Drum Lessons in South Riverdale, NY

Instruments: Drums

I try to instill the positive qualities that come from music including the enjoyment of listening and the gain of focus and concentration when learning how to play. I will give each student material and set goals weekly at a pace that he or she is comfortable going at while still challenging the student. Teaching is something that is a passion for me because I understand how important that time can be in that persons life and I truly enjoy sharing the information. Read More

Instruments: Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Djembe

A New York native and life-long professional drummer, I played Dvorak at Carnegie Hall, punk and ska music at CBGB's and classic rock at Wetlands in NYC all during high school. After furthering my studies in percussion performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston, I founded progressive jazz quartet Schleigho, hit the road in 1991 and toured nationally until 2004 , releasing 5 CD's and playing over 3000 shows with the likes of jazz great John Scofield, funk legend Maceo Parker and rock icons The Allman Bothers Band, who signed them in 1998 to their record label, Flying Frog Records. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar

As students all have different tastes and skill levels, it is important for me to really be perceptive to their specific needs and teach them only what I feel they will be able to digest but at the same time present a new challenge to them that can be fun. It is my priority to make the lessons relaxed and most importantly, enjoyable. Music is difficult, and takes a lot of work, but it can also be so gratifying and liberating at the same time, and that's what I want my students to understand. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Orchestral Percussion Djembe

The best way for students to improve their proficiency on an instrument is through consistent, weekly practice. In our lessons, we will discover overall musical goals and then weekly goals to help us achieve our dreams. Yes, the dedication must be put in by the student, but organized practice is the quickest way to truly improve. In my lessons, we will work on technique and sight reading as well as improvisation and learning songs. Read More

Instruments: Piano Drums Orchestral Percussion Conga Music Djembe

For beginner students, I typically start with the book Syncopation by Ted Reed. From this book, students learn basic rhythmic concepts and how to read them, and they develop the coordination to play them on snare drum and drum set. Then, I teach my students the 26 basic rudiments that all drummers must know. After that, I teach my students different types of ethnic musical traditions from all over the world. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Ukulele Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Djembe Classical Guitar Acoustic Guitar

All I want is to know that my students are enjoying music more deeply, and that they gain the self-sufficiency to learn between lessons. I make sure to point out milestones that a student has achieved to encourage that innate human drive for improvement, and always keep looking for what is exciting and inspiring for the student at a given time. I make sure each student I work with knows what elements to include in their practice, how to learn a piece of music from scratch, and how to break things down into manageable, learnable chunks. Read More

Instruments: Drums Bass Guitar

My teaching experience dates back to my high school days, as I began teaching private lessons part time 15 years ago, and have been consistently teaching students in my home studio for the last 10 years. Encouraging regular practice on a consistent schedule is one of the key points I like to emphasize for younger students, as it tends to help the student progress and gain a passion for the instrument. I've also found that a combination of jazz and modern music can go a long way in helping students enjoy the drums and motivate them to practice and continue to learn. Read More