Drum Lessons in Cliffside Park, NJ

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Clarinet Drums Recorder Euphonium Tuba Keyboard

For beginning students, I typically start with the method book that the child is given by the school Music teacher, making certain that they are at least adequately prepared to play their assigned studies (or pages) for their school Music lesson. I also incorporate playing the Duets provided in that volume, along with the students. I then suggest that they purchase other necessary methods, duets and solos at their local Music Store(s), as they progress, and they will therefore require more advanced Musical materials than that used at their school. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

For beginning students, I will start off with some basic rhythm sheets that I have created, and begin to asses the competency and understanding of basic rhythm. I firmly believe for any instrument that everyone needs a strong foundation of rhythm in order to progress into more advanced levels of playing and reading. At this point, I will begin to use Alfred’s Drum Method Books 1 and 2 interchangeably, eventually leading to Podemski’s Standard Snare Drum Method at the advanced level along with Rolls Rolls Rolls. Read More

Instruments: Drums

For students that want to sharpen their technique and sound, I use the "Gary Chaffee Method". Students who are concerned about changing their sound I put them on a regimen of drummers to dissect and listen to, so they can incorporate them into their own style. Students that are more concerned about playing songs and getting better at other styles of music, I use some of my own methods that I have customized for those particular students whether they want to play in a wedding band, a stadium, or a tavern or bar. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I teach basic stick technique using George Lawrence Stone's Stick Control, and I have numerous hand exercises based on patterns from that book that I warm up with every lesson. Starting with snare drum and basic hand technique also will incorporate rhythm reading, and basic limb independence. When my students start behind the kit, they will start by applying some of those hand exercises to the drumset, and also learn how to orchestrate and play basic grooves. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Djembe

For about 5 years I taught at a program called "Be Natural Music" where all of the students were children and teens. We put together kid rock bands and had them play shows a few times a year at local venues and festivals. I was the resident drum teacher for that program until my very recent move to New York. In my time there I helped the program expand into a new bigger store front and almost doubled their clientele. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Latin Percussion Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I'm a music lover/performer/composer/teacher who loves spreading the joy of music. I have an Associates Degree in fine arts for Bristol Community College where I studied all aspects of performance, music history, and composition. I started teaching music when I was seventeen years old and have teaching ever since. I have spent the majority my post college years performing as a freelance drummer and guitarist for dozens of musical acts in addition to teaching privately and in class settings in Boston, San Francisco, and NYC. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

I have had a lifelong passion for music as far back as I can ever remember. I was exposed to a wide variety of different musical genres from a very young age, and developed an interest in percussion when I was 3 years old. Drumset is my main instrument, but I am also proficient in classical percussion, marching percussion, and mallets. in 2005, I studied at the BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts in Syosset, and in 2009 Ireceived a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Performance from SUNY New Paltz.Iwas a member of my High School Stage Band, Jazz Band, and was section leader/head snare drummer of the Commack High School Marching Band. Read More