Drum Lessons in Houston, TX

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Djembe

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I have been lucky to have several inspiring teachers. Firstly, growing up around my older brother (who is a choir teacher in Tennessee) singing songs and trying to copy all of the singers on every album I had note for note was an invaluable musical experience. From there I learned from my church choir and handbell directors. Upon entering middle school I learned a new set of skills in percussion from my band directors and private lesson instructors. Somewhere between there and high school I purchased my first drumset and found a great instructor in Joel Fulgham. From there my high school band, jazz band and orchestra directors instilled in me the power of being a flexible musician. Then in college I had the opportunity to study percussion with Dr. Sarah Burke (and others) and participate in many classical ensembles, jazz bands and choral groups and refine as many skills as possible. I can't just pick one teacher as they all helped me along the way.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
1) Start with the most difficult passages without a metronome focusing on the motions and the flow of the pattern. 2) Practice slow (40-60bpm) with a metronome then increase by small increments (2-5 bpm). Playing something fast isn't even necessary for 90% of practice. This is crucial! 3) Repeat. 4) Work to read music without looking at your hands! 5) In general, focus on slow repetitions of your building blocks. I believe Bruce Lee said something like "it is better to repeat one motion 10,000 times than 10,000 motions one time". *make sure you prepare your practice environment by minimizing as many distractions as possible*

When will I start to see results?
Audible improvement in playing can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months depending on the amount of quality practice time. I am a huge proponent of working on what a students biggest weakness is 1st so that I can hopefully instill in them a fearlessness and an optimistic and realistic outlook on what it takes to achieve results early on. While answering this question is hardly an exact science, an old adage tends to apply well to seeking improvement from lessons: one step at a time, one day at a time. With consistent practice, results can indeed be exponential!

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Any age 4+ is a good age to start lessons as long as you are prepared to purchase the proper materials and equipment for small people. This is the largest hurdle in my opinion. Often, there aren't many options for undersized keyboards or drum sets but as long as the student is engaged, interested and exposed to the sounds of music they will have a good chance of enjoying the lessons. Before signing up, it is a good idea to make note of the expenses, equipment, physical space, noise level and time commitment required for the chosen endeavor.

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