Benjamin B
Instruments: Drums, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Latin Percussion, Keyboard, Djembe
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&b, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk, Avant-Garde

I began teaching private lessons about 10 years ago, while studying at Ohio State, when people I knew wanted to learn to play the drums. About 6 years ago, I began taking on more students more regularly, and teaching a greater age-range. The majority of my students have studied drum set, but also hand drums, orchestral instruments, mallet percussion, and other percussion instruments. I have taught children and adults, from beginning to advanced, from sight-reading orchestral music to experimental improvised music. In addition to private lessons I have conducted group workshops, usually centering on topics such as improvisation, creativity, and extended technique. I have also been a guest lecturer at colleges, lecturing on the physics of sound as it relates to music-theory, and contemporary issues in aesthetics. When I'm not teaching, I'm working on my own music and performing regularly. I may occasionally need to reschedule a lesson, or conduct it online, when I have an out-of-town gig or tour. I recently relocated to Philadelphia, and am looking for new students of all ages and skill-levels.

The material and methods will be based on a student's skill-level and musical goals and interests. For orchestral band students, this would include basic technique, music reading, and repertoire. For teaching jazz I often use John Riley's "The Art of Bop Drumming" series as a source of practice material. For grasping the feel of various music styles, I will often listen to recordings with a student, and help them figure out what the drummer or percussionist is doing, and how to play it. This is a good way to start learning how to play by ear. For more advanced students, I look for new technical and conceptual challenges that will expand their technique and deepen their musical sensibility. With all students, I place an emphasis on body and mind awareness, which is crucial for good musicality, but has benefits that permeate all areas of life.