Drum Lessons in Shelton, CT

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

Most of the private lessons that I have taught since this time have been for drum set, as that is the more commonly desired area of study for many students seeking private lessons. Of the group lessons I have taught since high school, all of them have been in a school environment, yet have spanned every age and ability of music student. In my career thus far, I have worked with students who were just entering kindergarten, and students who were already in college for percussion, and I have enjoyed each situation equally. Read More

Instruments: Drums

Chris Dorn is a professional drum instructor located in the Dutchess County area. He has been playing drum set and percussion for 30 years, and has taught in the Dutchess County area for 15 years. In 2007 he was the drum tech for Jessica Simpson setting up drums, percussion and recording gear all across the US. In 2008 Chris founded and built Ghostgate Studios, a lesson and recording studio in Poughkeepsie designed specifically for drummers. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga

I believe in encouragement and positive reinforcement at every lesson. I feel that patience is an essential tool in teaching -- every student is unique and proceeds at his or her own pace. I also like to briefly demonstrate the exercises and techniques we are studying, so that my students can see and hear what they are working on, but the student does most of the playing. It gives me great joy when my students are accepted into their school bands and jazz combos as a result of my instruction. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

For beginning students, I will start off with some basic rhythm sheets that I have created, and begin to asses the competency and understanding of basic rhythm. I firmly believe for any instrument that everyone needs a strong foundation of rhythm in order to progress into more advanced levels of playing and reading. At this point, I will begin to use Alfred’s Drum Method Books 1 and 2 interchangeably, eventually leading to Podemski’s Standard Snare Drum Method at the advanced level along with Rolls Rolls Rolls. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I have toured the country with Peter Frampton and others and have played big concerts including Madison Square Garden. I took lessons from several different drummers including Sonny Igoe. I learned during my time that if I wasn't having fun in my lessons it turned into a less enjoyable task. So I make sure that all my students have a good time, they enjoy learning and that I give them the tools to succeed. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

The first and most important thing that I like to do with the student is give them a general idea of how to basically read notation I then immediately get the student into basic coordination to be able to play basic beats so that they can eventually play to actual music the next important step that I like to accomplish with most students is to get them to actually be able to play some basic pills along with the rhythms so that I can prepare them to play music if their goal is to play in school band I immediately get them into the notation necessary to be able to audition for the school band 0 if they want to play in the dance band the goal is to get them to be able to play those rhythms to be able to perform in the dance band or the marching band if they want to participate in nysma I immediately get them into the exercises necessary to perform those types solos those are usually very challenging if they're in high school and want to go on to college to study music I also get them prepared for the necessary exercises and skills to be able to perform in the college setting as far as playing to music is concerned I love to work with a lot of pre-recorded tracks without drums many of the music minus one tracks are very effective to get a student ready to actually play in a band most students want to actually accomplish this goal the main thing that I like to emphasize is to have the student learn the things that they want to learn as far as styles is concerned for example if they really like Latin music all concentrate on that style if they really like rock music all concentrate on that etc etc etc. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

I have a teaching method that incorporates all the best bits of my best teacher's input, adds what they lacked, built in a sequence that is musically universal, using many popular drum study books and my own proven system of development. And with 30 years of live playing and recording experience, the CONTEXT of what we are learning and how to apply it musically is vital, rewarding, exciting and admittedly unique to my curriculum. Read More