Drum Lessons in Bixby Knolls, CA

Instruments: Drums

Nice, friendly and patient. The most important part of the lesson is the state of mind. For anyone, going to a lesson should be an event to look forward to, nothing else. So, I try to make the drummer in everyone "go to work", even though I take the easy approach. And I love it when the students feel like they get it. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Djembe

Here's how many drum lessons I've taught: An average of 15 lessons per week times 50 weeks since 1993. 15 x 50 is 750 per year. 25 years of 750 lessons is 18,750, and I have fine-tuned my lesson plans all along the way. Between 2013-2018 I taught a minimum of 30 lessons weekly and had to employee an assistant (an advanced student) to teach my beginners. My students often see me for years. I have taught at Berklee College Of Music's Summer Percussion Festival, School Of Rock, IKnow Music, Join The Band, Santa Monica Music Center, Modern Music, Pop/Rock Academy, Pedrini School Of Music, Walpole Music, and Boston Music Co. Read More

Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums French Horn Oboe

The methods that I choose to use with my students depends on what they want to learn. Some students want to just play classical music, some pop, some jazz, some marching band, etc. Therefore I do not use the same teaching methods for all students. With that being said, I do make certain that all of my srudents understand the basic elements of music, i.e., time and key signatures, note values, melody, rhythm, harmony, pitch, intonation (if a wind instrument), form, theme and variation, etc. Read More

Instruments: Drums

My teaching experience is 16 years deep starting with teaching drums and art in after school programs and to the point I have now in my day job where I work as a registered behavioral technician for Arcadia Unified School District in a moderate to severe autism classroom. I have a deep love for music and education, so bringing them together in my own way has been such a fulfilling experience. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I try to adapt my teaching style to however I see the student (or peer) is most effective in learning. Some people are more chart based, and like the bars written out in time so they can follow it in a more technical manner. Some have a hard time reading music, so they go off of feel. This is more of an intuitive approach to learning. Both are fine for me, but depending on how the student is, one may be better than the other. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion

Ive enjoyed a distinguished career in Los Angeles as a player and a teacher since the 1970s.Ihold a BA in Music from California State University Long Beach and trained extensively under both Murrary Spivack and Richard Wilson, two masters of drum technique with hundreds of successful pupils worldwide. I'veworked or recorded with such artists as Bill Cunliffe, Bob Sheppard, John Patitucci, Eddie Harris, Tony Malaby, Putter Smith, Eric Marienthal, Larry Koonse, Darek Oles, Steve Cardenas, Scott Colley, Alan Broadbent, Gary Foster, and Alan Pasqua to name just a few. Read More

Instruments: Drums

In my lessons I use snare drum method books such as Mitchell Peters Intermediate Book or Stick Control by George Stone to teach reading and basic hand technique.  Once I feel the student is proficient in reading and technique I move on to drumset coordination books as well as learning drum parts to the students favorite music.  I also teach techniques for xylophone, tympani and other classical percussion instruments.  I have an extensive library of music books and techniques so if one method doesn't work I have no problem customizing my lesson plan to fit the student's need. Read More