Drum Lessons in Islip, NY

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Ukulele Conga Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

Having studied guitar formally for 4 years at Berklee, I pull from materials that I found most helpful to me during my own education. These include scales, chords, modes, picking patterns and even solos. Aside from fundamentals and exercises, my favorite method of teaching is asking a student what they want to learn, a song they enjoy for example, and doing my best to teach the student how to play it and why it works from a harmonic perspective. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

The electric guitar quickly became a part of my identity, a part of my security, and has remained as a stable force in my life. I've been lucky to have a diverse professional musical career, studying jazz at SUNY New Paltz, nationally touring in a Zydeco Punk band, fronting my own band of originals, singing and playing guitar in rock musicals, and composing soundtracks. All while keeping up my teaching practice. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I have toured the country with Peter Frampton and others and have played big concerts including Madison Square Garden. I took lessons from several different drummers including Sonny Igoe. I learned during my time that if I wasn't having fun in my lessons it turned into a less enjoyable task. So I make sure that all my students have a good time, they enjoy learning and that I give them the tools to succeed. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I've been passionate about teaching drums since I was in college, and I was thankful to have great instructors during my formative years that gave me a great foundation for getting new drummers started in a way that is fun, effective, and non-intimidating. A solid foundation in snare drum technique and basic sight-reading is important for all beginners, but I also find it very effective to teach the drums through learning songs with my students. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Music Electric Guitar Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students I would start off with form, posture, and technique. These point are extremely important and sometimes skipped over so developing good performance habits right away is essential. I would also start them with the basics of reading treble clef and learning where the notes on the staff translate to on the neck. They would be walking away from their first lesson with a one octave C major scale and some short, repetitive exercises to get them ready for their first song. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Synthesizer Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

The first teaching concept I focus on is the capacity to produce great sounds with the least amount of effort. Therefore I spend some time in getting the student to play very relaxed to create a relationship with body and mind, I believe music is an extension of the body and so if the mind and body are relaxed then music will come out flawless. We will use students ideas of songs they are interested in learning as well as some of my own suggestions for repertoire. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Banjo Ukulele Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I've actually written and produced my own music theory book that was in all Borders stores before they closed down. I've learned a few methods and I try to incorporate them all unless the student or parents wants something specific. My method is a method where I can teach 1 thing countless ways. I love my students to learn theory because it is a very important backbone to music. Some people can play instruments without ever really kwoing what they are playing or understand the theory behind it, and I think it holds them back from truely being creative and understanding of music.    With my methods students will be able to play from any genre, any book, and hopefully will be able to create their own music. Read More