Drum Lessons in Port Orchard, WA

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

For my beginning drum students, I use Mark Wessels "A Fresh Approach to the Snare Drum and Drum Set", Rod Morganstein's "drum set musician", and Mitchell Peters' "Developing Dexterity". For students that have a good grasp of the basics, I work through material that caters to their specific interests (jazz, rock, latin, West-African, orchestral/school band, or marching percussion). I also write original etudes for my students based on their needs and include a midi accompaniment to motivate students to work on their assigned material. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I prefer lessons to be focused on a curriculum, however customized it may be, as I have found that approach to be the most efficient, especially with younger players.While I believe that it is very important to learn the fundamentals of drumming (as learned largely through a curriculum approach), I also believe that some of the most rewarding experiences a student can have may be achieved through realizing their own unique creative potential. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Djembe

I have been teaching percussion lessons since 1994. Along with my full teaching studio, I also perform regularly and coach the Tacoma Youth Symphonies and Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestras. I have also taught within the Auburn (WA) and Tucson (AZ) public schools as a percussion and music specialist, at The University of Rio Grande (OH) as an affiliate faculty member, at Ohio University and The University of Arizona as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, at Interlochen Arts Camp (MI) as the All-State percussion instructor, and at New England Music Camp (ME) as a faculty member. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion

Though my formal music education ended after high school, I've been a life-long learner and strive to excite students with musical experiences they can't get in a traditional classroom. I've played in bands since I was in middle school and love to get students excited about performing either with a band or as a soloist. I teach out of a wonderful, private space near 23rd and E Union in the Central District of Seattle. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Djembe

I start most beginning students (and evaluate more advanced ones) on snare drum or practice pad. This is a central instrument to the percussion family and most techniques used on other percussion instruments are based on sound snare drum technique.  I like the Alfred Drum Method book for students just starting out regardless of age as the ability to read and understand written music is important no matter what stylistic path one follows. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Music

I teach the Faber and Faber method on piano, incorporated with a by ear curriculum that I've developed which also teaching music theory, I also keep a number of books i.e. Beatles Fake Book, Introduction to Bach, Well-Tempered Klavier, Hanon, Berklee Method in Rock and Jazz. I also encourage the student to play what they desire to play, be it a pop song or a classical masterpiece. In drum set I work on technique, playing with flow, rhythm training, and coordination, often supplementing the lesson with recordings and learning from the sound of recorded drummers. Read More