My name is Brendan and I am a jazz performance and education major at The City College of New York. I have been playing the drums and percussion for about 15 years and have a lot of experience playing with many different types of groups including orchestras, Jazz bands, Small combos, rock/funk/R&B bands and Concert bands. I have studied with some of the best drummers/educators including Joe Carozza, Adam Cruz and Nate Smith. In high school, I participated in the area all state bands and orchestras from freshman to senior year. I was accepted to the jazz program at CCNY and chose that program because of the great staff including John Patittucci, Scott Reeves, Ray Gallon and Mike Holober. I am currently a resident of Manhattan while playing in a number of different bands with styles including Funk, jazz, blues and motown. I have taught private lessons in high school as well as a music summer camp at Dutchess Community College.

Music education goes beyond your ability to play the music you hear in the world and within yourself. I believe that when you focus on the expressions you are making through the language of music, technique, intonation, and proficiency will follow. I encourage students to practice the music that speaks to them. I benefit students by enabling them to become accustomed to playing with intent and sensitivity. I have gathered experience over the years playing for groups and releasing my own music, both of which have given me the perspective to educate students and further their potential. I have played bass guitar for grunge rock and metal bands, both electric and upright bass for a number of jazz ensembles, drum kit and world percussion for the latter as well as experimental groups, and have built a repertoire of electronic music productions that include progressive house music and hip hop. I wish to help students understand what a stellar music performance is made of; sincerity,...

Every time I pick up the bass to teach a lesson, I start to smile and so does the student. We both understand that this is going to be fun, positive, and easy. That's how I want learning the bass to feel because in the end, bass is about grooving and connecting with others, making it easier to play as a band. Playing an instrument is a combination of technique, knowledge, and creativity. I feel that it's important for a student to explore these three areas and that positive encouragement will help a student work harder and achieve more.

I earned my B.M. and M.M. at two of the most highly ranked jazz programs in the world, at William Paterson University and then at Manhattan School of Music. By studying with legendary musicians and educators, I have a greater knowledge about the bass and its history in music. Through technique and creativity, I apply this knowledge to many different styles.

Even though my training is in jazz, I enjoy playing all styles of music. I play in...

I am a 20 year musician with 11 years teaching experience. Born and raised in New York City, I attended Laguardia high school for music and art and afterward Queens College majoring in music. My main instruments are Clarinet, Drums, and Saxophone, but i also have a strong background in Piano, Trumpet, and Flute. I've taken private music lessons for the past 15 years with world class musicians, among them David Weber and Howard Hirsch. I've performed in every major concert hall in New York City, including Carnegie Hall when i was only 11 years old. I performed alongside many famous musicians, including the late Tito Puente.

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...

Percussionist and composer Marc W. was born in Switzerland, where he studied classical percussion at the Geneva Conservatory. He has lived in the United States since the 1980s, where he studied composition and mallet technique on the vibraphone at the Berklee School in Boston, then moved to New York City to further his jazz performance and percussion skills. Since that time, Marc has toured the U.S., Europe, Japan and Brazil, and can be heard on over 20 recordings, including 4 solo albums.
Marc’s interest in electronics led him to push the boundaries of live performance with the “electronic vibraphone”, where he is recognized as a pioneer on this instrument.
Beside a performer and a composer, Marc teaches workshops here and in Europe, and is very involved in making computers accessible to visually impaired musicians. Marc is currently working on an iBook, titled “Drum Talk - An Introduction to Percussion Ensemble”, which demonstrates the techniques he developed during...

I have extensive experience performing and teaching drums, and have a Master in Education through the Music and Performing Arts program at NYU Steinhardt. I teach both beginning and advanced drumming, including drum kit, djembe and doumbek. I also specialize in digital beat making using samplers and programs such as Logic Pro, Ableton Live and Native instruments. I teach all styles of music including rock, electronic, jazz, fusion, pop, African and Middle Eastern rhythms.

As a working musician in New York City, I play and collaborate with ensembles, shows and musicals. I have toured nationally and recorded albums with bands. I am also a music producer and sound designer for the theatre. Utilizing sampling and effects technology, I perform beats and soundscapes live.

My most valuable asset as a teacher is my ability to inspire students, enabling them to discover their potential while finding their own voice. My artistic experience and educational approach provide my students...

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...

Jerome has been playing percussion for almost 40 years.
His 20 years experience as a music teacher combined with his involvement in many different playing situations makes him an expert in the field of latin percussion.
Jerome states:"I love to bring my experience into the classroom and share my knowledge with the students. I love to see them grow in a fun and safe environment."
Growing up, Jerome obtained a gold medal at the conclusion of the Final examination of classical percussion in the French Republic City of Metz and a first interregional award of excellence in Chamber Music at the Conservatory of Music of the City of Luxembourg.
His love to latin percussion, brought him various times to Cuba where he deepened his knowledge of Afro-Cuban music.
In 1996, Jerome came to New York and became a faculty member of the Harbor Performing Arts Center recognized as one of the primier  teaching institutions in the country for Afro/Caribbean culture. Since then, he has been...

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.

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...

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...