Drum Lessons in Upper Darby, PA

Instruments: Guitar Drums

My teaching style relies heavily upon training the ear to dissect what it is hearing. Developing the ear is crucial to being a self-reliant musician. In drums, the visualization how a rhythm works in time is essential to being able to perform that rhythm. Dissection and mapping are the key to furthering one's abilities on the drum kit. In guitar or in piano, being able to isolate frequencies with your ear will lead you to a more accurate understanding for chord structures and progressions than simply looking up tabs, which are often deeply flawed. Read More

Instruments: Drums Synthesizer Djembe

Moving from the public elementary school in the suburbs to urban magnet middle- and high-schools downtown, drums went from a retail hobby to a practice of cultural exchange and personal empowerment. My teenage explorations of punk and metal became immersed in and jams of the jazz roots and hip-hop futures of Tulsas historically progressive-black Greenwood district. Taking courses at Booker T. Washington in Jazz band, Concert Band, and MIDI-based Electronic Music, I learned to translate rhythmic ideas written chats, live jams, and/or mechanical drum machines, turning these barriers into bridges. Read More

Instruments: Drums Latin Percussion

I can still remember the joy I felt when I first started playing drums and my passion is helping people experience that joy. In my musical career, spanning 38 years, I have performed with varied groups including: drumset with The Road Runners Blues Band, Catfish and Paul Plumeri Blues Band; West African, Middle Eastern and Afro-Cuban percussion with Groove Merchant Drum Dance Ensemble; bodhran and bones with traditional Celtic bands Kintail, Cwn Annwn and Browne Jenkyn; and snare drum with The First Highland Watch of Pennsylvania and Rev War Re-enactors First NJ Volunteers. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

I've discovered over the years that every student is different and require a custom approach tailored to what method works best for them. Some students do very well working through publications of lesson books, while others seem to do better with a less structured approach driven more by listening and muscle memory. In both methods, I find it important to lead by example, not only to be able to show them correctly, but also to inspire them. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

With all my students, I will always take interest in what they want to learn. I want to make their experience as fun as mine was when I first began. So knowing my students' musical inclinations is important to my methods, because it gives me a direction in which to apply my instruction. My younger students will start with the basic rhythm rudiments and reading notated percussion music. I am also willing to assist them in any repertoire that students are given in their school's music program. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For students who are children I like to start to start learning rhythms through common children’s songs to show how easy music can be. Depending on the instrument, one of the many Hal Leonard books is always a good option. If they are a little older, I will use music that they like to teach how music theory and fundamental skills makes up all the musi they enjoy. We will often learn songs that speak to them and I will use their favorite genres to curate new songs to teach and show them new material and how it relates to their instrument. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I have always enjoyed the art of teaching. I find it personally rewarding because when you effectively teach something to someone, you simultaneously learn something yourself. Speaking from experience with my current students, there are pleasant challenges in teaching, like discovering what works and what doesn't with a particular student. Trial and error, positive reinforcement, witnessing progress. Teaching even allows me to express myself creatively because I get to find the best way to explain or communicate a concept. Read More