Drum Lessons in Silverdale, WA

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

I am a professional percussionist with a wealth of performing experience in many styles including rock, funk, jazz, classical, and world music.  I have toured throughout the USA performing at distinguished concert venues, festivals, and clubs. Currently I am a very active freelance percussionist in the Pacific Northwest performing with symphony orchestras, rock bands, jazz trios, and others. As an instructor I have been teaching (both privately and in the classroom) without interruption for over twenty years. Read More

Instruments: Drums

For beginning players, I like to start with the books "A Fresh Approach to the Snare Drum" and "A Fresh Approach to the Drum Set," both by Mark Wessels. These books do a great job of laying down the fundamentals that all drummers should learn at the outset of their education. Beyond that, what I teach depends largely on any specific path(s) the student may wish to pursue, though of course it is totally fine if the student doesn't immediately know what they would like to study beyond the basics. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

My personal approach to teaching drums and percussion is to offer the student a good foundation in the basics from which to study. Drums are a very easy instrument to get started on and take consistent amounts of practice to really succeed at being good. Nothing is more rewarding for me that to see a student work through a trouble spot and become proficient in the style he or she is trying to develop. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums

I am a very hands-on teacher. We do lots of improvisation and call and response games and sometimes I turn on a record or even bring a guitar to jam with the student. Playing drums is a very visceral, tactile excersize, and I often tell students, "That right there,that is how it's supposed to sound! Memorize that feeling and try to recreate it everytime." I am also a huge advocate of having students listen to as much music as possible. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Djembe

I have been teaching percussion lessons since 1994. Along with my full teaching studio, I also perform regularly and coach the Tacoma Youth Symphonies and Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestras. I have also taught within the Auburn (WA) and Tucson (AZ) public schools as a percussion and music specialist, at The University of Rio Grande (OH) as an affiliate faculty member, at Ohio University and The University of Arizona as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, at Interlochen Arts Camp (MI) as the All-State percussion instructor, and at New England Music Camp (ME) as a faculty member. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

The first half of each of my lessons willaddress the basics of music theory(i.e. rudiments, scales, etc.) and technique. The second half of each lesson is about having fun! We will digdeeper into the musicmy student isinterested in,consideringthe songs from a musician's point of view. In dissecting the song we will learn about phrasing, feel, meter, melody, chord analysis, commonalitiesamong styles and the history behind the music. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion

I've been teaching for the last year and a half in both the private capacity and for a music school in West Seattle. I've helped students prepare for recitals, parades, living room performances or to start a band of their own and I love the variety that teaching the drums provides. My focus is on the students' interests first as I find that this is the best way to encourage practice and make the instrument fun! Read More