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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Drum lessons in Los Angeles . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Piano Drums Organ Synthesizer Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Djembe
I create custom lesson plans for all my students, integrating their interests, strengths and weaknesses into a cohesive, dynamic education schedule. I incorporate a variety of different lesson books to ensure musical reading while encouraging consistent exercises in using our musical ear. I use modern music to inspire students to learn the songs they like. I also promote songwriting and other creative outlets to inspire students to find their own musical voice. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Accordion Ukulele Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I Try to get away from mechanism without joy. Everything has to be close to the music. Exercises to be actually doing them with a rhythm and time. Other than doing things musically, practicing in different times and intentions help a lot for the student to be open to play songs in different ways. Technique and theory are necessary tools. To apply concepts musically they need to do it with musical taste. Read More
Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion
My teaching style is based fully on understanding the goals and dreams of each individual student. I like to develop a plan to get each student to a level of proficiency in which they can direct themselves toward the next goal. This is done through consistent methodology and practice scheduling, as well as periodic reviews of the students past progress up to date. Often times, the student will not even realize they have crossed a hurdle as it is easy to start looking further down the road as the students abilities start to become second nature. Read More
Instruments: Piano Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums
A student will never practice if they're not having fun, and they won't have fun if they're being pushed harder than they want to be pushed. Therefore, when I start with a student, I always ask how much they want to improve and how quickly, how important music is to them, and how much time they're willing to invest daily. We continue on the student's pace, and find the most efficient and fun way to get the student's goals. Read More
Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion
I primarily use original material when I teach, but occasionally Ill work from standard method books such as Stick Control, Master Studies, and Syncopation, or assign pages from more recent books like John Rileys The Art of Bop Drumming. Ill also pull out books specifically for sight reading such as Anthony Cirones Portraits in Rhythm. For beginning and intermediate students I focus on fundamental technique, basic sight reading skills, and drum set playing (independence/coordination of the limbs, relaxation and balance, time and groove, fills and solos, introduction of musical styles, etc.) For advanced students I get into more conceptual and creative aspects of playing the drums, but I also introduce the Spivack/Wilson technique which I learned during my studies with Murray Spivack and Richard Wilson in the 1980s [check out the 4-part series featured in Modern Drummer magazine in 2011-2012]. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Ukulele
As the musical director for my college A Cappella group, there was an element of vocal teaching for new and existing members. We learned new song arrangements as a group, rather than assigning parts and having singers learn at home. Conversely, they taught me! It was a great collaboration. Most recently, I have taught private and large group lessons for elementary grade students (TK-5th) in the areas of ukulele, drum set, bucket drumming, hand drumming, and rock band. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Trumpet Trombone Saxophone Flute Clarinet Drums Synthesizer Recorder French Horn Tuba Piccolo Mallet Percussion English Horn Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Practice is for YOU [the student], so it does you no good to skip it, fake it OR lie about it. It is made to give you the opportunity to make the usage of music second nature, for your mind, your fingers, etc. So, it would be best for you to practice, practice, practice!
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
I am proud to say that several of my students have gained successes from our time together. I have a student that went from high school into the Philharmonic. I have a student that plays drums for several popular bands on the road now. I also have a student that has played for the likes of Heather Hedley, Varetta Heidelberg and Nona Hendryx. There are several of my other students that are making their own way in the music business currently. I smile every time I think of the way in which I have positively impacted the music industry today!!!
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I do not have a primary instrument, I play what is necessary for the moment, the circumstance, the performance, the genre, the style, etc!!! I typically play what is needed in the moment!
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of being able to say that I have played for/with/along side of quite a few notably accomplished artists of our time! The list is huge at this time, but I will brag personally about Sarah Vaughn, Nate Dogg, Bobby Shew, Angella Christie, Queen Latifah, Sidney Portier, Bill Cosby, Nona Hendryx, as well as Daryl Coley!
When will I start to see results?
I believe any dedicated student will see results immediately, as long as they commit to doing their part. It does not take long with proper commitment & dedication!!!
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Ms. Julia Shortridge was a major influence on me ending up in music. Although I came from a musical family, I had no idea that I already possessed musical talent/ability until that fateful day. It was an assembly right before 5th period as I was in the 5th grade at Elderberry Elementary School. The current music instructor held an assembly with a few of her friends demonstrating the capabilities of several different instruments. She gave an announcement as the assembly came to an end, asking for anyone interested to remain behind their class in order to be assessed for an instrument in beginning band. I took my turn standing in front of her as she asked me to "say TU"! Well I did, and she assigned me to clarinet. I was given the name of the practice book and instruction to rent/buy an instrument as soon as possible. After clever begging, I did just that and returned to school that next Monday already half way through the practice book. I was already enjoying myself and making quite a bit of progress. I had no idea that I would differ greatly from others in my class whom were just barely trying to assemble their instruments. I was making headway and steering myself so cleverly through the book, that Ms. Shortridge placed me in Intermediate Band approximately 1-week after beginning. I rather quickly conquered Intermediate Band and found myself in Advanced Band within a month, gaining awards and special recognition quickly thereafter.
So, without any hesitation I can say that I owe quite a bit to Ms. Julia Shortridge and that fateful day!!! I CELEBRATE IT & HER TO THIS DAY!
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
If your child is visibly interested in a particular instrument AND can hold his attention there for 15+ minutes, then I would say that they are ready to start lessons! I typically give an honorary lesson up front to assess the child and their attention span. With teens-adults I base it upon their desire to learn, which can be properly assessed conversationally.
24 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Drum lessons in Los Angeles to students of all ages and abilities.
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