Drum Lessons in Delridge, WA

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

I make my own lesson materials using musical notation software and cater the lesson to the needs of the student. Every student is different and requires special attention. For example, a beginner percussionist would start off learning how to read and notate rhythms all the way up to 16th notes to start. I would then move into how to hold drum sticks and how to hit a drum. I would build upon these concepts to facilitate lessons to come and tailor the lesson to the individual. 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: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Djembe

I start most beginning students (and evaluate more advanced ones) on snare drum or practice pad. This is a central instrument to the percussion family and most techniques used on other percussion instruments are based on sound snare drum technique.  I like the Alfred Drum Method book for students just starting out regardless of age as the ability to read and understand written music is important no matter what stylistic path one follows. Read More

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

For beginning to students I like to have them learn their notes on the bass guitar first and foremost. Once we have become familiar with the neck of the bass we introduce Hal Leonards's Bass Method Book 1. This will build our foundation for learning to read time signatures, notes in bass clef, rhythms, as well as playing complete songs. For intermediate bass students I like to gauge the level and tailor a program for that individual. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion

Proficiency in reading music is a top goal for my new students and we start to read music within the first few lessons. I balance working out of a book with listening exercises, playing along to songs and the occasional game or two. A typical 60 minute lesson run down: 5 minutes - check in from previous lesson and a warm up 15 minutes - beat/groove workshop - digging into a style and working on various drum beats in that style 10 minutes - technical piece that relates to the beats/grooves weve been working on and some exercises to improve technique 5 minutes - game or improvisation break, something to give our brains a rest 20 minutes - working on a song. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Djembe

I have been teaching percussion lessons since 1994. Along with my full teaching studio, I also perform regularly and coach the Tacoma Youth Symphonies and Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestras. I have also taught within the Auburn (WA) and Tucson (AZ) public schools as a percussion and music specialist, at The University of Rio Grande (OH) as an affiliate faculty member, at Ohio University and The University of Arizona as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, at Interlochen Arts Camp (MI) as the All-State percussion instructor, and at New England Music Camp (ME) as a faculty member. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Trumpet Drums Bass Guitar Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

No matter where the student starts from, I always spend a significant amount of time in the first lesson discussing with them what they want to gain, what they are interested in, and how much time and effort they want to put into this endevor. It is important to me to understand the student so that I can cater to their needs and desires, and hopefully encourage them to continue playing music. Read More