Kevin R  
Instruments: Drums
Styles: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Country, R&B, Funk, Marching Band

I started teaching professionally in Sarasota, FL with a private music school in 1999. I have taught private lessons both at the studio and in students' homes. I also taught group lessons through the Police Athletic League and a local middle school. I love sharing my library of music with my students, and I encourage my students to listen to a variety of music to expand their musical knowledge and to practice, practice, practice! Memorization of and playing along with their favorite tunes encourages my students to learn how to listen to how the song is interpreted and presented by the artist, building confidence and timing. Being able to master a favorite tune can be very inspiring!

For beginners, I like to start with the basics. Students will learn proper stick positions, basic rhythms, tempo, and count. A lot of work is done primarily on the snare drum, progressing to the full set when the student is ready. Once the student has a handle on the fundamentals, I can then have them play along with a simple song. I am using a Roland V-Drums electronic set for instruction, so any source of music can be played through the set, and the drums then mixed in with the song. As the student progresses they will be able to work on some of their own preferred songs as well. They will learn how to adapt to the needs of the song, and add what might make it better. I stress repetition, so muscle memory and speed are instinctive, and as a drummer consistent practice is imperative. For more advanced students I will assess where they are at, address any holes in learning, and adjust my instructions based on this.