Drum Lessons in Edgemont, PA

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have been teaching musical arts for quite some time now and really enjoy teaching and seeing my students grow in skill and confidence. Before teaching private lessons and then in a local music school, I was in a working Rock and Roll band, playing mostly original songs. I have played from Pawtucket, Rhode island down to the Outer banks in North Carolina. Of course, we played the majority of our shows in Philadelphia. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I prefer a multifaceted approach with the goal of encouraging simultaneous development of the core areas of drumming (ex. reading, coordination development, fundamentals, etc). While also striving to provide the student with inspiration, enjoyment, creativity and intellectual musical growth. A general lesson framework would be similar to the following: Fundamentals/warm ups, Technique, Repertoire Development, Drum Set Chart Reading, Basic Notation Reading, Trading 4s, 8s and More, Ear Training, Discussion Preferred Beginner Texts: The Drum Set Musician- by Rod Morgenstein/Rick Mattingly The Drummers Cookbook- by John Pickering/Frank Briggs Alfred’s Drum Method Book 1- by Sandy Feldstein/Dave Black 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 Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

My teaching style is based on providing the student with as many "light bulb" moments as possible. These moments of goals being realized are the achievements which drive students to excel and are imperative to their confidence. Students who feel stuck or unmotivated are rarely in this position as a result of limited resources, but rather the feeling of accomplishment which is the result of great effort. Everyone learns differently, but generating lessons to strengthen weaknesses and help remember previous teaching is vital when considering a student's enthusiasm for their craft. Read More

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

For students who are just starting to learn a new instrument, I would start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements method book. As the student progresses and has a good understanding of the fundamentals, I begin to introduce solo repertoire that is appropriate for their skill level. I try to find out what all of my students are interested in, and I adjust my instruction accordingly to make sure that the lessons are always engaging, and fun. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums

My teaching style relies heavily upon training the ear to dissect what it is hearing. Developing the ear is crucial to being a self-reliant musician. In drums, the visualization how a rhythm works in time is essential to being able to perform that rhythm. Dissection and mapping are the key to furthering one's abilities on the drum kit. In guitar or in piano, being able to isolate frequencies with your ear will lead you to a more accurate understanding for chord structures and progressions than simply looking up tabs, which are often deeply flawed. Read More

Instruments: Drums Recorder Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

As percussion does not consist of one instrument but of hundreds, methodology changes depending on which we are discussing. for anything requiring drum sticks (snare drum, bass drum, timbales, drumset), the fundamentals and rudiments come first. After all, you don't put someone on a motorcycle if they cannot first ride a tricycle. Rudiments are every bit as important on Drumset as they are just playing snare. They give you the skills to move fluidly around the drumset. Read More