Drum Lessons in Ridgefield, NJ

Instruments: Drums

I began teaching before I attended Berklee College of Music, and have continued ever since. I teach out of my studio and travel to students homes as well. The main points of my lessons are to help you learn what you want to learn and correct any bad habits you might have. Primarily I want us to have fun together and learn in the process. I love listening to music with my students and checking out what interests you, along with recommending some listening choices. Read More

Instruments: Drums

As I said before, I like to teach as I was taught and add things I've learned along the way. Learning any instrument, I was told, is like building a house; you need to lay a strong foundation upon which to add walls, doors, windows, and decor (styles, techniques, feels, and your own personal strokes unique to each individual....there's no roof because you can never finish learning!). Drums especially focus on the base, because of their role in any musical group. Read More

Instruments: Drums

Since I started working professionally as a drummer at the age of 17, I have had the chance to perform in Europe, America, Africa and Asia, in some of the most prestigious live music venues, festivals and theaters around the globe. I have collaborated on projects with many bands and musicians across all genres from jazz to funk, rock, pop, flamenco, tango, world music and classical music. Since 2005 I have been a percussionist with the National Dance Academy in Italy, and I am currently playing for the Juilliard Dance Department in New York and the Merce Cunningham Trust in New York. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Drums Mallet Percussion

It's important to set realistic goals, I will assign short things to work on per week. I can tailor my instruction to the needs of any student by listening to their wants and needs. Everyone progresses at their own pace, so remaining patient and being able to work together to become successful is key! I find that sometimes it is best to find out from the student what makes them most excited about playing the instrument. 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 Drums Orchestral Percussion Djembe

Like stated above, I strive to make my lessons fun and engaging above all else. Of course we need to also learn in the lesson, but I typically gage lesson plans around a student's areas of interest. Some people really enjoy learning from books and exercises, while others are more engaged learning songs and music that they listen to. Whatever your preferences are, we can tailor our lessons around them and find new ways to get you practicing and learning new material. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

Being able to read music well allows you to pursue any type of written music you want to learn. Daily experimentation on your instrument can teach you more about the instrument and yourself than any book or teacher. These are the three main aspects that I focus in my own development (I'm still learning too!). For my piano students, I encourage them to search out opportunities to perform the music they work on every week. Read More