KR A
Instruments: Drums, Conga, Latin Percussion, Djembe
Styles: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Salsa, Showtunes, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk, Avant-garde
KR A
Instruments: Drums, Conga, Latin Percussion, Djembe
Styles:
Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Salsa, Showtunes, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk, Avant-garde
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
BM, University of Kansas, Music Composition
2017 - Performed with KU West African Drum Ensemble at PASIC
2016 - George Lawner Prize for Orchestral Composition at KU
I am a performer and educator with a lifelong passion for music and music education. I graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition in 2016, my primary instrument of study in that time being drums. Although I am primarily a drummer and composer, my love for music goes back to when I started taking violin lessons when I was 4 years old. I have had many great musical experiences since then, including a youth orchestra performance at Carnegie Hall! As a drummer in Denver, I have had the opportunity to play stage shows in bigger theaters and halls, such as Cervantes Ballroom and the Gothic Theater.
I started teaching occasional private lessons while attending college. Though this started with teaching my friends, it branched out to some strangers as well. After graduating, I started teaching at a lesson studio, maintaining a steady roster of 20-25 students every week. Teaching has definitely helped me develop my own knowledge of my instrument as well! I have found that in addition to simply teaching concepts, talking about my past experiences learning my instrument helps students connect with the material at a deeper level because they can trace a path from where they are to where I am, ability-wise.
For beginner students, my primary goal is to teach fundamental musical concepts and basic technique so that they have a solid foundation on which to expand. This means a focus on rhythm and meter, stick control, and some basic coordination. For intermediate students, I tend to tailor lessons based on their own musical interests, helping them expand their knowledge of the drumset by delving into genres of music that speak to them. For advanced students, my goal is to make sure they are ready for any musical situation they are thrown into, meaning that I work with them to expand their horizons and try playing in different styles while pushing their technical skill to new heights.
My philosophy for lesson structure is that fun and context are a necessity. Learning exercises in a vacuum can be uninspiring and boring, but turning those exercises into games and allowing students to play along to tracks makes the music come to life! Instead of "having to" do an exercise or play a pattern, the student now "gets to" play a fun rhythm game or play along to music they like. As much as I try to make lessons fun, the other important component for a student to grow is a consistent practice schedule, which is something I try to emphasize and discuss in lessons as well.
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