Hacienda Heights, CA Percussion Lessons

und you and your goals......not mine!

*** Lesson Details ***
Ultimately, my goal is to make sure you enjoy yourself and want to keep coming back. In that process I will make sure you get results.

I am laid back and very patient. Two qualities I feel are necessary to be successful in this field.

I design my curriculum for each individual. This is because everyone has their own goals, there own level of ability, and their own needs as far as how to get there.

Locations:
1) Rehearsal Studio is my rehearsal studio. I have a full drumset, PA, guitars, and amps available at this location.
2) Apartment is my apartment in Hawthorne. Students are welcome to come here but we have limited options for instrumentation here. Practice Pads, hand drums, and acoustic guitars are the only options at this location.

*** Studio Equipment ***
5 piece Yamaha Drumset with Zildjian Cymbals. PA system. Amps, Guitars, and Keyboards.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I have acoustic guitars, a practice pad, and a djembe. I expect my students to have their own drumsticks and, ideally, their own guitar and practice pad or drumset.

*** Specialties ***
I specialize in rock/contemporary & marching band style percussion/drums. I also specialize in folk style guitar and bass.

y to play percussion in the school symphony while at the same time developed an intense interest in the instrument that would become my true love, the guitar.

During 1996-98 I studied jazz guitar at the New World School of the Arts music program under the direction of J.B. Dyas and Dr. Roby George. Upon graduation, I was immediately accepted to the University of Miami jazz guitar program under the direction of Randall Dollahan. It was during this time that I also refined my skills as a classical guitarist and as a composer/arranger. In addition, I began passing my knowledge onto friends and eventually began working as a teacher.

My ability to play almost any genre of music is the fruit of past experience playing with an impressive variety of music groups, including jazz combos, symphony orchestras, Andean world music ensembles, and several rock and pop groups as well. As a studio guitarist I have recorded for various artists including Jaci Velasquez, Carlos Ponce, Alexandre Pires, and Noelia.

*** Lesson Details ***
Now also available to teach online video chat lessons through Skype.

Every one of you is unique and there are many possible paths to reach your goals in music.

With my background and music industry experience, I am able to customize my lessons for you so that you can reach your desired goals. We will take some time to find out where your passion lies in music and I will use my experience and knowledge to create a customized lesson-plan that will allow us to focus on reaching your desired goals and at the same time maintain a well rounded music education.

I find this to be key in making the lessons and your practice sessions very enjoyable, fun and laid back - knowing that everything we practice, play and talk about is in line with your goals as a student.

I will also be playing along with you and demonstrating everything that we're working on - music is meant to be shared and played with others and it is important to have that experience of interaction from early on in your lessons.

So whether it's learning to accompany yourself or others, write songs, read music, understand harmony, solo, or just jam out to your favorite songs, you will be well on your way to reaching your goals within 6 months of my lessons.

Look forward to making music with you!

Want to learn a quick exercise for mastering the fretboard on your guitar? Check out my article on the TakeLessons blog here: http://takelessons.com/blog/guitar-fretboard-chart

*** Studio Equipment ***
Living room w/ grand piano and seating for parents.
Room/studio with professional recording equipment - Logic Pro X recording software, Mackie HR824 Studio Monitors, Miktech C4 Tube Microphone, UA6176 Preamp/compressor, Apogee Duet D/A converter.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I provide my instrument and teaching materials.
Students provide their instrument, music folders.

*** Specialties ***
All styles - pop, rock, classical, jazz, blues, folk, ethnic, latin, soul

ialties ***
I specialize in jazz improvisation on piano and guitar.
I also teach recreational guitar and piano for adults, including classical and blues styles.
I coach bass players and drummers in playing stylistically correct grooves for jazz, rock and latin music.

Derron Johnson, Doug Lunn, Ron Stout, Rob Whitlock, John Pisano, Fred Katz, Gloria Gaynor, Jeff Kashiwa, Vinnie Falcone, Massamba Diop, Casio Duarte, and Dylan Wilson, among many others. Kris has been hired for many different types of gigs including a variety show where he had the pleasure of performing with the host, actor/comedian Jason Alexander. He currently plays regularly with  John Heussenstamm from The Surf Punks, which is a burning trio that includes Baba Elephante.
      Kris has a mastery and expertise on his instrument that stems from his vast amount of experience. It enables him to enlighten students with instruction that can encompass many styles of music. Because he has great depth and wisdom, a student having difficulty with any aspect of their playing can consult with him, and Kris will instantly produce a methodic strategy to get the student on their way to solving the issues, allowing them to continue to evolve. Kris was on the faculty at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood from 2001 to 2013. There he taught the double bass drumming class, the odd meters class, afro-cuban drumming class, caribbean drumming class, jazz drums class, rhythm section workshops, live playing workshops, applying technique to the drum set class, music reading 1,2,& 3, fill fest (drum fills class), funk, r&b, and hip-hop classes, as well as open counseling, and private instruction.
Kris has studied privately with: Luis Conte, Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton , Joey Heredia, Jimmy Branly, Gerry Brown, Wally Snow, Roy Burns, Peter Donald, Joel Leach , Karen Ervin, John Magnussen, Brian Kilgore, Rob Carson, Les De Merle.

*** Lesson Details ***
The lessons are tailored to the goals of the student. Fundamentals are taught within the context of the styles of music that the student prefers. As the students skills and knowledge increase, his exposure to a wider palette of musical styles will increase. Styles taught include: Rock, jazz, funk, r&b, pop, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean, classical-symphonic.

*** Specialties ***
music, drums, percussion, music theory, voice, song-writing
Rock, Jazz, Pop, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, Classical-Symphonic
Vibraphone, marimba, mallet keyboards, symphonic percussion, Latin percussion-hand percussion, music theory, jazz improvisation, rhythm section workshops, vocal technique, song writing-production.
"I adapt my methods to the student, but I particularly enjoy teaching the Murry Spivak/Wally Snow method, which is a highly specialized method of classical snare drum training which can then be applied to many other styles, including drum set. I can also teach a drum corp. approach".

ts to culminate our academic year with a massive outdoor concert in CalArts' Wild Beast Concert Hall!

Please visit davysumner.com to check out more of my original work and collaborations with other artists!

a direction that will feedback into more learning and a drive to explore more styles of music.

as in the LA area. Working as a freelance musician in Los Angeles, Jonathan has experience with both classical music and commercial music, playing in orchestras, musical pits, jazz ensembles, and pop groups. As an expert in his field, Jonathan looks forward to helping new students achieve their goals in a friendly and helpful environment.

For more information about Jonathan, visit the website below!

https://jonathanschlitt.com/