Valrico, FL Drum Lessons

on and that learning to play music should be fun!

*** Specialties ***
Whatever style the student is attempting, I stress proper technique and understanding of theory.

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Recording Background:
Owner of a home based recording studio.

Titles released:

Seasoned with Latin(2014)

The Bottom Line featuring the vocals of Ms. Amella "D"(2013)

True Love- collection of pop music (2012)

Lift Off - A high energy dance song.(2012)

The Spencer Project - a Gospel collaboration with various artists.(2010)

Master Works - variety of different styles of music.(2009)

Lift Off- a high energy dance song (2010)

Iron-man Marathon Music - (1983)

*** Lesson Details ***
We will cover from the basics to the flashiness in drum playing and cover techniques in studio drumming.

If you are looking to venture into song writing,studio recording ,gear and software I have a studio complete with all the tools you will need to help carry you to the next level.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Drum room with seating for parents. 5 piece Yamaha drum set, hi- hat cymbal, ride cymbal, music stand.

Recording studio:

Digital audio work station software:
Cubase 7.5 – Wavelab 8 and Waves plug-ins

Soft synths:
Omnishere,Trilian,Native Instruments,korg legacy collection, Steinberg, Sample tank
host of loops

Controllers:

Axiom 25, Alesis Q61

Outboard gear:
Steinberg MR28M D-Pre mic preamp, Rodes NT-2a mic, Symetrix 525

Samson headphone box

Speakers:

Samson Resolv 65a and sub, Equator D5 speakers

Computer:

Pudget system custom built computer (PC)

*** Travel Equipment ***
Lap top with earphones so student can experience playing along
with music.

*** Specialties ***
R&b, Gospel, Hip Hop, Jazz

ool Districts for over five years. Shortly after receiving her master€'s degree for Literacy Education, Nicole decided to attempt to share her passion for music. In 2007, Nicole opened a music studio in Holbrook, New York. Here, she refined her music teaching skills while establishing Nicolex Inc. Music Island as a leading source of quality music education. Her summer traveling music program allowed her students to experience live performances as well as create music groups with peers with the same passion for music.
Nicole now resides in Tampa, Florida with hopes to spread her business as well as the joy of music to children and adults. She currently is the singer for a local original rock band. In this band, Nicole writes songs, sings, plays guitar/piano (not all at the same time). Needless to say, she understands the importance that music has had in her life and wishes to ignite that passion in other music lovers.

*** Lesson Details ***
My teaching style is best labeled as kind but firm. I take my job very seriously and want wholeheartedly for my students to have music as a part of their life, not just a part of their day. I love to laugh and have fun but I will definitely expect my students to practice and complete any homework I assign and be prepared for the following lesson. Simply stated, music is fun and the love of my life, but if I still practice, you will as well. Otherwise, I always believe in teaching songs my students are interested in and will expand their musical skills. My experience as a public school teacher had enhanced my sense of finding individual needs of every student. Therefore, I always differentiate lessons to suit my students interest while teaching them the foundations every musician needs in order to be successful. My specialty is teaching a variety of instruments. I play drums, guitar, bass, piano, and sing as well. So, if one instrument is not for you, I can teach you something different without a problem. Long story short, friends, you are in good hands.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Full Service music room: Keyboard, Full drum kit, Electric Guitar with 30 watts Amp and Microphone/ vocal monitor.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can bring a 76 key Yahama YPG-235 Keyboard for your household to use for lessons for a small monthly rental fee. I have an Epiphone Electric Guitar with 30w amplifier. Will also bring microphone and monitor for vocal lessons.

*** Specialties ***
I have taught mostly Rock, Blues, and Classical genres for Piano, Guitar, Drums. Vocally, I specialize in R&B, Broadway, Pop, Top 100 and alternative/Hard Rock. I will adapt to your needs.

g other pro drummers or percussionists looking to learn more about the other side.

He has been trained in many different teaching methods and has since developed his own teaching method to enhance the students fundamental playing techniques, ear training, dexterity, basic music theory reading and transcription skills. His goals as a teacher is to help you achieve your goals as an artist musician and to take the principles learned through the study of the discipline of music into your life to help shape you into being a better person.

