Nick S  

5

  5.0 (8)

Instruments: Drums
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Country, R&B, Gospel, Funk, Electronic, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Swing, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk, Avant-garde

My teaching experience begins in June of 2018. Prior I had experience teaching at a non profit organization that I was the Executive Assistant Director of. I had taught students business English, museum management, & digital editing during summer exchange programs. In regards to drums, I began regular tutelage in June of 2019, growing my students to 8 total before the pandemic. During my time teaching virtually, I have found that focusing on theoretical points of discussions, balanced by applicable examples of these topical discussions in older & contemporary forms of music, is a wonderful & effective way to teach the instrument. This is my job; to teach the instrument with enthusiasm, passion, & an enjoyable, fun filled approach. We will be working towards a rudimental & fundamental based understanding of the drumset through traditional technique, theory, books, along with fun, modern songs. My goal will be to teach how to practice independently. I recommend setting up a practice schedule so that he knows when he is supposed to practice. If there is struggling with any of the weekly assignments, that is ok! Simply let me know at the next lesson so I know right where to help. No need to stress or worry if there is some confusion. Learning music is similar to learning another language; those first lessons, especially with drums, will have some basic learning curves, but I am sure that with practice & time you or your child will be excellent! My students are encouraged to enter competitions and recitals, as well as work on composing their own original material, so they can feel good about their accomplishments and stay motivated to learn. I'm always looking to bring on new students of all ages!

My methods of teaching are universal for both young, old, new, beginner, or advanced. I take a very strong stance on rudimentary preparedness and understanding as well as the importance of maintaining physical composure while playing drums. The drums are obviously a physical instrument so exerting force in the correct and relaxed emotion while maintaining maximum results is a consistent. Whether it is playing snare drum, a drum set, or doing a variety of percussion work at a gig or practicing from your house, these are matters that are needed to be addressed. When playing the actual drums, we focus heavily on rudimentary understanding of technique, grip, posture and fluidity while playing I have all students work on their 40 standard rudiments, understanding their history, application in both prior and contemporary forms of music, and how to further apply them. The rudiments are like the drummer's scale and are the consistent and perpetual language to speak drums. Depending on the skill level, there are a variety of books that I do like to hand out which relate to snare drum studies to reinforce reading and stick control. I also like to work on the foundations of syncopation and fundamental interdependence. The final method to start is a book in rock drumming that will serve as a good Segway to other forms of music, whether it be gospel, funk, or jazz. I like to expose students to a variety of styles, but also like to incorporate their interests into the lesson. That could range from music they are interested in, topics they want to study, or breaking down a piece music they like and using it as an exercise. The final thing that I like to bring forth to students, which is found in many of the books as rhythm studies and retrospective comprehensive pieces, is recital worthy material. In addition to playing the instrument, teaching isn't just discussing note value and how to play a swing waltz. You must also be able to help prep a student for performance and to give them insight on such intangible matters. The best way to First expose them to these is to prepare them for a recital and an accompanying piece or two. This is another topic that I would like to help students prepare for; it could be anything from an Allstate jazz band, pieces for school concerts, or just preparedness for live performance. I want to be able to keep a student interested in their studies, whilst giving them the tools to open up their musical knowledge and vocabulary. They will be able to simultaneously diversify themselves and continue to grow in the instrument.