Drum Lessons in Wheeling, IL

Instruments: Drums

I can say without hesitation that music is what permeates my soul in every aspect of my life. I have been playing drums since age 5 and played my first professional, paying show at age 16. I come from a large musical family with professional, working musicians and teachers, music has been center stage in my life for as long as I can remember. As a working musician, I have been in country cover and original music bands, original and cover alternative rock bands, Neil Diamond cover bands, a band where TV theme show songs were re-engineered to play out at shows, I've been in wedding bands, original and cover progressive rock bands, and various projects on the local and regional music scene. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Keyboard

After graduating college and teaching in the public and charter school systems, I began to teach private lessons on my own in students homes. The experience is intimate, thoughtful and enriched as I am able to teach one on one in a comfortable setting for the students and we gain a lot of ground from the comfortable surroundings. As both a classroom teacher and private lesson instructor, I find great joy in teaching technique and creative skills. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion

I make sure all of my students have a solid foundation in technique and rythm with Progressive Step to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer by Ted Reed, Stick Contro by George Lawrence Stone, and then try to tailor the lessons to the students specific needs. I use standard method books based on the students goals along with personal exercises and techniques to help supplement the development of the focused area of study the student wishes to pursue. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Keyboard

For beginning students and youth, I typically start with music theory and proper positioning. I have found an easy method for playing songs almost immediately. For students that desire sight reading as a priority, I will start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements and walk them through exercises that will keep them sharp and focused. For adults, I want to learn their goal and their niche. I will structure my course around their needs. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Ukulele Music Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

As a former Chicago public school teacher, I understand the importance of meeting students where they are at. Therefore, regardless of whether you are a beginner or not, I always begin by determining your level of skill and, combined with your goals for learning that instrument, create a lesson plan that you feel comfortable with before pursuing it. In particular, with djembe, it is important to be able to understand the balance and interaction between all of the instruments. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Latin Percussion Djembe

My metropolitan way of studying starting in Europe, performing abroad, and coming to U.S. made my music views wider open for other styles of music. Starting from Folk music, Gypsy, Classic, Jazz, Latin; all these styles helped me to perceive new horizons in music. However, the main goal for an educator, in my opinion, is to help student to find his own way of expressing the music. To explain to students the main rules so later he/her can break them by reaching a higher level in music sense. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

I am a passionate musician and performer, and that passion is met with an equal passion for passing on the knowledge and inspiration I have had the opportunity to gain to others. I am a recent graduate of the University of Kentucky with degrees in Music Performance and Arts Administration and am now working on a Master of Music with a focus on jazz and world music at Northern Illinois University.I have had many invaluable opportunities so far in my life, but a few that stand out include opportunities to study and perform overseas (West African Drumming in Ghana, Steel Pan in Trinidad) and opportunities to perform and work with artists such as Jeff Coffin, Bob Mintzer, Wycliffle Gordon, Brad Dutz, Chris Wabich, Liam Teague, and many others. Read More