Drum Lessons in Cedarhurst, NY

Instruments: Drums

Through my years of lessons and practice, I've narrowed down the fundamentals into two books based around Rock and Jazz: Ultimate Realistic Rock by Carmine Appice and Advanced Techniques for the modern drummer by Jim Chapin. I also teach rudiments through the practice pad to sharpen control and speed when playing drumset. Through these books and rudiments you'll build a solid foundation that will make learning more advanced grooves or fills easier to play. Read More

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

I've taught in a myriad of environments. My earliest goes back to instructing marching band/indoor percussion programs. My most recent marching program was Fusion Drum Bugle Corps. My college studies helped me branch out musically, and thus I started dabbling in private instruction which I found very fulfilling. I was a graduate adjunct instructor at NYU, teaching primarily concert snare drum. Nowadays, I teach at private music studios (a la School of Rock) and am building up a studio of my own! Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

There's nothing worse than buying a drum set to start learning to play, only to have your teacher tell you, "You won't be ready for that for a year."  I like to get eveyone playing something fun and interesting as soon as possible.  Some examples of books I like to use with beginning students are the "Breeze Easy Drum Method," "Alfred's Drum Method," and Ted Reed's "Syncopation."  Songs we may often start lessons with would be "We Will Rock You" by Queen, "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin, "Back in Black" by AC/DC, etc. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Drums Recorder Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

I love seeing and hearing my students get something and play it well.  It is more rewarding than any amount of money.  I encourage my students to play and perform as much as possible even if it is just in their own home.  I keep the lessons well paces but I am not afraid to go off in a different direction if it suits the student.  Music should be inspiring and should leave the student always wanting to learn more. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

Most of the private lessons that I have taught since this time have been for drum set, as that is the more commonly desired area of study for many students seeking private lessons. Of the group lessons I have taught since high school, all of them have been in a school environment, yet have spanned every age and ability of music student. In my career thus far, I have worked with students who were just entering kindergarten, and students who were already in college for percussion, and I have enjoyed each situation equally. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

The main books that I like to work on for a beginner student are stick control by George Lawrence Stone Realistic Rock written by Carmine Appice I also do a lot of work with the 40 drum rudiments also I find it very enjoyable to use books by Chaz w i l k o z I have also written a book which has many many contemporary drum pills about time and many of the Great drummers styles which I will use to teach I also like to use transcriptions from some of the favorite recordings of all time led Zeppelin Rush and many other popular bands of our time you can ask you as a student can decide on which bands and which drummers that you want to cover I also enjoy working with great play alongs music minus one tracks that are very very cool to play without the drums so you can get an idea of how to actually play with a band Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums

I approach teaching as a means to help the student develop their own relationship with music development. I firmly believe that all music students are their own best teachers, and a great teacher helps the student learn to discover themselves. With that in mind, I aim to help the student learn the fundamentals of their instrument, expose the student to new musical avenues and ideas that inspire them to work further, and challenge them to reach for new heights in their understanding and proficiency. Read More