Fairview, OR Drum Lessons

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can travel with a sax, flute, guitar, electric bass, and a didgeridoo....

*** Specialties ***
I'm a jazz musician! But I listen to and perform all styles of music. I have written string quartets, been the front man for a funk band, and recorded every style of music under the sun. I can teach Bach and the Beatles and explain how/ and why they intersect and are similar musically.

was principal percussionist and drumline captain throughout my high school career participating in the concert, symphonic, jazz, and marching bands. I was selected for All-State Jazz Band during my senior year and went on to study music education at the University of Georgia while being selected for a slot in the Redcoat Marching Band and the University Steel Drum Band during my freshman year. I completed my music business degree from Georgia State University, while studying under world class teachers like Jack Bell, principal percussionist for Atlanta Symphony for over 30 years.
Throughout my career, I continue to be influenced, inspired, and taught through private lessons, master classes, videos, books, and recordings from David Garibaldi, Simon Phillips, Rod Morgenstein, Neil Peart, Gregg Bissonette, Jerry Fields, Jim White, John Lawless, Billy Degnats, Eric Darken, Gary Chaffee, Kim Plainfield, Chuck Silverman, Steve Houghton, Jeff Hamilton, Jeff Porcaro, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Tito Puente, Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Vinx, and Zorro.
As your drum teacher, I can help students excel in school music programs to pursue scholarships, transform the garage band into a gig-ready act, bring laughter and joy for special needs, encourage senior citizens trying something new with music in their golden years - all of these scenarios and more with the ultimate goal to coach you to becoming the creative musician you dream of becoming based on the musical artists that inspire you. Let's get started today.

*** Lesson Details ***
I'll have you playing and understanding rhythmic concepts right away. I love to start lessons off by learning from my students who their favorite drummer is or what music track inspires them. Then we turn "I wanna do that!" into "I can do that!"
I customize each lesson to each particular student's goals, although I have many solid foundation concepts and exercises that I employ at the appropriate times. I keep the lessons extremely positive and encouraging, but I will drive and challenge my students to help them find joy in pushing themselves through a difficult new concept or overcoming a physical hurdle.
I try to broaden my students' appreciation for multiple genres of music with a lot of historical or anecdotal stories which fit within the context of whatever contemporary methods we are actually studying. As much as possible, I incorporate technology into our lesson time with click track (metronome), play-along music, and other developmental tools.
Listening is a critical skill that I constantly emphasize, and yes, I do assign "homework" between lessons, but I make the assignments fun and they usually help to quickly unleash the creative spirit of each student!
My greatest joy is when a student has a band performance I can watch or a positive audition experience I can celebrate with them after having helped them prepare for the event.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Drum kit, multiple hand percussion instruments, PA system, practice pad kit, dry erase boards, and multi-media.

*** Travel Equipment ***
The students should have a new three-ring binder or a spiral notebook to track weekly lessons and assignments. Ideally, students should have sticks/mallets, a snare drum, drum set, hand percussion (bongos, conga, djembe, cajon), or perhaps a school-supplied instrument. If none of those items are owned or available, that's not a problem. I can provide practice pad(s) and or small drum and percussion supplies to help us get started until students/parents can invest in their own gear later on based on their specific interests.

*** Specialties ***
Drum Set - Musicality & playing drum beats from day 1. Also, reading music & rhythmic training.

Percussion - School band and concert percussion (such as bells, xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone). Prep for auditions. Drum maintenance, tuning, and various hand percussion (conga, bongos, cajon, djembe, tambourine, etc.).

tinuous improvement, education, and training.

During the same 26 years of my business career, I have been a professional musician - session musician and teacher. I was formally trained at the American Conservatory of Music and the Chicago Musical College, both located in Chicago. I won the Presidential Scholarship in Classical Guitar Performance at the American Conservatory of Music and another full-ride scholarship in Classical Guitar Performance to attend the Chicago Musical College.

My primary Classical Guitar Instructor at both institutions was Paul Henry. I also studied Rock Guitar with Dave Uhrich while attending both institutions and privately studied Jazz Guitar with Scott Reed. I studied voice with Audrey Evans at the American Conservatory of Music and Robert Long at the Chicago Musical College.

