Singing with Tim Z.

My name is Tim, and I am both a drum instructor and vocal instructor. I have been teaching drums for over 10 years with the School of Rock, as well as privately. I was a drummer and a vocalist in the Army Band, and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for starting the 307th Rock Band, as well as leading the vocal section. I have been a rock musician fronting my own band since 2006, and have toured all over the East Coast, South, and Midwest. I am detail oriented, and I like to find an answer to every question and tell you "why" everything works the way it does, not just "that" it works. I have taught hundreds of adults, youth and children, and believe every one should get a chance to become a good musician, whether you're born with it or not. Watch my videos, listen to my songs, and see for yourself why I can help you! SINGER: I want to teach you how to sing. Moreover, I want to teach you how to sing correctly. Even more, I want to teach you how to find your voice, in the style that you like, while maximizing your vocal mechanism. Mostly, I want to help your voice sound spectacular. Having had intense instructions from three different but incredibly knowledgeable opera, classical, and theatre voice coaches, I found a four octave range, and the ability to sing the music I always wanted to with ease...Queen, Zeppelin, Jeff Buckley, Yes, and even Opera in languages like French and Italian. What I didn't understand when I first started singing, was that there are fundamental strategies and techniques that go across every style of music. I have taught at the School of Rock (the real one) for 10 years, I have taught nearly every style of singing. Rock, Blues, Reggae, Metal, Country, Folk, Prog and even classical and jazz. The common thread is this: there are fundamental things that all styles of music share, that are common across singing in general. Once we master those fundamentals, we can begin finding what your voice is good at, and making it better, and what you want it to be good at, and beginning to explore how. As a singer, falsetto and high rock belting are my specialties a la Freddie Mercury. I am by trade a rock singer, however I am well versed in Classical, Theatre and Jazz. Where I really shine is helping aspiring rock singers turn their sound from something good to something spectacular. Breathing, diaphragm usage, vowel shapes and diction, diphthongs, posture, projection, falsetto, increasing range, removing nasal and resonance are just a few of the things we will cover. DRUMMER: I began playing drums at 12 years old. I was mesmerized by luminaries like Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers, Stewart Copeland and John Bonham. I hit the kit and started practicing. Along the way, I learned rudiments as a snare drummer in a drumline, concert snare, jazz, latin and funk in the Army Band, heavy metal in my old band I toured with in High School, and rock and roll teaching at the School of Rock. I have taught everything from Frank Zappa to Zeppelin to Steely Dan to Iron Maiden. Got a drummer you idolize? I'll teach you how to play like that person, while incorporating it into your own style. Want to get faster? I'll show you how to maximize your grip so you can play fast, longer and cleaner. Want to write your own parts, grooves, beats and fills? I'm all over that. I want to show you the secrets so that you can play whatever you want, whenever you want. Drummers, let's play! If you're a drummer or a singer, I want to help you. I will show you how to play/sing efficiently, so that nothing is out of reach for you. That's my promise to you...to do everything I can to make sure that you leave every lesson better than you were before :) *** Lesson Details *** Vocals: Start with warm ups, stretching and breathing exercises. Relaxing, easy warm ups to get the vocal mechanism moving. Move into fast scales, falsetto and octave exercises. Work on a song, either of your choosing or one that we pick that will help you achieve what you want (there's always at least one!). If there's a part or song you want to work on I am happy to work on that with you too! Drums: Rudiments, slow speed into chop out, technique exercise like accent to tap or flam exercises, move into styles, learning grooves, fills, etc. Utilize songs to illustrate techniques. Also will be happy to work on songs or parts that you are interested in. *** Specialties *** Vocals: Falsetto High Tenor Rock Falsetto and Classical high falsetto Baritone Classical Singing Can sing in French or Italian Stage Presence Theatrical Singing Diaphragm usage and proper breathing, physiology of voice Songwriting and lyric writing Drums: Rudiments Technique Speed Jazz, latin, reggae, funk Odd meters Ghost notes and snare work Style of Steve Gadd, John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, Bernard Purdie, Dennis Chambers, Bill Bruford.