Thanks so much for your interest in starting music lessons with me. I’m so excited to share my passion for music with you!

Lesson details:
My main goal as a teacher is to help my students reach their goals. Whether that is playing in a rock band or auditioning for a college music scholarship, your goal is my #1 priority.

For students that are primarily interested in drum set, I will start off with the fundamentals on snare drum. This will help you develop your vocabulary on the drum set and improve your hand technique.

For those who are in school band I will work on the fundamentals of keyboard percussion (scales, reading treble & bass clef etc). This also will help you understand how to play timpani. In short, you will come out of your lessons being a complete musician, not just a drummer.

I also teach music theory/ear training, so piano will be integrated into lessons for students who are in school bands. Even for those who aren't in school band, I will still introduce the basics of reading clefs/rhythms and counting rhythms/time signatures.

For students who study piano with me, you will learn how to play scales/arpeggios, chords, as well as reading in both treble & bass clef.


What students should have:
All students should (but don't have to) have a 3-ring binder to organize handouts in as well as a willingness to learn + positive attitude.

Items that percussion students should have:
*drum sticks: Vic Firth SD1 Generals
*drum pad: there are various options. I would recommend real feel by D Adarrio (12 inch) or the Sabian Quiet Tone Pads.
*music stand

Recommended books for a beginning percussion student:
*Fundamentals for Snare Drum by Garwood Whaley
*Fresh Approach to Snare Drum by Mark Wessels
*Fresh Approach to Keyboard Percussion by Mark Wessels
*Complete Snare Drum Book by Dr. Mario Gaetano
*Elementary Snare Drum by Mitchell Peters
*Encyclopedia for Reading Rhythms by Gary Hess
*Basics in Rhythm by Garwood Whaley
*Hal Leonard Pocket Music Theory: A Comprehensive and Convenient Source for All Musicians

Items that piano students should have::
*Fundamentals of Piano Theory: Level 1 by Keith Snell
*Piano Adventures: Level 1 by Randall Faber
*Hal Leonard Pocket Music Theory: A Comprehensive and Convenient Source for All Musicians
*Basics in Rhythm by Garwood Whaley

Items music theory/ear training students should have:
Beginning-
*Music Theory for Dummies by Holly Day
*Hal Leonard Pocket Music Theory: A Comprehensive and Convenient Source for All Musicians
*Encyclopedia for Reading Rhythms by Gary Hess
*Basics in Rhythm by Garwood Whaley
Intermediate/Advanced-
*Techniques and Materials of Music: From the Common Practice Period Through the Twentieth Century, Enhanced Edition 7th Edition by Thomas Benjamin
*Ear Training for the Contemporary Musician by Joe Elliot