Covington, KY Bongo Lessons

I can teach fundamental technique, patterns, and fills necessary to play popular forms of african, carribean, and central and south american styles.

Give anyone a drum and they will instantly know what to do. Drums are meant to be hit, and for those who love to hit things and make loud noises. Bongo drum lessons are an easy way to introduce students to the world of drumming, rhythm and music.

The goal is listening for cues, hearing patterns and feeling rhythm and beat. Ideally, each student has their own drum. Begin with a simple repeat and answer pattern. You hit the drum two times, they repeat. Gradually add to the complexity of the patterns, so they must listen intently. Add some simple rhythms, such as 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1, with a strong emphasis on the 1.

Bongos are a great way for young students, even young children 4 or 5 years old, to develop coordination and strong sense of rhythm. I've played drums and percussion for over 15 years, in many different bands, styles, and genres. I studied music (classical guitar) at University of Central Florida and I've picked up many other instruments since. I love teaching instruments to students young and old.

In this course, students and I will go in-depth into the background and musicology of the Bongos. We will practice and learn to play with authentic settings for the Bongos while examining contemporary playing.

I graduated high school being awarded the Sousa Award

I then was accepted into Miami University for percussion performance in an intense audition

I performed four class A solo’s at Solo and Ensemble for judges and got the highest grade possible

I was selected to play at Land of Grant which is an honor band that selects the nost outstanding students in the surrounding counties

Every year of high school I was awarded most outstanding music performer of the year

I am a very respectful person that will make sure my clients get the absolute best teaching. I will hold my clients accountable to make sure that they get the most out of my teaching by giving them specific music to help them improve. I have a tier system that I can provide to you that has specific material to practice based on where your skill level is at. I have taught people who have taken solo’s to judges and gotten perfect scores, and have got nothing but great reviews from them.

You will be very pleased as I am very

I teach lessons to any grade/age group. I have an extremely open mind to teaching and music in general, so nothing goes out the door in terms of philosophy, however, I've come to realize that some methods work better than others. That said, I tailor my attention and focus as an educator to the needs of student I'm teaching in front of me. I don't consider the student who just walked out of the lesson or the student who is coming in next. I put my all in the student who is in front of me because I believe time is an essential asset to lessons. Also, every case is so uniquely different in terms of students and I take a good amount of time to calibrate the learning style of every student.

As an educator, I strive to provide my students with the tools that they will need to explore the direction that they want to take with their instrument. This can include from enjoying drumming as a hobby, performing in small jazz ensembles, recording electronic and acoustic drums in major recording studios, to performing with a full orchestra! There is literally no limit to what you can do.

My focus is to get hobbyists to enjoy performing drums in the comfort of their own home or with friends, and to have my professionally-minded students go out into the world of performing and recording music. All of these environments are where the ultimate joy of playing an instrument can be expressed.

As a gigging and studio musicians, I understand what it takes to get to the stage or studio, apply oneself in that environment, and come away with a satisfying experience that you can then build upon for the rest of your life.

I can teach drum set but also any percussion instrument you can think of-marimba, marching percussion, concert snare drum, any mallet instrument, hand drums, and more. I have a bachelor's in music education, have a lot of experience, and perform regularly to practice what I preach. I truly love to teach and work with students of any age, am great at cultivating a different teaching style to fit each individual student, and let students have a say in what they play.

Drum kit, Marimba, Xylophone, Timpani, Snare Drum, rudimental drumming, SCBDA or state honor band audition preparation, piano lessons, drum lessons...

Jim currently teaches both middle and high school as Director of Percussion Studies, in South Carolina.

He is a percussion music arranger, composer, adjudicator and teacher throughout the USA.

Jim is known for his motivational style, teaching portable life lessons of leadership, self discipline, achieving success, self confidence, and taking personal responsibility in percussion music education.

Drum lessons focus on increasing performance proficiency, potential, and musical mastery.