Drum Lessons in Seattle, WA

Instruments: Piano Trumpet Drums Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard

My lessons are designed to fit each student's level and area of interest. For example, if a student wants to learn how to play blues piano, I'll assign him exercises to compliment learning that idiom, i.e. scales, chords and rhythm patterns. people learn best when they are interested in at that moment. I use the same philosophy teaching drums and trumpet. Specific methods are tailored to the student's current ability and age. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Orchestral Percussion Latin Percussion Music

With my teaching style, I prefer to work on what the student has an interest in if they are old enough to know. There is no better feeling than to work with a student who is enjoying the study of the current material. I also enjoy teaching beginning composition and bringing out the music from within. When the child is at a young age, I incorporate curriculum that targets ear-training and listening, reading, rhythmic awareness and time-keeping, and theory. Read More

Instruments: Drums

In addition to being a member of several active local projects, I have performed with the Seattle Symphony; UW faculty members Bill Frisell, Cuong Vu, Luke Bergman, Ted Poor, and Marc Seales; several Cornish faculty members including Jim Knapp, Jovino Santos Neto, and Wayne Horvitz; and celebrated NYC-based players Wynton Marsalis, Tim Berne, Ralph Alessi, and Andrew D'Angelo. Aside from that, I am a co-founder of Table Chairs, a new Seattle-based record label, as well as a co-founder of the Racer Sessions, a weekly forum and performance outlet for new and improvised music. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Trombone Clarinet Drums Mallet Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

I make my own lesson materials using musical notation software and cater the lesson to the needs of the student. Every student is different and requires special attention. For example, a beginner percussionist would start off learning how to read and notate rhythms all the way up to 16th notes to start. I would then move into how to hold drum sticks and how to hit a drum. I would build upon these concepts to facilitate lessons to come and tailor the lesson to the individual. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

Most of my students have never played drums before studying with me. With beginners I believe it's most important to learn a good technique for striking the drums as well as introducing the student to fundamental rhythms and musical practices. Many students want to learn to jam immediately and that's great. I suggest learning some basic reading as well as playing by memory and improvising. It is also fun and beneficial for beginners or advanced players to play drums to recorded music. Read More

Instruments: Drums Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Djembe

I am patient and creative in my approach to teaching technique, sight-reading, and musicality. I believe that music performance should be an enjoyable and energizing experience for the performer and listener. I assign practicing material based on the goals, interests, and performance level of each student. While learning individual pieces can be fun, I also focus on giving the student the right tools to become a life-long musician in whatever capacity they choose. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Drums Bass Guitar Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For just about any instrument, a key approach of mine is to teach students how to play the songs they love - and then the musical building blocks that make up said songs. Then, I teach the rudiments, patterns, and music theory behind those building blocks, and teach the students to be able to figure this all out on their own in the future through ear-training. I tend to like the Essential Elements series for band instruments, the Alfred books for piano and guitar, the Real Book for a wide variety of jazz repertoire. Read More