Drum Lessons in Ho Ho Kus, NJ

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums

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Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music

I like to keep a weekly log in a notebook the student takes home or keeps. I have many books ranging from beginner to advance, for drums, percussion, and piano. Also beginner bass and guitar books. Technique, book work, and song work is how I prefer to split my lesson time. Breaking habits before they become bad ones! Books: The Real Book, Syncopation, Stick Control, etc...I have been teaching at The School of Rock for the past 5 years. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

I'm a professional jazz drummer, composer and educator. I'm originally from Venezuela and currently living in New York City. I attended to The Collective School of Music and The City College of New York where I earned, with honors, a Bachelor degree in Jazz Performance. I have studied with great players such as Kim Plainfield, Peter Retzlaff, Adam Cruz, Mark Ferber, Kendrick Scott and pianist and arranger Mike Holober. I've toured and recorded with some of the most renown venezuelan jazz and pop artists such as: Pablo Gil, Alfredo Naranjo, Leo Blanco, Laurent Lecuyer, Oscar Fanega, Virginia Ramirez, Nuevas Almas Ensemble, Movida Acustica Urbana (MAU), Luca Vicenzetti, Tumbador, among many others. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Djembe

For beginners I usually begin with Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone and Fundamental Studies for Snare Drum by Garwood Whaley. Once the student has a good grasp on basic reading and technique, I usually introduce rudiments and start working on solo or play along repertoire. I also like to use The Drum Set Musician by Rod Morgenstein. Besides book work I also like to bring in things that I am working on either with bands I play with or personal projects. Read More

Instruments: Drums

That being said, I like to let my students guide the direction we take in my lessons. We can work on beginner drum skills together, writing your own music, music theory, learning cover songs to play and much more! We can also change course at any moment as your needs change over time. I want to mention that I am a transgender female and I use she/her pronouns but this has no bearing on my ability to teach amazing lessons and I am one of the kindest and funniest people you'll ever meet! Read More

Instruments: Drums

I do not limit my students to a predetermined method. I find, through my own experiences, that this is tedious as well as boring. There are many books I use, including Ted Reed's syncopation for all levels of students, but I focus most of my time with a student to finding out what inspires them to want to learn the drums, and go from there. With every student I start with the basics of technique. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I've also found that some students have a knack for playing "by ear" and others by the book. Allowing those student to learn and explore "by ear" can provide winning results and allow then to progress faster over time. Others students learn better by understanding notion and sheet music. If a student isn't having fun in their lessons, then I'm not doing my job! My students (when ready) are encouraged to enter competitions, auditions, make videos and more, so they feel good about their accomplishements and stay motivated to learn. Read More