Genres that Michael is experienced in range from Pop, Jazz, Rock, Funk, Electro, Soul, R & B, and New Orleans 2nd Line on drum set, West African Folkloric/dance such as Soli, Kuku, Dunungbe, Mendiani, Kakilambe, Marakadon on djembe, as well as Afro-Pop such as Nigerian Afro-Beat, Mangambe, Doudoumba, Mbalax and Bikutsi on drum set and hand percussion; Brazilian Samba & MPB such as Bossa Nova, Baiaó, Afoxé, Partido Alto, Coco, Xaxado, and Maracatú on Brazilian percussion & on drum set, Egyptian Classical and Folkloric bellydance rhythms such as Maqsoum, Saidi, Masmoudi, Baladi, Sombati, Fallahi, Chiftiteli, Ayoub, Samai and Malfuf; North African Gnawa, Rai & Chaabi on North African percussion & drum set; Bomba, Plena, General Cuban /New YoRican"Salsa" such as Son, Som Montuno, Mambo, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba Guaguancó, Songo, Timba and Mozambique, but also Cuban 6/8 such as Guiro & Bembé, Rumba Yambú, Rumba Columbia, Abakuá Lokua Fun and Dominican Merengue on latin percussion and on drum set where appropriate.

Michael is an expert transcriber for drum set, marching percussion and hand percussion, creates his own exercises and creates breakdowns of rhythms and rudiments to better enhance the student's learning. He can also create practice audio tracks for the student to use in their individual practice time.

Michael spent 1 year at HCC studying music but realized that he was getting much better instruction through (6 years of instruction) from great teachers such as Mark Thurston, Paula Williams, Benja Russel, Tim Church, Eddie Capps, Diaz Clark, Joe Southard, Eugene Fambrough, Tom Mazzeo, Paul Gansmer, Jack Starling, Mark Smith, Rob Minier, Rick Adams, Mike Neidhart, Dino Riccio, Jody Dunwoody, Steve McNeely and William Meyers within the drum corps idiom performing with Suncoast Sound and The Spirit of Atlanta. With the skills he learned and worked diligently on, he was graced with the opportunity to perform as a percussionist at Tokyo Disney Land in 1998 and 1999 and then again at Tokyo Disney Sea from 2005 to 2010.

Most of his percussion study was done with artists/musicians who are deeply rooted in specific types of music and the culture it came from during their childhood or teen years and not from a college professor who learned it from their professor out of a book but have yet to actually perform these styles outside of their class room.
During his time in Tokyo, he took every opportunity to go see concerts at The Blue Note, Tokyo Forum, Bunka Kaikan, The Billboard Club, The Cotton Club, touring Cirque du Soliel
shows and many other venues with top quality world renowned artists. On his free time from performing at Disney, Michael was fortunate to study with great percussionists such as Christopher "Kit" Chatham (of Blast & Shockwave) and Christopher Hardy both of Cirque de Soliel and also Abdou Bayefall and Abdoulaye Sarr Ndiaye of Senegal, Africa. Later back in the US, he studied and worked with Abdel Tahour of Morocco, took a workshop with Orlando Cotto of Puerto Rico and is currently learning from Jessica D Albino folkloric dancer/drummer of Puerto Rico.

He has traveled to Cairo, Egypt to study middle eastern music, to Colombia to teach marching percussion and learn their folk music and also to Bali, Bangkok, Costa Rica, Panama, much of the Caribbean, South Korea and Madrid to photograph in the streets and absorb the rhythm, art and cultures of those places.

***Equipment***
Masterwork Cymbals 24", 22" rides (2), 20" rides (5), 16" crashes (2), 14" hi-hats
Ludwig late 60s green & olive badge 22"x14" bass, 12"x8", 13" x 9", 14"x10" tom and 16"x16" floor tom
Ludwig mid 70s Acrolite 14"x5" snare drum
Ludwig 2015 Rocker steel snare 14"x5"
Ludwig USA free-floating Marching Snare drum 14"x12"
Sonor Force 3007 Jungle kit 16"x16" bass, 10"x8" tom, 14"x10" floor tom
Canopus Maple snare drum 14"x5.5"
Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute 14"x5" snare drum
Gawharet El Fan doumbek (mylar head)
Gawharet El Fan riq (mylar head)
Meinl Percussion Turkish style darbuka  5 7/8" & a 7 1/4"
Meinl Percussion Doumbek (2)
Meinl Percussion Mizhar (2) 18"x4" with a thin calfskin & a mylar true feel head
Meinl Percussion 20"x2.5" Tar
Meinl Percussion Daf 20" with synthetic head
LP Matador congas 11" quinto  and 11 3/4" conga
Persian Dayereh 15"x2.5" with a goat skin head
Senegalese djembe and tama (talking drum)
2 Pandeiros 10" one carnival style with lugs and a mylar head, one handmade in Rio old Capoeira style
RMV tambourim 6" 
Hand percussion: assorted shekere, caxixi, guiro, bells, blocks, karkabou, tingsha, sea shells, seed pods, kashaka, Meinl stage (metal) and studio (plastic) shakers etc..