Drum Lessons in El Mirage, AZ

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion

I was a guest lecturer at the Fredrick Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw and did an exciting multi-city tour as featured soloist with the Polish National Military Band and Performed for the Polish/U.S. Embassy. While in Poland I also performed concerts, clinics and taught master classes at the Jelania-Gora Philharmonia Complex and Warsaw.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In the drum & bugle corps field, I marched with and taught the National Champion Chicago Cavaliers, and I've taught, written, or consulted for the National Champion Chicago Royal Airs, the National Champion Argonne Rebels From Great Bend Kansas, the Santa Clara Vanguard, the 2002 Royal Air Reunion corps and many others. Read More

Instruments: Drums Bass Guitar Banjo Euphonium Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Djembe

As I first approach a new student, my first question to them is "why drums?". From that response I have a better idea of where this student is most comfortable for playing. Their genre of musical listening is a strong consideration of the styles they would enjoy learning. By finding their strong points of playing building an individual curriculum for that student gives them a better opportunity to become a player to the best of their abilities. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Recorder Euphonium French Horn Tuba Mallet Percussion Oboe English Horn Keyboard

I will develop a stimulating lessons plan that covers a wide range of topics, and foster music appreciation through SEL based instruction. Instructing students by incorporating various technical applications. As a student and teacher, I’ve conducted rehearsals, put on musicals, concerts, performed at assemblies, while offering one-on-one as well as group instruction. Believing that instilling a sense of music appreciation by becoming Socially and emotionally competent, while at the same time developing excellent musicianship. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Cello Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Double Bass Music Keyboard Djembe

I have worked with students aging from 6 with no training to 55 with 30 years of training. Every student is different and presents unique challenges. I find that the less a student know the easier it is to see improvement. Often with older players there are fundamental basics that are working against them that need correction. You can not unlearn something, only learn something knew. The most important thing in music education is starting them right because muscle memory is extremly hard to change. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

For beginning students that are in middle or high school, I typically start them out learning snare drum technique, and reading rhythms. Fortechnique I will use standard exercises and rudiments, and for readingI will use "Syncopation for The Modern Drummer".If the student has a drumset then I will start them with some basic "Rock" beatsas a tool to help thembetter understand the subdivision of time, and form some independence.Most of my students move into Gary Chester's "The New Breed" as their first drumset book.After teaching for 25 years, I have developed a lot of my own lesson meterials, and I try to cater the lesson plans to both challenge the students and keep them having fun learning. Read More

Instruments: Drums Synthesizer

The first lesson I will assess the students playing to get to know them and their goals so we can get started right away. For beginners we'll be focusing heavily on Syncopation and Stick Control, two excellent books. When the student has a grasp on the basics we will work on dynamic control, limb independence, sense of time and ear training. Intermediate lessons include advanced poly-rhythms, trading fours together in different time signatures, fine tuning the drums and advanced sight reading. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I feel I explained a good amount of my teaching style in the last column. I really like to go with what the student will benefit from the most, not necessarily what is the cookie cutter "next step" I learned to play by trying things a couple levels above me and I loved it. I know not all students are the same, and sometimes the parents input is a big factor depending on if they are musicians themselves! Read More