Drums with Monika S.

Salutations people of TakeLessons! My name is Monika and I am a flutist, lead West African drummer, and a writer/poet. Flute-wise, I have been playing for 12 years and teaching for a little over 7 of them. As well as teaching privately, I have organized and run rehearsals for flute choirs. I'm a big fan of auxiliary flutes! Along with classical music, I am a huge lover of world music (more on that below) and like to incorporate Latin jazz, modern, contemporary, and pop/radio music into my teaching. It is so important to get well-rounded exposure in music and if you love other genres, it's an added bonus! As a lead West African drummer, I have been studying the art form for 5 years. My focus has been on music from the country of Ghana, and specifically the Ewe people. This is not just a focus on drumming but on song and dance as well - it's a marvelous trifecta. I have taught workshops in all kinds of settings with as many as 80 students at once! From summer programs, teacher professional development days, to in- or after-school activities, there is always fun to be had! While this style of music is best suited for a group of people, there is nothing stopping us learning the drumming techniques and lead drum parts privately. In addition to my musical life, I am also a writer and poet. As a child to two immigrant parents from Poland, I grew up learning how to teach English, and in turn fell in love with the creative writing process. A lot of my inspiration comes from my constant reading, musical adventures, and particularly my time in nature as a hiker. Never hesitate to reach out with any questions - I'd be happy to connect :).