Drums with Dan B.

I discovered my passion for the drums at age 11 and fully immersed myself in the instrument. For years throughout middle school and high school, I spent all my spare time listening to my favorite bands and drummers, imitating what I heard, teaching myself as best I could. At age 16, after playing professionally in a band and winning several contests throughout New England and Canada, I decided to study the instrument formally before attending college. In 2001, I joined the ranks at Berklee College of Music in Boston and studied polyrhythms, classical composition, musicology, jazz theory, among many other topics. Since graduating with a 4.0 in 2005, I have traveled internationally with original bands, cover bands and cruise ships while teaching privately as much as possible. I currently have hundreds of live performance dates and studio sessions under my belt and I combine experience with education to teach my students what it means to be a professional musician in today's world. *** Lesson Details *** Upon meeting a new student, my first step is to assess what their abilities, experience and interests are. I may recognize they need extra focus on hand technique, posture or dynamic control, to name a few. I always inquire if there is something specific the student wants to get out of the lessons, whether it be focusing on a particular style, band or drummer. If they are open to anything, I begin by giving them a broad overview of styles, history of the instrument, different kinds of drums, etc. From there, we hone in on technique, reading and transcription. In addition to the technical aspect of music, which can be intimidating to the beginner (which I remember quite well!), we do extensive listening, partly for enjoyment, partly for analysis. My goal is for all these topics to help the student develop a deep understanding of music, the drumset and its role in many different styles, preparing them for a successful career as a professional musician. *** Studio Equipment *** I teach primarily from my studio located at 3311 Meade St Las Vegas NV 89102. It is equipped with two complete drumsets, as well as other various drum gear. Students need to bring their own sticks, drum books and a notepad. *** Specialties *** My approach has been based around individualized lesson planning, while providing the student with a well rounded body of knowledge necessary in becoming a professional musician. I teach everything from hand technique to rudiments to styles to chart reading. My styles of expertise are rock/pop/funk/jazz.