Tony M
Instruments: Drums
Styles: Jazz, Rock, Blues, Country, Funk, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba
Tony M
Instruments: Drums
Styles:
Jazz, Rock, Blues, Country, Funk, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 12-80
BA History, MA History, Teaching credential .
I have had recordings on three albums.
I am largely a self-taught player. I play for 1-3 hours each day, honing my skills and feel. I don’t teach reading, although I use basic notation for exercises and grooves. I have played in numerous musical situations, from jazz to rock, blues, country and even Cabaret, both on the East Coast and in the Bay Area. I have been in groups that have played in the Cow Palace, in front of thousands of people, the Concord Pavilion, and the former Keystone Korner jazz club. My bands have opened for famous people such as Dave Brubeck and Steve Smith, drummer for Journey.
I have taught a number of students over the years. Some are beginners, while some are more advanced players. I currently teach in a studio carved out of my garage, using a top level electronic drum set to help keep the volume down. I began accepting students as far back as 1984, and have a regular student at the present time. I have worked with him on basic technique, the rudiments, working with and without a metronome. We have focused on snare drum technique, and we have worked together on basic beats on the drum set.
I emphasize technique for beginning students. I call attention to hand and finger control, and offer a number of exercises develop the muscles needed to play fluidly. I teach a few levels of the rudiments, and show students the opening pages of the famous George Stone book, Stick Control for the Modern Drummer. From there, I work with students on drum rolls, groves and fills. My approach to drumming is to be as innovative as possible. I demonstrate how I come up with drum fills as spontaneously as possible.
My aim is to make a solid connection with a student, one where a student arrives with some basic knowledge, innate ability and real passion for the instrument. I can then observe, and correct slight flaws in technique and touch. I can also instruct several styles of music from the many genres that I have experienced over the years. I also find myself learning while I teach, and can pick up valuable ideas from my interaction with students. After all, music is not just expression, it is communication!
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