David S  
Instruments: Piano, Drums, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Conga, Latin Percussion, Music, Keyboard, Djembe, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Blues, Latin, Funk, Salsa, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova

I've been teaching private instrumental and general classroom music for over 30 years. As a child, I received many music lessons on piano and drums and percussion. I decided to focus more on drums and percussion because it offered more in terms of opportunities to perform in school bands and orchestras. In high school, my friends and I formed our own band. Having this experience proved invaluable in my professional life, as I continue to form and promote bands to this day. As a teacher, I consider my performing experience to be one of my greatest assets.

I've discovered over the years that every student is different and require a custom approach tailored to what method works best for them. Some students do very well working through publications of lesson books, while others seem to do better with a less structured approach driven more by listening and muscle memory. In both methods, I find it important to lead by example, not only to be able to show them correctly, but also to inspire them. It's important not only for students to know how something is played correctly, but also for them to hear all the emotional elements that make up the sound.