I have participated in Classical Guitar Master Classes with:
• Hubert Kappel
• Dale Kavanagh
• Eleftheria Kotzia
• Bruce Holzman
• Stephen Aron
• Raphaella Smits
• Richard Provost
• Nicholas Goluses
• William Buonocore.

*** Lesson Details ***

I design lessons individually according to the needs and "wants" of each student. I specialize in developing and correcting technique in technique to improve the student's overall skill. Students that dedicate the time and effort each week to practicing see rapid and sustained results.

However, if you have a busy life and merely want to learn guitar for personal enjoyment, I will design your lessons to develop your skill at a pace that works for you, which can fluctuate according to your schedule.

***Young & Special Needs Students***

I teach children as young as 13 years old and adults to the age of 70 years old. When teaching younger children and individuals with special needs, it is significantly beneficial for parents to attend each lesson - I have parent seating available. When parent(s) attend lessons, the parent can assist the younger student while practicing during the week at home.

In my experience, the overall musical development and progress of younger students improve considerably when parents are involved.

***Thoughts on Musical Talent***

Musical talent is a wonderful gift, but correct technique is not easily acquired without proper instruction. Your skill level eventually plateaus and your ability to learn and perform more complicated music is inhibited, unless you have a solid foundation in music theory as it applies to your instrument(s) as well as proper technique.

I can help you build this solid foundation and will guide you through the development of musical skills; correcting flaws in technique is my specialty.

*** Studio Equipment ***

GUITARS & BASSES: Gibson, Charvel, Fender, Peavey, Cordoba, Guild, Takamine, Yamaha

GUITAR & BASS AMPS: Blackstar, Egnater, Fender, Line 6, Peavey, Roland, and Behringer

MICS: Mojave Audio, AKG, Audio Technica, CAD Audio, Rode, Sennheiser, Shure, Studio Projects, and Yamaha

KEYBOARDS & SYNTHESIZERS: Korg, Roland, Yamaha, Casio

DRUMS: Pearl, Roland Digital

OUTBOARD GEAR: Universal Audio, JDK Audio, Alesis, Art, Audio Logic, Behringer, and Studio Projects

SOFTWARE: Cakewalk Sonar Platinum, Universal Audio UAD-2 Quad Flexi DSP, Soundtoys Bundle, Celemony Melodyne, Slate Digital FG-X, Steven Slate Drums Platinum, Antares Auto-Tune, Aspire, Antares Articulator, Choir, Harmony Engine, Throat, WAVES Waverider, OneKnob Series Bundle, CLA Artist & Kramer Signature, XLN Audio Addictive Drums, BBE Sonic Maximizer, Line 6 POD Farm 2.5 w/multiple packs

TakeLessons Articles I've Written:

Tips for Parents: Help Your Child Succeed in their Music Lessons
http://takelessons.com/blog/parents-help-children-succeed

Improving Guitar Technique
http://takelessons.com/blog/guitar-exercises-for-technique

Why Piano Theory is Important for ALL Musicians
http://takelessons.com/blog/piano-theory-for-all-musicians

Guitar Basics: Technique
http://takelessons.com/blog/guitar-technique

How to Play the Song "Breathe" by Ana Nalick on Guitar
http://takelessons.com/blog/cool-songs-to-learn-on-guitar-breathe

up the guitar, instead of memorizing a bunch of stuff that "all musicians need to know".
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If you've already gotten this far, you probably have a pretty strong interest in playing - and thats all you need to be a great musician.

he highest level (and of course, have a blast doing it!) I have a passion for teaching, and would love to have you as my student!

bar, Principal Percussionist of the Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra, and also have a Music Performance degree from The Musician's Institute.

I have decades of experience, I am organized, enthusiastic and well-rounded, and I've been teaching since 2012. My comprehensive lesson plan leads students to an understanding of hand and foot techniques, rudiments, patterns, coordination, 4-limb interdependence, grooving, filling, song structure, odd meters, theory and ear-training all while having fun and applying it how you hear it. My curriculum derives largely from the curricula of the best instructors in the country, and your lessons will be tailored to meet your personal needs.