Scuba Diving with Andrew K.

My goal is to offer the tools, training, and inspiration to my students so that they may exercise their own creativity while becoming technically proficient and capable drumset players. Of course, I like to make sure to have a good time too! I'm willing to travel beyond the 10 mile specified "limit" that TakeLessons has set. If I'm traveling to you, I ask that students have a drumset and a place to play it where we won't disturb anybody or be disturbed during our session. I have over 20 years of playing experience and over 10 years of teaching experience with students of all ages and proficiencies. I owe my teaching technique and general lesson plan to my first great teacher and mentor Don Perlman, founder of Westchester Percussion Studio with whom I studied regularly for 7 years. Other notable teachers include Andre Sumelius, Juan Luis Castano Alvarez, and Timothy Hooker. Typically, sessions are 1 hour though other lengths of time are available. I like to start with my students with a focus on studying the Moeller technique. I fully believe in rudiments ("the basics") and gaining a strong proficiency for them before advancing. Each session is tailored to the individual strengths, weaknesses, needs, and interests of my students, and I enjoy working with people from all backgrounds of playing. In addition to teaching hand and foot technique, I also place emphasis on independence, style, feel, creativity, and improvisation. When appropriate, instruction on tone and tuning are incorporated into my teaching. I do work out of some books with my students too, but my goal is to help develop a more organic artist who relies on ideas and creativity instead of stock rhythms from a catalogue of patterns (which are important to be familiar with of course, but not always our main focus). I'm open to instructional requests as well, and as a capable and enthusiastic multi-percussionist, I'™m glad to offer instruction on other rhythmic percussion instruments. Online lessons are not yet possible, but I'm working on setting it up and will update my profile when I'm available to teach via Skype. Please contact me or TakeLessons for further details or with any questions you might have. I look forward to working with you!