Drum Lessons in Dexter Linwood, MI

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Drums Bass Guitar Recorder Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginner Piano / Keyboard Students, I use the Bastien Books. They are simple to understand and get the Student through the first few stages of Right Hand Left Hand coordination and positions. I have several different books for Saxophone Students that feature technique, solo repertoire and duets. Depending on whether the student is a child, a teenager or an adult, I choose either a Daisy Guitar Book, Hal Leonard books, or the Berkeley School of Music for Guitarists. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

I believe the longevity I've been able to achieve with my students has come from the aforementioned solid foundation mixed with the students genuine interests and ability to see their own progress. I love teaching rock and pop (the stuff so many youngins want to learn) but always find creative ways to sneak in theory and academics. I also like to occasionally provide progress reports or "lesson sheets" to parents or students to make sure everyone is on the same page and still having fun! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums

To me it is very important to balance the technical and creative aspects of development. No matter what age/skill level I split time during lessons into activities that develop technique and language, and compositional, creative activities that help each student explore their instrument and what they have to say with it. This balance can be altered depending on the interests of the student or parent. I also encourage students to bring in songs that they want to learn/play along with to keep the lessons relevant to their musical interests. Read More

Instruments: Drums Latin Percussion

Typically, for students just starting out we would start on standard snare method, working out rudiments and gaining a sense of feel for drumming. This would eventually build up to working with the entire drum set, where we would explore several styles including Rock, Pop, Jazz, Swing, Latin and everything in between. Basically, I would try and find what the student is most interested in and build from there. Everyone wants something else, so it pays to be versatile. Read More

Instruments: Drums

When starting with a beginner student, I typically start by asking general questions about their interests and the music genres they enjoy. Then, we move on to the basics of maintaining proper form, understanding rhythm, and practicing simple exercises to ensure they start off with the right foundation. After that, we focus on learning the first few basic beats and ensuring they have a good understanding of how they are played. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Synthesizer Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

I try to cater my lessons to the interest of my students. If a pupil’s passion for music can be harnessed, then developing musical skills can be a simple process. I have a wide variety of material I teach from, including Ted Reed’s syncopation, George Lawrence Stone’s Stick Control for the Snare Drummer and basic piano literature. I also use music selected by the student to create custom lessons. Read More

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

I like to take a global approach to teaching percussion. The things that can be learned by playing on a pad with drumsticks can be transferred to other instruments such as Marimba, Timpani, and Multiple-Percussion. I find it essential to teach students good fundamentals in order for them to progress without having to fix bas habits. I also like to curb my lessons to fit what each student needs. When planning my lessons, I like to assess the student and build their weaknesses up first, while praising them for their strengths and taking them to the next level. Read More