Robert R
5.0
(2)
Instruments: Drums, Recorder, Orchestral Percussion, Music
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Latin, Funk, Electronic, Showtunes, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk, Avant-garde
Robert R
5.0
(2)
Instruments: Drums, Recorder, Orchestral Percussion, Music
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Latin, Funk, Electronic, Showtunes, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 4-80
2006, 2007 - Massachusetts Music Educators Conference, Guest Artist
2001, 2002 - Klezkanada Festival of Yiddish Music and Culture, Full Scholarship
2000 - Frederick and Josephine Pannier McCarthy Scholarship, UMASS Boston
1992 Middletown (CT) Commission on The Arts, Grantee
2023 Massachusetts Arts Recovery Grant
If I'd known how much I'd enjoy teaching, I would have started sooner! I've played in orchestras and garage bands, jazz combos, trad. instrumental bands and more, and I bring it all to the table. Also an MEd., experience as a K-12 classroom music teacher and years of teaching drums and percussion in a variety of settings. Plus my ongoing education in music. My students range in age from preschoolers to senior citizens. Sometimes I think I enjoy students' progress more than they do, but we all have a lot of fun!
10 years Percussion Faculty at the Cape Cod Conservatory (Falmouth and West Barnstable) and Private Teaching at a number of Music Stores across Massachusetts. Five years as Lesson Director at a Music School in Cambridge, interacting with staff, students and parents. Director of the New England Jug Band Kids after school program for Lexington Public Schools. Member and director of drum lines in numerous working parade and event bands across New England. Musical director of my own ensembles and for other artists. Self-employed, independent musician.
The philosophy underlying my teaching method can be summed up this way: If you can say it, you can play it. "Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom!" I'll bet I can teach you that rhythm quickly if I say it to you. And once you say it, it's easy to play on the drums. Some people play by ear and others by note, but I think it's best to do some of each. Rote music learning boils down to repeating sounds. That's how we learn to speak. Learning to read teaches us to recognize symbols that represent those sounds, be they music or language. My youngest student learned to read rhythms before words and sentences! But that doesn't mean YOU need to be a great reader! Only a great listener ;-)
I've had a lot of opportunities to sort my teaching out. I realize that if the student doesn't “get it,” it may be that I'm not putting “it” across effectively. So I had better try to slow things down or speed them up, model rather than explain, or vice versa! And always try smarter before trying harder, even though harder may be the right approach. Because in addition to teaching music I'm teaching approaches to learning. Some situations require discipline, others abandon. That's not surprising, because music can portray every facet of the human condition.
Elizabeth Catapovic
I am happy to write this letter to recommend Robert R for drum teaching. My introduction to the drums and to Rob came, at the Cape Cod Conservatory in Falmouth, MA, after four years as a "Suzuki" violin mom. When Marco, my older son started violin lessons I, as a parent, was required to take lessons with him (for at least a year) so that I could be his home teacher. I enjoyed it immensely and soon started taking my own lessons. Sevens years later, he and I are still playing. It was only natural that Luka, (then 7) would expect me to come along to his drum lessons. After three years of watching Rob teach, I have truly come to enjoy the instrument and to respect his wonderful teaching style as well as his diverse knowledge of percussion. Luka is a bright, but high-spirited and stubborn child who used to argue with me about how many eighth notes are in a quarter note (and about everything else). Because of Rob, he is studying music with more maturity than I would have ever believed possible. Rob has shown Luka how to practice the drum-set as the serious instrument it is, without squelching the pleasure of music. After three short years, Luka is very good at sight-reading, his rudiments are crisp and he has great fun with his rock beats. He surprised us, this summer, by making the intermediate concert band in his first year at music camp, outperforming three older drummers. All their hard work, on both their parts, paying off. I cannot say enough about Rob's patience with Luka and his passion for teaching. Who else could get Luka to skip down the hall to "feel" a rhythm, to mirror rock beats on the opposite side of the drum set, play duets by himself, one part on each of two drums or work at numerous drills that keep him excited about the instrument? Rob's enthusiasm at the lessons keeps Luka practicing all week with little coaxing from me. Rob is a truly gifted teacher, a fabulous musician as well as a kind and thoughtful person. We are lucky to have him as a teacher and any school would be fortunate to count him among their staff.
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