Drum Lessons in Sturbridge, MA

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

I am new to the teaching aspect of music, however, I will be attending UMass Amherst in the Fall to get my Teacher's License. I am interested in private lessons because it offers a more personal one-on-one experience in which I can shape the curriculum specifically to the student's needs and desires. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Conga

My approach to teaching is to try and understand each students level of musicianship and evaluate their weaknesses and strengths. I believe that repetition and the reduction of speed are essential for learning, mastering and remembering technique and the nuances of music. I encourage each student to explore the style or genre of music that is most appealing to them. As well as experiment and persevere through new challenges of unfamiliar works or styles, such as classical, jazz, African and Latin/Cuban. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion

Through my time both as a student and educator there has always been an over arching philosophy to balance out priorities of progress and achievement with fun and sheer enjoyment. I can remember times where music for me, became not what it is intended to be because of the stress and anxiety that I would sometimes encounter in practice and performance settings. Now, I don't mean to say stress and added pressure is never a good thing. Read More

Instruments: Voice Drums

I have been teaching vocalists and instrumentalists around the world for over 40 years. During my 27-year tenure as Assistant Chair of the Voice Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, I instituted courses for teaching singers all styles of jazz and contemporary music. I teach technique and style interpretation to all ages and levels of proficiency. I have a positive attitude and encourage my students to practice hard to reach their goals. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Clarinet Drums

This is why I try to not ignore the deeper, more holistic aspects of the art, which is why I emphasize composition in my lessons. I will compose for my students pieces that highlight something they are working on, but I will also assign compositions for my students because kids love it and creativity yields a deeper connection to any given subject than, say, rote memorization. I love kids and do not stifle their creativity, without steering too far away from the task at hand, I like to listen to what they have to say because you never know what valuable information you may learn about their present perspective. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Harmonica

My methods for teaching are directly linked to the desires of the student and what they hope to achieve by learning how to play an instrument. If a student is particularly interested in songwriting and composition, I'd be more inclined to emphasize the principles or harmony, counterpoint, structure and written music, whereas if a student is more interested in becoming an instrumentalist for a band etc., I'd be more inclined to emphasize rudiments, scale exercises and a jamming mentality. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

During that time, I've had the joy of working with students of all ages as a drum instructor at Northfield Mount Hermon, a music teacher at Greens Farms Academy, a general music and chorus teacher at Amherst Middle School, a summer music instructor at Deerfield Academy, and with continued private lessons. I've also recorded drums on over 20 albums and played hundreds of shows with a diverse group of artists across the country. Read More