Drum Lessons in Colwyn, PA

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Djembe

For all students, I start off with the basic fundamentals. Proper setup, posture, stick position, and technique. I then will hand write some examples and assess the student. From there I usually will use Alfred's Beginning Drum Set Method. Once the student has a grasp on that, I will focus on rudimental drumming and snare rhythms to accompany the drum fill portion of the Alfred's book. From there we move into more advanced books that include jazz drumming and complex rock beats as well as learning popular songs of the student's choice. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I make sure that beginner students understand the instrument and start with the proper technique before they can develop bad habits. I try to pick a song or finger exercises for them each lesson as well as a few exercises where they can develop their reading skills. As a student becomes more comfortable with the instrument that is when we can get into more challenging pieces of music as well as different scales and exercises that will help them with their improvising as well as their overall understanding of music. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

I have learned that every student cannot be taught the same way, so I tailor my instruction to the individual student. I encourage my students to set personal goals of achievement at their own pace. I want my students to know that our lessons are reciprocal.In my experiences I have come to love that in music, there is always more to learn. There is essentially more music than we would ever listen to in our lifetime. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I like to give the students the tools to become their own teachers. As their private teacher, my goals are threefold: firstly, to help them build an understanding of the fundamentals of their instrument, including relevant techniques, posture, etc. Secondly, to help them build an understanding of musical concepts and of musicianship in general, including melody, harmony, rhythm, basic theory, etc. Thirdly, to help them cultivate a vibrant practice and playing program, including optimizing fun while practicing otherwise dry material, scaffolding their learning to extrapolate on what they already know, and giving them the tools to improve and develop with or without a teacher. Read More

Instruments: Drums Latin Percussion

I can still remember the joy I felt when I first started playing drums and my passion is helping people experience that joy. In my musical career, spanning 38 years, I have performed with varied groups including: drumset with The Road Runners Blues Band, Catfish and Paul Plumeri Blues Band; West African, Middle Eastern and Afro-Cuban percussion with Groove Merchant Drum Dance Ensemble; bodhran and bones with traditional Celtic bands Kintail, Cwn Annwn and Browne Jenkyn; and snare drum with The First Highland Watch of Pennsylvania and Rev War Re-enactors First NJ Volunteers. Read More

Instruments: Drums Synthesizer Djembe

Students are encouraged to say the play of each voice independently to foster coordination independence as conscious control. My Seven Shapes system provides foundation for the commonalities and distinctions across whatever course of songs they study. For more intermediate students, we take on more challenging songs, exercise greater stick control w/ compound rudiments, and chart entire drum parts of whole songs. Intermediate and Advanced students focus on the specific motifs and skills of more distinct and challenging drumming; speed/endurance for punk/metal, groove and phrasing for hip-hop and pop 4-way independence for latin and afro-cuban, shuffle feel open/improvisational song-form for blues and jazz, Advanced students also learn odd-meter, poly-meter, polyrhythms and ostinato from both traditional African/Indian musics and contemporary progressive examples. Read More

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

I love to teach music because it reminds me of the joy I felt in the process of musical discovery when I was a student. In 1996, I graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Percussion Performance. Since graduation, I've had the opportunity to explore many avenues within the world of percussion. Among these opportunities, I had the privilege to study and perform different music of the Caribbean. Read More