Drum Lessons in Queens Village, NY

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Conga Latin Percussion Music Djembe

In my years of teaching experience in music, English as a second language, and biology, I have found that different students learn differently. Some do best learning by demonstration, others by reading sheet music, others through discussion and application. In general, I have found that when students are given individual focus and a lesson plan built upon their strengths, they excel! I make sure that, whether in individual or clinic style settings, I give attention to each student, work with them, and help them achieve their goals! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums

But once this stage is mastered, things become much simpler. I start off lessons slowly with simple technical studies where the student can focus specifically on technique to efficiently and confidently. To help support this stage I typically introduce basic note reading skills to acquaint the students with musical notation while introducing them to playing in time. Once the student reaches foundational proficiency we can finally start to have some fun! Read More

Instruments: Drums

Brent started playing on pots and pans as a child and then moved to the drum set at the age of 8 with instruction from his two older brothers. He joined the school band and performed drum solos for entertainment at school events. Soon it became evident that being a drummer was his calling. Brent received his degree from Berklee College Of Music as a scholarship student and performed with many musicians in the Boston area. Read More

Instruments: Drums

My teaching approach is very relaxed and focused at the same time. I always strive to make every lesson motivating and fun, depending on the level and the interests of each student. Often times I like to discuss and converse with my students about parallel topics of life as analogies to create a more comprehensive and cohesive understanding of any given assignment or concept that the students are trying to achieve or learn. Read More

Instruments: Drums

I draw attention to the importance of listening and help the student identify what to listen for. There is nothing more frustrating than practicing a particular fill 1000 times, only to later realize you've been practicing it incorrectly. This is very common among drummers young and old, but is easily dealt with by simply cultivating a sense of listening and apt imitation. However, I do not endorse perfectionism as a means of effective learning either, and I also will remind the student of the fact that sometimes when you're jamming,even if what what you're playing is not perfect, it's "good enough for rock and roll." This is part of the attitude of rock and roll that I feel is conducive to better, faster learning: a willingness to make mistakes, acknowledge them, learn from them, and move on. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

To become a better musician, we need to look honestly at where we stand in our development and do the work necessary to overcome technical issues. I believe that most issues are best addressed by carefully working on the instrument’s fundamentals. In my classes I focus on building up strong foundations and, from there, give the student the necessary tools to develop confidence in the instrument and the ability to perform any style of music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music

My method of working with drums and percussion is to first get a sense of what the student's goals are. These include both goals involving general drums/percussion and career/performance goals. We will then work together to form a plan to achieve them. This will include exercises tailored directly to the student's needs and desires within drums/percussion as well as overall musical standings and guiding the student to repertoire that will both be fun for them to play and will teach them more about the concepts we are working on. Read More