourself up for success and develop good habits from the start. I can't tell you how many times I've seen students, even in college, dramatically improve their sound with just a simple posture change. Once technique is handled, the doors to all genres of music are open. Read More

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

I began teaching privately during college and have been doing so continuously since then.  My experience over the years with these many different students has shaped my teaching-to-the-individual method.  No matter the type of learner I strongly encourage regular and devoted practice of one's chosen instrument and feel that an attitude focusing on constant improvement (no matter how small the steps) goes a long way.  I embrace a student's taste in music and tailor my lessons with those styles in mind. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion

Though I have a general flow of lessons for beginner students, diversions from that path are always the most interesting and I like to strike a balance between learning the fundamentals and exploring creative outlets. I like to pepper in lots of listening exercises and a bit of music history to give context to what we're doing. This is especially important for new drummers as the music we're making isn't always instantly recognizable. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums

No single approach works with every student when teaching drums. There are simply too many styles and methods to choose from. But when working with beginners, I tend to focus mostly on developing a good internal sense of rhythm and good listening skills. Then if the student wishes, we may specialize in classical, jazz, rock, latin, or whatever style the student is interested in. There are many excelent published methods to choose from and I occasionally assign etudes and excersizes of my own. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Cello Viola Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Harmonica Ukulele Recorder Electric Violin Fiddle Double Bass Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I feel each of my students are unique. I love watching my students' level of musical understanding progress. I love seeing the dedication and determination begin to heighten as the lessons progress. Within each lesson I point out areas that need to be worked on as well as areas of improvement. Seeing one's progress is the most important element to me for my students. Therefore, I like to record my students quarterly for a few minutes within a lesson to show the mass amounts of improvement they will accomplish. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Drums Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For just about any instrument, a key approach of mine is to teach students how to play the songs they love - and then the musical building blocks that make up said songs. Then, I teach the rudiments, patterns, and music theory behind those building blocks, and teach the students to be able to figure this all out on their own in the future through ear-training. I tend to like the Essential Elements series for band instruments, the Alfred books for piano and guitar, the Real Book for a wide variety of jazz repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Double Bass Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

I have the same approach to teaching beginner and intermediate piano. Again, we learn our notes in five finger position and then we learn to read time signatures, notes in the treble clef, chords, and rhythms, as well as playing complete songs. When teaching piano for beginners I like to pick the leaning material that we'll use based on the individual because we all learn differently and I like to keep it fun so the student stays interested. Read More