Ryan S  
Instruments: Guitar, Drums, Bass Guitar, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Musical Theater, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Reggae, Swing, New Age, Marching Band, Punk, Avant-garde

I have always enjoyed teaching others.  Even in high school, I consistently helped my peers with their learning and enjoyed helping them learn how to play percussion instruments.  After starting college in 2009, I began formally teaching percussion privately and in groups at high schools in my area.  I have since expanded to teaching guitar, bass guitar, and composition, incorporating compositional elements into all of my lessons.  I have found that encouraging students to explore music through composing original material helps them in every other facet of learning music.  There is no better feeling than watching a student succeed at expressing themselves musically and I strive to teach them all the tools they need to do so.   

My main philosophy is that every student is different and should be treated accordingly.  The methods I use are specifically tailored to each student and can be methods that I have learned or developed myself.  I start students off by asking them collect ideas about their instrument and the music they enjoy.  From that point, I begin to simultaneously teach technique and musicianship in relation to their expressed interests.  The key to my teaching method is that I ask difficult questions and then I give the student time to think and develop an answer.  Students are expected to think for themselves as I guide them toward answers that are best for their success.