Drum Lessons in Frazer, PA

Instruments: Drums

I like to create lessons geared towards each individual students needs. I work out of a few different books depending upon skill level. I try to gear the lessons towards the style of music the student likes while also teaching different techniques for a wide variety of music. I like to use rudiments and stick control as warm up exercises and then also teach different grooves and rhythms through song. for beginner students I will teach drum kit basics like setup. tuning and how to replace drum heads etc as well. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

For beginning students, I normally start with Alfred's Drum Method. This book works on the fundamentals of reading snare drum music and basic technique. Once the students grasps the basics on reading and playing with a metronome then we tend to move to Tommy Igoe's Groove Essentials (while still working on the Alfred's Method). After the student has began to play with the audio tracks and have succesfully gone through a few lessons from Groove Essentials then we begin to work on some solo repertoire and personal favorites as well. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I teach my students to read music as well as to play by ear. I host 2 recitals each year. We learn one song start to finish and I hire a professional band to learn and perform the songs with my students at a local establishment or at my studio. I encourage all of my students to perform with our recital band. As far as books, I prefer to use the "new Breed", by Gary Chester, the ''Art of Bop Drumming'', by John Riley , and the ''encyclopedia of reading rhythms'', by Garry Hess, but there are many other books I recommend for specific needs. 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 Recorder Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

My teaching style is fully interactive. As a teacher of both music and computers, I was never a dictatorial teacher. Other teachers, even young ones, that everyone was up and around. Talking to each other. Some listening to music. Whatever style fits the learner. You cannot "cheat" in music performance. Either you can do it or you cannot. Everyone does not learn the same way, so everyone should not be taught the same way. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

With all my students, I will always take interest in what they want to learn. I want to make their experience as fun as mine was when I first began. So knowing my students' musical inclinations is important to my methods, because it gives me a direction in which to apply my instruction. My younger students will start with the basic rhythm rudiments and reading notated percussion music. I am also willing to assist them in any repertoire that students are given in their school's music program. Read More

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Trombone Drums Euphonium Tuba Keyboard

For piano students, Erik teaches from the Hal Leonard Piano Lesson Books, which provide a structured and well-balanced approach to learning piano. These books help students develop reading skills, coordination, technique, and musical understanding while building a strong foundation that supports long-term progress. For drum set students, Erik typically begins with the Hal Leonard Drumset Method Book, which introduces students to core drum set skills such as groove development, coordination, timing, and reading rhythms. Read More