Drum Lessons in Watts, CA

Instruments: Drums

I like to first get a feel for the students abilities and asses how to teach them by breaking things down to their bare essentials before suggesting a good book to go through and the right exercises. I find that most young students or beginners need to see some form of result to stay engaged so I try and get them moving with sticks on a pad or even learning a basic drum beat within the first two lessons. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

For the majority of students, I have several books that I use to zero in on what level of proficiency they currently hold and then I begin to adapt from there. For beginning or younger students, I use several books that focus of basic techniques that are effective for any style of music; I use books such as Collin Bailey's Bass Drum Techniques and Mitchell Peters and Stick Control for snare drum and genral techniques. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

I've found the most successful drummers can read well and play all styles. For beginning students, I generally introduce 'Syncopation' by Ted Reed along with 'Stick Control,' the PASIC 40 Rudiments, 'Alfred's Drum Method' for drum set, and technical exercises. For more advanced students, I like to use books like Rick Latham's 'Advanced Funk Studies,' David Garibaldi's 'Future Sounds,' 'Portaits in Rhythm' by Anthony Cirone, and 'The Art of Bop Drumming' by John Riley. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums

My teaching style differs from student to student. With the younger students, it's all about fun. The goal is to make playing music less of a chore, and instead, have it be something they enjoy just as much as playing video games or soccer. For the adult students, and students interested in playing music professionally, I tend to give them more material at a much quick rate. Read More

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

My first emphasis is that you have to like what you're playing. I really try to focus on what music gets the student excited. For some of them, it comes quickly. Others it might take a while, and that is okay. Once I find the switch that engages the student's interest, that is my focus. I really emphasize getting students to read music and also understand the key components of music theory, so that they understand what it is they are playing. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga

During college, a woman and her son saw a Jazz combo show I played drum set in and after the set, She asked me if I would teach her son. I agreed. I taught her son for a year. Sadly, they moved away but the word spread and the next year I had two more students. It contuied that way as I progressed in college my teaching improved. When I moved to California in 1997, I had seven students to teach on the weekends. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I like to mix instructional books with opportunities to learn songs outside of the text books appropriate to the student's interests, style, and skill level. For the guitar, I like Terry Carter's Rock Like the Pros, Beginning Class Guitar Method and Intermediate Class Guitar Method. These books have comprehensive practice exercises, including classical and popular music exercises, and great songs of all levels to learn. The Mel Bay and Alfred music method books are also great for guitar or drums. Read More