Robert L
Instruments: Drums, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Conga, Latin Percussion, Djembe
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Salsa, Showtunes, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk
Robert L
Instruments: Drums, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Conga, Latin Percussion, Djembe
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Salsa, Showtunes, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 8-80
Bachelor Degree: Towson University
Towson University Outstanding Achievement in Music 1991
I graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Performance, earning the music department's Outstanding Achievement in Music Award in 1991. From 1994-1997 I taught applied and ensemble percussion at Shepherd University and, since then, have developed a successful private teaching practice in the Baltimore/Washington area. Many of my students have achieved success at the county, state and professional levels. I am the principal drummer/percussionist at Toby's Dinner Theater in Columbia, MD and perform regularly with the DMV's premier event/party band Retrospect. From 1995-2008 I served as principal percussionist with the Gettysburg Symphony Orchestra. As a member of the American Federation of Musicians, I have performed with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Opera Orchestra, the Baltimore Jazz Orchestra and, from 1997-2004, I was the drummer for the award-winning Peabody Ragtime Ensemble. I have performed with Grammy and Tony Award winning artists including pianist/composer Peter Nero, film and stage actor Richard Harris, Contemporary Christian vocalist Sandi Patty, Broadway choreographer/performer Tommy Tune and pop music vocalist Sheena Easton.
I started teaching while in college, beginning in 1987 and gradually progressed to teaching as a career in 1994. I have taught at the collegiate level at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. I have also taught award-winning drumlines at Calvert Hall College, Lansdowne High School and Dulaney High School, all in the Baltimore metropolitan area. I have taught students of a wide age range, including students as young as 5 to older adults in their 60's and 70's. I teach a wide variety of musical styles on drumset, concert percussion (snare drum, keyboard percussion, timpani etc.) and hand drums including congas, bongos and djembe.
For young beginning students, I use the Elementary Drum Method by Roy Burns. For middle school aged through adult students, I use either Progressive Steps to Syncopation by Ted Reed or Standard Snare Drum Method by Benjamin Podemski. For young drumset students, I use Alfred's Drumset Method by Dave Black. For middle school aged through adult students I use Realistic Rock by Carmine Appice for rock styles and Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer by Jim Chapin for the jazz idiom. For keyword percussion, I use either Fundamental Studies for Mallets by Garwood Whaley or Percussion Keyboard Technic by Thomas McMillan. For timpani, I use Modern Method for Tympani by Saul Goodman.
Nothing is more important to me than seeing my students develop not only their skills as a player but also true passion for music. Whether I'm working with a youngster or an adult, I always employ a kind, encouraging and patient teaching style. First and foremost, I aim to create a fun and relaxed learning environment. When a student is hitting a wall with a particular skill, I will then move on to something else, to then return to the skill after giving the student a mental break. I let the student set the pace of progress, pushing those that can handle a more rigorous lesson. And conversely, easing up on rigor for those that prefer a gentler approach.
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