Sam N  
Instruments: Drums
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, R&B, Latin, Funk, Showtunes, Latin Jazz, Swing, Bossa Nova, Marching Band

 I began teaching drum lesson when I was in High School. I had several elementary school aged students.  My senior year I was selected as a Teacher's Aid for a local Jr. High School and assisted that band director with his band program.  I was the Captain (President) of our High School marching band. I directed the Symphonic Band during my high school graduation commencment ceremony. My love for music led me to study percussion at Western Michigan University.  It was while in college that I was asked to play with the Western Jazz Quartet - the resident faculty jazz group.  I also performed with the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, Marching Band and other student groups.  I currently perform with Chris McCourry, Director Jazz Studies for Hillsdale College, in a quintet that performs regularly on Thursday nights. I'm also drumming in a rock/pop/blues cover band called Poet & The Beat.  As you an see, I love teaching AND playing!

For beginning drum students I utilize the Ludwig Drum Method.  It's the same book that I studied in as a beginning drum student. All students are required to have a copy of George Lawrence Stone's Stick Control.  This is considered "The Bible" of drum method books and is essential for study no matter what the student's skill level is.  For intermediate drum set lessons I work out of Peter Erskine's Drumset Essentials. Every student is required to study and be proficient with the 13 Essential Drum Rudiments, which are the building blocks of drumming ( just like scales are for melodic instruments) .  These are the basics, but there is much room to taylor instructional material to the individual drum student - epecially for advanced players.