Drum Lessons in Schiller Park, IL

Instruments: Guitar Drums Ukulele Music Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

As a former Chicago public school teacher, I understand the importance of meeting students where they are at. Therefore, regardless of whether you are a beginner or not, I always begin by determining your level of skill and, combined with your goals for learning that instrument, create a lesson plan that you feel comfortable with before pursuing it. In particular, with djembe, it is important to be able to understand the balance and interaction between all of the instruments. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I apply the concepts I learn in my lectures to my private teaching. Though no longer a performance major, I'm still an active drummer on and off campus. Along with other musicians, I've worked with the Wirtz center for the performing arts to provide live pit orchestra for their musical productions for the past 3 years. I'm also an active freelancer for bands, playing with student groups at Evanston and Chicago venues such as Beat Kitchen. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

For beginners, I typically start with Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer by George Lawrence Stone, and The Drumset Musician by Rod Morganstein. Once the student has grasped the fundamentals, I sculpt the lesson plan depending on the style(s) the student would like to learn, from Rock and Funk to Jazz, Latin and more. For intermediate to advanced students, I try to figure out what goals the student would like to achieve, and then plan a lesson that will help the student achieve those goals. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

As a teacher, I believe one of my greatest responsibilites is to foster a love and care for music. If the student is not caring about music,then why are they studying? How will they progress? The best students are the ones who teach themselves. I can show the student the door, but he or she must walk through it. My second greatest responsibility is to teach the craft of music - including all the disciplines it needs. Read More

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

I love treating each student as they are. Every student is their own unique artist and my job is to help shape them and to give them confidence in their vision. I view my job as a tour guide pointing the students in the right directions while not restricting to any particular instrument/genre. Book work, ear training/playing to tunes, improv, technical focus are all aspects of how I teach. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Keyboard

I teach both by rote and by reading. When it comes to music theory, notation and reading music, I am also methodical in wanting my students to fully understand what they're reading so that it becomes so natural to them, it's as natural as reading a newspaper or understanding a conversation. Once the foundation is laid, a musical conversation can be had with the sound of their instrument. At the end of the process, students will find their love of music enhanced now that they know what they are doing and are doing it on purpose. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

I have been fortunate to learn more than I ever thought I could by this point in my life, but I am still eager to learn more, and I strongly believe that giving my students the chance to teach back what they learn helps them understand information and skills significantly better than they would otherwise, boosts self-confidence, encourages independent study, and ultimately helps them retain what they have learned better than many other approaches. Read More