Vinny T  
Instruments: Drums, Mallet Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Conga, Latin Percussion
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater, Opera, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Salsa, Showtunes, Spirituals, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk, Mariachi, Avant-garde

I began teaching during my senior year of high school when I was asked to teach the group percussion lessons at both the middle school and high school levels. After I began teaching these lessons I volunteered aditional time to teach some of these students in a 1:1 environment. Since that time, I have been teaching both private lessons and group lessons traveling between my school in TN and my home here in NY. Most of the private lessons that I have taught since this time have been for drum set, as that is the more commonly desired area of study for many students seeking private lessons. Of the group lessons I have taught since high school, all of them have been in a school environment, yet have spanned every age and ability of music student. In my career thus far, I have worked with students who were just entering kindergarten, and students who were already in college for percussion, and I have enjoyed each situation equally. My goal is to share the joy and creative process of music with as many people as possible.

In creating a unique curriculum for a student on any instrument, it is important that I find out the following information: What does the student enjoy about music already? What kind of music does the student enjoy already? What does the student want to do with music (i.e. play in a rock band, perform a NYSSMA solo, qualify for marching band, etc...). What are the parents'/guardians' expectations for the student? What are the parents'/guardians' musical backgrounds? What has the student learned/is currently learning via another teacher (most likely a band director)? For the beginning drum set student, I start by establishing a fundamental understanding of rhythm and reading rhythm before transitioning directily to drum set. This way, when the student sits down at a drum set, they can focus on the using multiple limbs without struggling with understanding and/or fundamental rhythms.  For the beginning snare drum student, I usually start teaching fundamental reading and rhythm along with the following method books: Stick Control by G.L. Stone, and Syncopation by Ted Reed. For the beginning mallet player, I start with the following books: Modern School for Xylophone by Morris Goldenberg, Marimba: Technique through Music by Mark Ford, and Method of Movement for Marimba by L.H. Stevens.