212-625-1520
Musika Quick Stats
25 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
- Have questions? Check out our
- FAQ
- CONTACT US
-
![call-icon]()
212-625-1520
Lesson Special - Up to 20% OFF! Get Started Now with a Risk-Free Trial!
Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Drum lessons in Manhattan . 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: Drums
We start by doing proper warm up exercises followed by learning or practicing rudiments. We work on our grip of the sticks and our movements while drumming. In other words, I teach economy of movement for maximum energy. If a student is flailing their arms, we talk about a more fluid movement by utilizing the wrists and incorporating finger control. Then we move on to reading out of instructional books which is then followed by practical application on the drum sets.With a beginner student I find Basix Syncopation for Drums by Alfred Publishing to be a very effective tool. Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Violin Viola Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar
I draw inspiration largely from my Rudolf Steiner-inspired pre-college education and my Carl Orff-inspired higher education. Waldorf/Steiner education "emphasizes the role of imagination in learning, striving to integrate holistically the intellectual, practical, and artistic development of pupils" while the Orff Approach "combines music, movement, drama, and speech into lessons that are similar to child's world of play." Read More
Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Orchestral Percussion Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar
For beginning piano students, I often get them started with the Faber piano series, then incorporate music theory along with their song requests. For beginning fretted string students (guitar/bass/ukelele), I like to start with the Hal Leonard method book to get started with reading notation, so that we cover more than just tabs and chords. For drum/percussion students, I'll have them start with a combination of Syncopation by Ted Reed and Peter Erksine's Drumset Essentials Volume 1. Read More
Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Keyboard Djembe
For beginners I usually start them off with two books, Stick Control and Funky Primer. I then pair what they learn from those with real world examples and try to incorporate that into songs that they want to play. For more intermediate students we focus more on developing their musical vocabulary and all around versatility. We go more in depth on rudiments and using them around the kit. We also start covering music industry fundamentals and the skills they need to market themselves as a musician and how to put together or find a band to start gigging with! Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Trombone Drums Synthesizer Euphonium Tuba Music Keyboard
After receiving my doctorate in music from the University of Miami I started to teach at a neighborhood music school in Queens, New York. It's there that I fell in love with teaching. There's nothing greater than sharing my knowledge with the next generation. Hopefully you will become one of my students we can go on a musical journey together. We can learn all the styles that I have experience in including jazz classical and popular music. Read More
Instruments: Drums
With over 30 years of experience touring and performing, I enjoy sharing concepts and methods of study that have helped me throughout my career. I graduated in 1993 from Kean University with a Bachelor of Management Science degree and a minor in music. Performing around the world with a variety of artists has given me the opportunity to perform at the JVC Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival to name a few. Read More
Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Djembe
I think the most important part of teaching is developing a positive mentoring relationship to the student. My favorite teachers always went above and beyond to not only educate me on their favorite subject, but also to show me life lessons along the way and listen to my problems. Ultimately I know that not every one of my students will become a professional musician, and that is okay! I do want them to develop a positive relationship with rhythm and music, and an ability to enjoy these things in anything they listen to. Read More
Instruments: Voice Drums
When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I decided I wanted to become a professional musician early elementary. I was always passionate about music but I originally wanted to become a drummer. Over the years I gradually grew into desiring other aspect of music.
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
First step is to start out slowly, or in slow motion. Coordination is built with repetitions. Get it right at a slow pace and then work on increasing your speed while still practicing the music correctly. Second step is frequent repetition with allotted breaks. These are common practice habits of disciplined performers. Split your practice time into smaller, super-concentrated chunks, working multiple times a day. Finally, practice in your brain, in vivid detail. Visualize playing your music without actually playing it. Put yourself through the music, note by note. Imagine what it feels like to press that key, or take that breath, every step of the way.
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
I got my inspiration for music from musicians in family. However, I had teachers that inspired me to musically evolve as a musician and branch out to other aspects of me. They inspired me by introducing me to various elements of music. One of my teachers demonstrated the duties of a composer; bringing all instrumentation together in one piece and arranging them into one piece. I thought it was absolutely amazing. Another teacher taught me that understanding other instruments like the piano will help my musicianship in ear training.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
My primary choice was percussion.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am proud to have worked on multiple platinum records, as well as working in the music department for TV and film.
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
I would say, the skill to create something on the spot with no planning while staying in time. Many people who are learning an instrumental have difficulties with incorporating improvisation while not faaling behind of going ahead of time in a music piece.
What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
My favorite genre of music to play is hip hop, rock and gospel because I can incorporate so many different styles to fit each and every genre. Playing these genres has helped me build a stronger ear for other sub genres.
When will I start to see results?
It depends on what your goals are for your instrument or voice, and how committed you are to getting the results you want. It also depends on what your playing or voice skills are like now, and where you want to be. If you’ve never played or sung before, then I wouldn’t expect you to be phenomenal after a few hours. Equally, if you’ve been performing for 30 years with bad habits, they won’t disappear in one lesson either. The goals you set and the results you experience will grow and evolve as you learn new skills, so really, it depends on you as an individual as much as the training you receive.
If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
During my courses of music theory, I decided to take guitar and piano lessons to under stand chords and how to arrange properly.
Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
Music runs in both sides of my family. Coming from an African American and Ashkenazic Jewish family I was exposed to different traditions of music. Many in my family are gospel singers, jazz and pop musicians. As for my Jewish heritage, there existed both traditions of religious music, as sung at the synagogue and domestic prayers, and of secular music, such as klezmer.
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Informal activities with music should start soon after birth, followed by more systematic classes around age three, and lessons with the goal of learning the instrument should start between six and nine. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines; exceptions will undoubtedly occur based on the child and/or teacher.
25 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 Manhattan to students of all ages and abilities.
We'll then reach out to the teachers for you.
Schedule the risk-free trial lesson directly with the teacher.
Continue with that teacher or try someone else.
