Benjamin G
Instruments: Drums, Bass Guitar
Styles: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Latin, Funk, Electronic, Salsa, Latin Jazz, Samba, Bossa Nova, Punk
Benjamin G
Instruments: Drums, Bass Guitar
Styles:
Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Latin, Funk, Electronic, Salsa, Latin Jazz, Samba, Bossa Nova, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 3-80
Bachelor Degree: University of Pittsburgh, Master Degree: Georgia Institute of Technology
My diverse musical upbringing included piano, guitar, bass, singing, and recording in any style I could think of. I went on to play bass guitar at a professional level in bar bands and on cruise ships, and piano and organ at a professional level in churches. I've studied the drums voraciously for the past decade, playing rock and jazz with musically adventurous friends and colleagues. I bring the ears of a well-rounded musician to the instrument, and my deep experience as a bassist influence my choices at the drums.
I am new to teaching, but I come armed with a plethora of tools and ideas. My own musical practice informs me on what works and what doesn't, a year and a half of study with master drummer Steve Lyman has gotten me out of my own head and exposed me to the benefits of lessons and having a teacher, and my life partner is a piano teacher with successful students. My own love of learning keeps my interested in different ways of absorbing and integrating new information, and inspires me to expose the joy of learning to students.
No matter the student's particular interests, there are a few things that are fundamental to all drummers and percussionists. We will start with the most basic techniques for producing a note: grips and stroke types. I take care to make sure the student is aware of physical tendencies that will inhibit their motion, and I keep these bad habits in check. We move on to focus on reading rhythms and subdividing a pulse. From here, we can work through different rudiments, which form a basis for vocabulary in the world of percussion, and eventually tackle some rudimental snare solos. In parallel to all this, we can apply techniques to smooth out and refine a variety of grooves and learn to play along to songs of the student's choice.
I come to teaching with the understanding that every student is different. We will try to get at each problem in a variety of ways, and see what works for you. We will also gear our curriculum towards the student's own interests, keeping in mind that there is plenty of material that is common to everyone's growth. Since lesson time is limited, I won't waste time telling stories or lecturing you about different musical concepts. We will be having a back and forth, where I probe to find your weaknesses, and find ways to address those weaknesses and solve problems.
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