Drum Lessons in Hightstown, NJ

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Latin Percussion Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I'm a music lover/performer/composer/teacher who loves spreading the joy of music. I have an Associates Degree in fine arts for Bristol Community College where I studied all aspects of performance, music history, and composition. I started teaching music when I was seventeen years old and have teaching ever since. I have spent the majority my post college years performing as a freelance drummer and guitarist for dozens of musical acts in addition to teaching privately and in class settings in Boston, San Francisco, and NYC. Read More

Instruments: Drums

Will doesn't believe to just pointing to a page in a drum book and telling a student to 'play this'. Instead, the 'page in the book' is a tool utilized to springboard into other topics, and vise versa. All students will learn basic music theory as it applies to the drumset, basic rudiments, stickings, hand technique/grip, foot technique, improvisation, etc. Ultimately, Will enjoys seeing the student taking any sort of interest in general, and while there's a lot one can learn, it's more important to him that the student is enjoying the time spent at the instrument, discovering their own interests with the instrument, and tapping into their creative side via the instrument! 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

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 Keyboard

After teaching for 12 years I don't have a fixed method. I have categories of students, from children who are trying to function in a band setting, to children who are trying to develop a musical or compositional talent. I take particular joy in teaching adults who believe it is too late to achieve levels of technical proficiency that would make them proud. My journey from classical music to jazz through pop, swing, rock, soul and folk has taught me how to blend in with any style, and my classical education has given me the necessary toolbox to communicate about advanced theoretical concepts with students who are interested. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My teaching began in high school when my history teacher asked if I'd give his son guitar lessons. I had so much fun that after I graduated college in 2016, I immediately began teaching again! What began as a part time teaching schedule quickly blossomed into 60+ students per week, teaching at two private music schools in the Providence, RI, area. One of the best aspects of teaching is connecting with my students, and watching reach that "ah-ha!" moment in the lesson where they reach their first milestone. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Synthesizer Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

The first teaching concept I focus on is the capacity to produce great sounds with the least amount of effort. Therefore I spend some time in getting the student to play very relaxed to create a relationship with body and mind, I believe music is an extension of the body and so if the mind and body are relaxed then music will come out flawless. We will use students ideas of songs they are interested in learning as well as some of my own suggestions for repertoire. Read More