Drum Lessons in Rockleigh, NJ

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Orchestral Percussion

I began my relationship with much when I starting playing drums at age 7. I played in percussion in school bands for a few years then I found the drum set. I found discipline and independence through the drum set, and soon started learning guitar and piano. I attended Berklee College of Music for Contemporary Writing & Production, with a focus in Drumset performance. While at Berklee, I played drumset/percussion in musical theater productions for other Boston colleges (Boston Conservatory, Emerson) and played with local bands in the Boston area. 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 Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

I like to take a holistic approach in teaching beginners by incorporating Technique, Ear Training, Music Theory, and Improvisation right from the start. This allows the student to quickly be able to learn songs by ear and write their own music. For more advanced and older students, I prefer to see where they are in their first lesson and hear what their goals are. Some people do not care if they can read music or not and that is totally cool! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar

I have been an active drummer and musician in the New York City area since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2009, where I received my Bachelor's Degree. I am currently undergoing my masters at Queens College as well. My experiences range from performing in monks' homes in Japan, music festivals in South America, club dates all around the USA and Canada, as well as recording sessions and leading workshops in Europe and the Caribbean. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Conga Latin Percussion Music

I like giving my students the right tools,lesson by lesson,enabling them to proceed through the learning process.I usually start observing what the student come up with,wether on drums or piano and then I use their natural talent or inspiration to connect to my teaching path .This way I'm able to really engage with them,keeping them on that inspiration that brought them to me.I always try to adapt my style to the student inclinations since some of them are more for instinctive learning others more for academic learning. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I've found that after the preliminary work of getting a base skill set and familiarity with the instrument, technically proficiency, etc, it helps to let the student guide me in how i aid them on their journey and find where their passion is, in the great world of music. The most rewarding thing that can happen as a teacher is to see a student develop their own musicality and achieve their personal goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Clarinet Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

For beginning students, I typically start with the basic fundamentals of the instrument, focussing on right posture, grip and sound. For intermediate students there is more freedom. If there is a good understanding of how the fundamentals work, the student can share her / his preference with me. Since I teach all genres, there is a very broad palette to discuss. Whenever I have a good feeling with the student's preference, I'll come up with a system so we can start working on new material. Read More