Piano with Jesse H.

I'm a professional percussionist, pianist, and recording artist born and raised in Woodbridge, VA. I have 15 years of professional music experience, ranging from touring/session work to marching band composition. My life as a musician imbued a unique outlook and philosophy on musicianship and how we learn to play. I pride myself on my personalized approach to each individual student, allowing them to create in a fun, relaxed learning environment. I have students of all ages, beginner to expert. I work very well with young students, as well as students with special needs. As a teacher and a musician, I firmly believe that music is meant to be a fun and creative exercise. We must invent, reshape, and redefine the standards. I teach students to understand the fundamentals behind their instrument, recognize patterns, and manipulate these building blocks to create something new. Everyone has different goals and expectations, and my lessons are framed to set any individual along the path to mastery. As a drum teacher, I teach fundamental concepts like basic hand techniques, counting, introductory rudiments, and more. For more experienced players, I can teach concepts ranging from Latin groove to songwriting as a percussionist to advanced improvisational techniques. I hold the belief that a drummer must be a musician first, so music appreciation is a primary point of learning for all my students. Whether you're just picking up the sticks or you've been playing for years, I'll always be able to unearth new creative potential. For my piano students, I again work well with students of all levels of experience. Beginners and intermediate students can expect to build a foundation of solid hand fundamentals, music reading & writing, musical comprehension, and a basic understanding of music theory. More experienced players will explore advanced musical concepts, such as composition, advanced chord structure, modal theory, and more. As with my drum students, piano students should expect a relaxed learning environment. I currently handle a roster of 50+ students and multiple bands. When I'm not teaching, I'm playing with local Virginia outfits Roraima, Model Trains, & Walkabout. I've toured for Be Still Cody, Funeral Advantage, and Cocoba. I specialize in funk, R&B, experimental, and punk rock.