Drum Lessons in Scottsdale, AZ

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I feel I explained a good amount of my teaching style in the last column. I really like to go with what the student will benefit from the most, not necessarily what is the cookie cutter "next step" I learned to play by trying things a couple levels above me and I loved it. I know not all students are the same, and sometimes the parents input is a big factor depending on if they are musicians themselves! Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion

I was a guest lecturer at the Fredrick Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw and did an exciting multi-city tour as featured soloist with the Polish National Military Band and Performed for the Polish/U.S. Embassy. While in Poland I also performed concerts, clinics and taught master classes at the Jelania-Gora Philharmonia Complex and Warsaw.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In the drum & bugle corps field, I marched with and taught the National Champion Chicago Cavaliers, and I've taught, written, or consulted for the National Champion Chicago Royal Airs, the National Champion Argonne Rebels From Great Bend Kansas, the Santa Clara Vanguard, the 2002 Royal Air Reunion corps and many others. Read More

Instruments: Drums Bass Guitar Banjo Euphonium Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Djembe

My method begins with basic note reading stick grip, we concentrate on relaxation. stick control note reading. As soon as they are able to cleanly play 16th notes on a practice pad, we incorporate drum set independence. This independence is introduced through learning various genres of music, which also introduce various styles of playing. These variations are studied worked out in exercises that allow the student to ad lib with any style of music. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

For beginning students that are in middle or high school, I typically start them out learning snare drum technique, and reading rhythms. Fortechnique I will use standard exercises and rudiments, and for readingI will use "Syncopation for The Modern Drummer".If the student has a drumset then I will start them with some basic "Rock" beatsas a tool to help thembetter understand the subdivision of time, and form some independence.Most of my students move into Gary Chester's "The New Breed" as their first drumset book.After teaching for 25 years, I have developed a lot of my own lesson meterials, and I try to cater the lesson plans to both challenge the students and keep them having fun learning. Read More

Instruments: Drums Synthesizer

We will then go over any project, solo, song or technique you want to learn for the remainder of the lesson. * We will always re tune the drum-sets at the end of a lesson as force of habit and a great practice for you. * I will always keep an eye out for what interests you musically. * I am fully engaged in lessons. No phone and no distractions. * Full page print out or email to you of "homework" for next lesson. * Let me know if you have a recital or show coming up so we can heavily focus on performance! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Harmonica Lap Steel Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Recorder Conga Latin Percussion

I started playing acoustic folk styles in 1962 and added 60's rock and more as time went on. I joined my first rock band in 1965 and have now played all styles of rock, blues, folk, country, bluegrass, jazz, and contemporary Christian and worship music. I also play and teach bass and other stringed fretted instruments, keyboards, and drums and percussion. I began teaching private music lessons in 1968 and began teaching professionally in 1989 at AZ Bible College. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Cello Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Double Bass Music Keyboard Djembe

Teaching is a huge responsibilty that I do not take light heartedly. If we as teachers do a suburd job, it will have a huge effect on a students over all life. Musical education teaches us about the mind and body and balance between the two. It teaches us logic, problem solving, and creative thinking in balance with eachother. It teaches us posture, breath, how to think. It teaches us to listen, and to communicate, to engage with others, it teaches us work ethic and how to colloborate with anyone. Read More