Drum Lessons in Whitman, MA

Instruments: Drums

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
- My music degree is in music production and music business. There reasons why i chose those two are very simple. In any art, theres a performance side, and a business side. The reason for both of those, is because thats how we’re abl to negotiate different deals, and keep the business growing and expanding. As far as music business goes, its important to know the little ins and outs of the industry that we’re in. For music production, there are many avenues that one can take to become an active music producer. Having taken courses for music production, it gives me an insight to many different areas of the production side of music, and lets me understand the capabilities thag it can bring.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
- Normal practice for me, is pluging in headphones, and playing to records, while implemening different ideas. I got this routine from my peers at Berklee College of music. What this does for us is, it creates an atmosphere of what music should sound like when playing live. It also allows drummers to build a great foundation for time, and pocket presence. There will come a time when many of us should be in tune with how and what we play, and for when we play it. Its crucial that these things are often remembered and put to use.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
- In my opinion, the hardest thing to master on my instrument is, finding your identity. Being abke to have a sound that you like and that you can relate too, is one of the most important things for a musician.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
- In beginning stages, I use a freeform style of teaching. Its where we get the oppurtunity to understand what the student can and ir cannot skdo. From there, we work on the desired area of interest for the student(s) and begin to develop their feel, style, pocket, ear, and sight-reading (aka, fundamentals).

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
- You will known if your child is ready to begin, simply by understanding their interest in music. If you see that they are very intrigued and have a strong liking for something, than thats when you can see that they may be interested in taking that fascination further.

When will I start to see results?
- You will start to see results, as wuickly as the same day. Many people think that learning is slow and tedious (which it can be at times.) However, with music, little progress is better than no progress. The results can be small or seem minute at times, but thise are where you learn the fundamentals.

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
- Yes. I did. His name is, Nate Barnes. - He inspired me simply because, my first time meeting him was my first time hearing an industry professional, play drums live. Not to mention, he’s a blind drummer.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
- I chose drums because, when I was a child, my mother gifted me with my own drumset. She saw something in me and believed that it was her duty to bring that gift into fruition (ans she did.) Its because of her, that I owe my successes.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
-Effective practics ia aomething that has to be done daily. In order to be great, some sort of repetition and or practice is needed to sharpen and refine a set of skills. My best advice for effective practicing is,l to, maintain focus while practicing the task at hand, and always start off slowly. Then, once you have it down, gradually build soeed and precision.

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