My students are always shown that playing the drums are downright fun. Every time I sit at the kit, I still feel like a little kid who finally gets to hit 'those big things on the stage,' and that enthusiasm is imparted to everyone I teach. Music encompasses all aspects of art: expression (improvisation), entertainment (performance), craftsmanship (technical skill), and enjoyment (having fun). Nobody should miss out on any of these, and a positive attitude helps students be eager to work hard and achieve their goals.

In 6 years of intense degree work, I earned my B.M. and M.M. from two of the most highly acclaimed jazz programs in the world, Oberlin Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music. Studying with living legends has given me not only information but perspective on music, something not many receive. History and knowledge of the music and the instrument are strengths of mine, and they are balanced with correct technique that transfers to any style.

Don't let the...

I started playing drums in my parents' basement when I was 9 years old. It was just me, a stereo, and a bunch of cardboard boxes I made into my first drumset. Every day, I listened to to my favorite songs over and over again to figure out how to play them. To me, there was nothing more awesome in the world than music.

Since then my musical journey has taken me far and wide. I've studied percussion and composition with world class teachers, toured Europe, composed music for commercials, co-written award winning songs, and performed with a variety of artists at such venues as the Hard Rock Cafe, BB King's, World Cafe, 55 Bar, The Living Room, The Bitter End, and many others. And the one thing that hasn't changed? I'm still totally in awe of it all.

These experiences have helped me to create my own style of teaching that's tailored to each student, whether they want to learn music purely for the enjoyment of it, or take their studies further. Sharing my knowledge and life...

Harold was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His musical career started at the age of 15 playing drums with local bands. Years later he graduated from the University of Puerto Rico where he was mentored by recognized Puertorrican musicians Javier De la Torre and Samuel Morales. During his college years he studied percussion, composition and music technology. Harold was part of the University of Puerto Rico Jazz Ensemble. He is founder and drummer of the jazz group Mixolydian Jazz Quintet where he performed regular public concerts and festivals as well as jazz competitions. Being a part of this group gave him the opportunity to expand his musical knowledge making musical arrangements for the group and taking the role of producer in their recording sessions. Harold has participated in the recognized Berklee College of Music Summer Camp in his native Puerto Rico where, in the year 2007, he was named Outstanding Musician by Berklee College of Music granting him the Puerto Rico...

Music is my foundation, motivation, and inspiration. From my first music-making experiences in high school playing drum set student, to my days as a Music Therapy student at the John J. Cali School of Music, I am constantly searching for opportunities to make music and learn more about music.

In my search of musical opportunities of I have the great pleasure of playing with many different people, in many different musical genres ranging from Jazz Rock to Funk, all the way to Classical, and even to music from across the globe as a Tabla, Riqq, and Mbira student.

Throughout college, and following graduation I worked as a private music instructor developing lesson plans and helping my students develop their relationship with music while reaching their musical goals.

As a Board Certified Music Therapist I have also had the great fortune of working with all different kinds of people, from 5 to 100 and from all over the developmental spectrum find ways to make music.

Master drummer and educator Rick C. is a twenty year Associate Professor at "Berklee College of Music" and a 10 year faculty member at "Drummer's Collective" in NYC.

Rick is endorsed by Zildjian, Vic Firth

Rick has played and recorded with:

Diana Krall, Cissy and Whitney Houston, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, James Williams, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Jewell, Patty Smith, Robben Ford, Muddy Waters, Chuck Mangione, Barry Kiener, Jaco Pastorius, Michelle Camillo, Harvey Swartz, Eddie Gomez, Jeff Mironov, Chambers Bros., Paul Butterfield, Phoebe Snow, Eddie Reyes, Jon Werking, Joe Locke, Joe Romano, Sal Nistico, Gap Mangione, Don Potter, Jack McDuff, Maggie Galloway, Tierney Sutton, David Sanborn, Al Kooper, Michael Brecker and many others.

I was born in Caen, Normandy, France.

I studied drums and percussion and obtained a unanimous first-prize at the Seine Saint-Denis drums competition. I also attended workshops under the direction of great drummers such as Max ROACH, Clifford JARVIS and Jack DeJOHNETTE.

I performed in virtually in every major jazz club in Paris (New Morning, Duc des Lombards, Sunset, Petit Opportun, Manhattan Jazz Club, Sunset), in various Jazz Festivals and I also played in Germany and Italy.

At the same time I started teaching regularly in four conservatories (Arcueil, le Pré-St-Gervais, Epinay Sous Sénart and Chevilly) for more than 10 years until I moved to New York. I taught private lessons for drums and percussion, and also numerous workshops for kids, teens and adults.

