Drums with James D.

Hi! I’m James, a drummer, composer and teacher based in Boston, MA. I gave my first drum lesson when I was 13 years old, and recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Drum Set Performance. I began playing the drums when I was 10 years old, and was fortunate enough to find an incredible drum teacher a year later. He was kind, encouraging, and incredibly positive. This was quintessential in fostering my love for music and the drums, and I seek do the same for my students. I love teaching the drums, but the most valuable skill I can teach is how to practice them. Teaching a student to practice in a way that guarantees results empowers them to learn anything they choose, musical or otherwise. Regularly pushing past musical boundaries sends positive ripples into the rest of life. This sounds like a hefty promise, but its true: transcending your limits on a weekly basis will increase your self-efficacy. I’m currently involved in 3 projects, ranging from jazz to prog-rock and metal. These projects are very specific, but I am comfortable teaching a wide range of styles. I typically start new students with rock and pop music, while also teaching exercises to build fundamental technique. I prefer to travel to students for lessons, but am happy to do lessons via webcam or at my practice space in Brighton. I’ve found that students prefer to show me what they’ve been practicing on their own drums. In addition, this lets me teach them to set up and maintain their own instrument. I look forward to hearing from you, and working with you or your kid! Please feel free to message me with any questions or inquiries. Thanks for reading.