Drum Lessons in Hawthorne, NJ

Instruments: Piano Drums Orchestral Percussion Djembe

I am a passionate music lover with many different interests. I play drum set, hand drums, piano, and a little bit of guitar. I graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Contemporary Music Studies and TV/Film Production. I have spent the years since college teaching both children and adults, playing music in several bands in the New York area, and traveling all over the world. Read More

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

I've found that after the preliminary work of getting a base skill set and familiarity with the instrument, technically proficiency, etc, it helps to let the student guide me in how i aid them on their journey and find where their passion is, in the great world of music. The most rewarding thing that can happen as a teacher is to see a student develop their own musicality and achieve their personal goals. Read More

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

Although I have my own methods and "prescribed" teaching materials, I love to keep a dialogue with the student. I always ask what their goals with music are, as I will then tailor the lessons accordingly. If a student says to me that they want to work towards an audition, I know that I can push them harder in terms of expectation and material. Or, I've had students who want to learn how to play a specific style or song, and those lessons can be much more mellow. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Keyboard

When I was 16 years old I became band leader in my after school orchestra. It wasn't because I was the most technical player, but because my love and affinity for music allowed me to communicate about it clearly. Since that time I have taught the piano in private and professional settings in Madrid, and more recently in New York. Here I have expanded to teach voice, guitar and drums after spending a decade studying while teaching piano. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I draw attention to the importance of listening and help the student identify what to listen for. There is nothing more frustrating than practicing a particular fill 1000 times, only to later realize you've been practicing it incorrectly. This is very common among drummers young and old, but is easily dealt with by simply cultivating a sense of listening and apt imitation. However, I do not endorse perfectionism as a means of effective learning either, and I also will remind the student of the fact that sometimes when you're jamming,even if what what you're playing is not perfect, it's "good enough for rock and roll." This is part of the attitude of rock and roll that I feel is conducive to better, faster learning: a willingness to make mistakes, acknowledge them, learn from them, and move on. Read More

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

Most important to my teaching is that each student to listens to a lot of music, and learns to play the music that they love as soon as possible. I work with a variety of method books/videos depending on skill level and stylistic interest, and teach time-tested regimens for building raw ability on the instrument. I also have many exercises of my own invention that are fun to listen to and play, while still remaining challenging and building facility. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

My teaching drum set experiences started over 15 years ago when I was playing many different styles of music. I wanted to be able to assist and encourage my students to be able to play drums and vibes or marimba. Teaching mallet instruments to drum set students allowed me to help the student see why he or she played certain drum set grooves and fills at certain points. It always fascinates me when people see how chords (on a mallet instrument) lock into a drum set groove. Read More