Ray D  
Instruments: Drums, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Conga, Latin Percussion, Djembe
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Country, R&B, Opera, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Salsa, Showtunes, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Marching Band, Punk

My teaching experience dates back to my college days, as I began teaching private lessons part time 20 years ago, and have been consistently teaching high school band and percussion for the last 15 years. Encouraging regular practice on a consistent schedule is one of the key points I like to emphasize for younger students, as it tends to help the student progress and gain a passion for the instrument. I've also found that a combination of classical and modern music can go a long way in helping students enjoy the instrument and motivate them to practice and continue to learn. If a student isn't having fun in their lessons, then I'm not doing my job! My students are encouraged to enter competitions and recitals, as well as work on composing their own original material, so they can feel good about their accomplishments and stay motivated to learn. I'm always looking to bring on new students of all ages

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Hal Leonard's Fresh Approach. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. I also develop individual curriculum based on student's short and long term goals.