Drum Lessons in Ray, MI

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums

More than anything music should be fun. The greatest musicians are the ones who enjoy playing music even when they're just practicing. I like to teach in a way that involves asking the student questions in order to get them to figure out the answer for themself, rather than just lecturing the whole time while they start daydreaming! This way the student is more involved in the learning process and it can make their time spent learning an instrument more worth it. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Synthesizer Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

I try to cater my lessons to the interest of my students. If a pupil’s passion for music can be harnessed, then developing musical skills can be a simple process. I have a wide variety of material I teach from, including Ted Reed’s syncopation, George Lawrence Stone’s Stick Control for the Snare Drummer and basic piano literature. I also use music selected by the student to create custom lessons. Read More

Instruments: Drums

Music (specifically drums) is my favorite thing in the world to do and be apart of. When I get to play drums, it just feels like I can express myself in ways I never thought possible. It almost feels like breathing for the first time. I knew music is all I ever wanted to do when I first started playing drums at 16. After that, I knew this would be the only thing for me. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Viola Drums Electric Violin Fiddle Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students I always begin with a methods book, I believe that good fundamentals are what makes a good musician, but I also teach ear training methods thereby giving the student the best in both worlds. Once the fundamentals and foundation are efficient, then according to the instrument I move to solo repertoire or experimentation or interpretation. I believe finding a students passion and making the learning experience as educational and enjoyable as possible. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Trumpet Trombone Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Double Bass Euphonium Tuba Orchestral Percussion Keyboard Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For each instrument, I have the same basic approach: discover what they like, assess what they can do, and begin with the fundamentals.  If a student is more advanced, I still like to spend time on fundamentals at the beginning anyway to see if we can fill in any foundational weakness that the student may have.   For each instrument, I also have a wide array of repitoire that I give students that zero-in on technical challenges a student will be presented with. Read More

Instruments: Drums

When starting with a beginner student, I typically start by asking general questions about their interests and the music genres they enjoy. Then, we move on to the basics of maintaining proper form, understanding rhythm, and practicing simple exercises to ensure they start off with the right foundation. After that, we focus on learning the first few basic beats and ensuring they have a good understanding of how they are played. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

I believe the longevity I've been able to achieve with my students has come from the aforementioned solid foundation mixed with the students genuine interests and ability to see their own progress. I love teaching rock and pop (the stuff so many youngins want to learn) but always find creative ways to sneak in theory and academics. I also like to occasionally provide progress reports or "lesson sheets" to parents or students to make sure everyone is on the same page and still having fun! Read More