Drums with Ken E.

I grew up in Los Angeles studying with that town’s finest instructors. My first teacher Kay Carlson taught me how to play a variety of styles through being able to read various types of written drum music. As I was growing up my sister learned guitar, and became fairly good. She soon had a boyfriend on bass, & I was in the band!! We played all the “big Hair band” hits of the eighties, every David Bowie, Rolling Stones, & Cat Stevens song ever written. I needed this repertoire off the top of my head! When I got to college, I was able to put my years of studying jazz to use. Those years of reading big band charts gave me valuable insights into how to capture the instinct needed to perform on drums. I then studied with Buddy Rich’s good friend Richard Wilson. Known internationally as the Moeller Technique guru, I was able to study under him for a number of years. His instruction gave me the knowledge to increase my speed and power. This combined with the styles learned from Kay allows me to instruct from the full range of instructional techniques. Over the years I've performed with a number of rock & roll, original, jazz, top forty, orchestras, & even a country western band! One original rock band was the top drawing band at most of the venues we performed throughout L.A. We recorded an EP & were ready to promote it when a tiff between the singer & sax player broke up the band. I've since been teaching & performing. Composing curriculum to instruct students in a number of styles, requires knowledge of; books available for that style, common performances of said style, and how & where the “feel” comes from. Having also worked and studied child development, enables me to accurately pinpoint a student’s development; musically. *** Lesson Details ** Lessons are formatted as a model of "correct" practice sessions: Warm ups are how lessons are always began. We then trade weeks between snare days & drum set days. On snare days, we'll cover rudiments, technical snare readings (marching!?!). Moeller technique of holding the sticks is taught for speed, control, & power. Exercises will be assigned to boost the students skills & confidence. Rudimental instructions will be taught through individual technicalities of each rudiment. Applying students to appropriate rudimental compositions that will challenge their abilities will be assigned. Instruction on the drum set will range from studying various styles of music, independence between limbs, different fills & set-up for punches, as well as rudimental exercises for the set. *** Studio Equipment *** Office/Music Room: drum set, desk, couch, parents can sit in on lesson. Recording of students performing with pre-programmed music available. *** Travel Equipment *** Expect student to have, at least a practice pad, a metronome, & sticks. If I travel, I can have metronome sticks pad, paper, pens, necessary books, & a band in a box. *** Specialties *** Moeller drumming technique. Performance experience for students through performing with my band in box!