Drum Lessons in Ridgewood. Amazing Teachers.

I have been playing drum kit and percussion for over fifteen years and teaching for about 12. I've played a little bit of everything - pop, rock, punk, hip-hop, ska/reggae, blues, jazz, and even musical theater. I'm happy to share my skills and expertise with drummers of all ages and skill levels (lessons at my studio will be on electronic kit).

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.

Students will start by learning the fundamentals of drumming, laying the groundwork for rapid improvement through enjoyable practice methods. Lessons will gradually increase in complexity, with students being encouraged to bring their own creative ideas and influences into the class to guide the curriculum in a direction that can be both fun and productive.

I've been teaching Drums since 2004 and recently started back January 2013. Within the first few lessons, you'll be able to play all rudiments and as time goes on you'll be able to play in bands and in JH and HS bands. I typically use the Haskell Harr, and now include Alfred's Drum Method book for Snare; Tommy Igo for drum-set. His posters from Vic Firth are great resources. I love working with students of all ages and experience levels; I can't wait to meet you!

Snare drum and drum kit.

I am a multi-instrumentalist with 8 years of collegiate education under my belt and coursework in music theory, jazz, composition, and audio engineering.

I perform professionally with groups on a weekly basis and play in a variety of styles.

Percussion was not my first instrument, so I had to work much harder to catch up to my peers. All of my formal education is strictly on auxiliary percussion, so I treat drum kit as an orchestra of percussion instruments, rather than a standard instrument. I am all about fostering growth through creativity and self-evaluation, and I seek to help students grow as musicians from a comprehensive perspective.

I walk students through more than just functional drumming; I enrich their knowledge and facility with studies in music theory, ear training, and composition to avoid training "drummers", but rather: musicians.