Bongo Lessons in Hyattsville. Amazing Teachers.

My experience as a performer and teacher spans over 25 years of just about every musical style. I believe in creating an environment that is focused on playing music well and where the student can have fun while gaining confidence. It is important to develop functional musicians with good technique, time, and listening skills. We will cover all styles of music that use congas/bongos from Latin music to Afro-Cuban as well as rock/pop, including jazz, and others styles as desired.

I am a well-rounded drum teacher, meaning I have learned and studied genres ranging from blues, jazz, rock and indie rock. I will give you tons of music to listen to and interpret and teach you how to learn tunes by ear. You will understand the forms of jazz tunes such as aaba Aba and abc. You will learn how to play the tunes you listen to and take the concepts of drum beats and drum rudiments used within them o make them your own and use them in your original playing. I also teach how to read standard drum notation, and can teach you how time signatures work and the values of notes if you don’t already know.

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 am thrilled to hear that you or your kid is ready to start taking drum lessons! I have been teaching drum set and percussion for eleven years, and last year finished my master's in percussion performance at CU, after a music education degree in Michigan.

I start students off with "repeat after me" style exercises to develop technique, coordination, and musical tone on the instruments. Then, we can dig into playing the music (s)he loves! I'm always curious to hear if there is a certain band or drummer my student admires?

I follow a mindfulness based approach to teaching which includes breathing techniques, body connections and fluidity with all aspects of drumming. Finding how each student learns most effectively, i.e. auditory, visual, kinesthetic, hybrid I develop a range of practice techniques to being each student to their maximum potential. Rooted in classical and world music I have the tools to teach any style of music on drum kit or hand drums. In addition, I have over 15 years of experience working at the United Nations International School in New York City.