After a lesson with the legendary Jimmy COBB in 1992 during a visit to the United States, I decided to move to New York. I was finally able to do so in 2000, and I have been living and performing here since then.

Yuichi H. was born in Tokyo, Japan. His musical career started at age 10 when he performed marimba in a music recital. He started playing drum set at age 14 and joined a wind ensemble, a few rock bands, and a jazz big band. With some of these groups, he performed at several live music venues in Tokyo. In 1991, he composed the music and performed drums and percussion in a production of Othello, at The Globe Tokyo Panasonic Theater.
In the fall of 1991, with a full scholarship, he attended Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA. He studied jazz drums mainly with Joe Hunt and Jon Hazilla, and orchestral percussion with Dean Anderson. Also, he took many classes in jazz composition and arranging with Gregg Hopkins and Jeff Friedman. He was the recipient of "The Cuccinello Percussion Award" and the "Berklee Percussion Department Achievement Award." Outside of the school curriculum, he joined several bands and performed at several venues such as the Willow Jazz Club, Middle East...

I would not be the person I am today if music wasn't the focal point in my life as it is. Not only do I absolutely love performing and studying music myself, but I adore teaching as well. Part of the musical experience is taking what you hear and what you learn from others and building on it to create your own musical contributions. I take the gifts other teachers and musicians have given me very seriously and subsequently feel the great importance of imparting my knowledge unto others.

Whether you want to be a professional, or just be competent enough to enjoy yourself, we all practice, study technique and gain knowledge about music with really only one goal in mind: To have all the tools necessary to express ourselves adeptly through music. All the technique in the world will not make you a great musician. At the same time, you can be extremely creative and knowledgeable, but if you don't have the technique and vocabulary needed to express your ideas, you will find yourself...

Roland R was born and raised in New York City. He started playing drums at the ripe age of 12. Throughout his schooling, Roland was a member of Concert Bands, Jazz Bands, and Drum Corps. He eventually started to explore playing music outside of school with friends and independent musicians around New York City. Roland's teaching "career" started about 7 years ago, when his baby cousins took an interest in banging on pots and pans with wooden spoons. His interest in helping others develop their ability to express themselves eventually evolved into in-studio lessons with children and adults of all skill levels. Roland has volunteered for non-profit organizations and college now programs in the past. Through his experiences, he's grown accustomed to speaking in front of large groups of students. Whether or not it's a large group or just a 1 on 1 session, patience and tolerance is the key when working with a student. He fully understands the difficulty of training one's mind to do...

Sharon is a professional musician from the small town of Rehovot, Israel. She fell in love with music at the age of 10, when her father bought her her first drumset. At that time she was studying in Africa with a local, playing everything by ear and watching videos of her favorite drummer, Steve Gadd, to learn his magical paradiddle tricks. After the family uprooted to the United States, Sharon joined her high school Jazz Band, Orchestra, Marching Band, and Percussion Ensemble. It was only then, in her junior year of high school that she realized that she did not want to do anything else but music. In 2011, Sharon graduated Berklee College of Music with honors and is currently teaching, performing, composing, and... well, living life in Brooklyn NY.

Upon my recent graduation from The New School For Jazz and Contemporary Music, I am currently working as a drummer, composer, bandleader and teacher living in Brooklyn New York. Although drums are my primary instrument I also play, teach and perform on piano, which for the most part I am self taught. I have some classical experience on the piano and can teach beginner classical music, but my strong suit is Jazz piano. Whether on piano or drums I love to teach and to help students reach their goals through a practice regiment that is catered specifically to their needs. I am very interested in what type of music the student is interested in and what THEIR musical goals are. Not every student is alike. Some are very serious about making music their life, but others might just want to learn a few things in order to play and have fun with it on their own terms. That being said, I am experienced in teaching students from all skill levels, ages and musical interests. I myself am a...

I love music, I love playing music, and most of all I love to teach music! I am a person who truly believes that giving someone an instrument and providing him/her with some direction can change their life.

I have a degree in Music Business/Management from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. I began playing drums since age 7 (after my mother grew tired of listening to me bang on pots and pans) and have been passionate about the instrument ever since. My home town is Washington DC, but I now reside in Boston as a free-lance musician and teacher. Over the years, I've had the pleasure of touring across the country, playing in world renown recording studios, and performing in front of large audiences. While fluent in all drumming styles, I specialize in rock, funk, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and jazz.

I have years of experience teaching students of all ages and skill levels. When I was in the DC area, I was very involved in the community as a high-school and elementary school...