Drum Lessons in Stanford, CA

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Music Keyboard

My lessons are student driven. I typically assign some technique, repertoire, and theory assignments each week. I often try to include a “student challenge” most weeks in order to gauge how much a student is understanding during the lessons. I modify my styles based on what seems most effective for the student. Sometimes a student really needs 5 pieces to work on over a longer stretch of time. Other times, a student can only reasonably work on one piece for the week. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Ukulele Mandolin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I always say that rhythm is more important than the notes. Play the right rhythm and the notes will come instead of playing every right note while sacrificing rhythm. I encourage students to make their mistakes loud, proud, and in rhythm so everyone has a better idea of what needs to be worked on most. I also emphasize isolating parts to practice and working backwards. Example: play the last two bars of the song until comfortable with it, now play the last 4 bars, last 6, last 8...etc., whole song. Read More

Instruments: Drums

Technique: grip, stroke methods, posture, symmetry, breathing, set up. Rudiments: with and without metronome, increasing tempo by 5 bpm, great way to warm up for any lesson. Beats/Rhythms/Styles: rock, pop, jazz, funk, hip hop, reggae, Arab, African + more. Genre/style identifiers and characteristics. Independence: hands and feet exercises for fluidity and freedom of expression. Orchestration and Arrangement: utilizing the variety of percussion instruments available at the studio to demonstrate rhythms and sounds. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My experience is mostly with beginning students, so I take an easy-going approach. We will begin with fundamentals, either working out of one of my books, one of the student's, or with a different modality depending on the student's learning style. I will facilitate a fun, exciting environment in which the student can choose their path. Possible goals could be: learning your favorite song, memorizing scales, learning to read music, learning to solo, and anything else that pops into the student's head! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Organ

It is important that each student progresses at their own pace with reasonable and realistic goals that they can reach. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a students desire to achieve even greater challenges. My desire is to find what motives the student and create a curriculum that will refine them based on their desire. Read More

Instruments: Drums Ukulele

Im an experienced drummer of 23 years and have competed at a world class level. But I truly love to teach and watch students reach their full potential. I went to school at Pasadena City College and studied music and got two associates degrees from that College. Went on to teach both middle school and high school drumlines and got them competing and achieving State Championship titles. Ive also worked with bands from Church and did many gigs with my former Tahitian dance troupe in Southern California. Read More