Drums with Stephen R.

Steve is originally from the Binghamton, NY area and began studying drums at the age of 12 with local jazz musician Tony Monforte. He participated in the All State Orchestra and was placed on the Pro-Mark Honor Roll for young, up-and-coming drummers. Steve received a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY where he studied with Gordon Stout, Steve Brown, and Robert Bridge. He was selected to participate in the Henry Mancini Institute where he worked with some of the leading jazz, film, and classical musicians and composers from around the world including Terence Blanchard, Bud Shank, Christian McBride, and Jerry Goldsmith. He has also studied with Steve Houghton, Greg Fields, John Vidacovich, and Harold Jones. Steve has spent much of his professional career as a freelance musician in New Orleans, LA, Ithaca, NY, and Washington, DC. During this time Steve worked with many of the great local jazz and R&B masters including George Porter, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Mem Shannon, Anders Osborne, Ryan Burage, and The Louisiana Philharmonic. He has written and arranged for several of his own groups as well including: Otra, El Rumbon, The Mutron Warriors, Reichlen-Battles-Dobry, and Solstice. Steve has been teaching drum set and percussion for over 15 years and has built a teaching philosophy based on developing different styles, good reading skills, creative expression, and good fundamental technique. *** Lesson Details *** I enjoy creating a lesson curriculum that is truly unique to the needs of each student. New students can expect an environment that moves to the pace that they can handle. Whether you are just starting out and want to keep drum lessons as a casual hobby or you are a professional player who wants to take your playing to the next level, I am ready to help along on your journey of discovery! I like to teach all styles of music from classical and jazz to heavy metal! You can study drum set, percussion, or a mix of everything. I encourage all of my students to learn to read music as well as to develop improvisational techniques and playing by ear. Let me introduce you to the exciting world of drums and percussion! *** Studio Equipment *** basement dedicated to music studio w/ electronic and acoustic drum set, hand drums, congas, bongos, keyboards, recording equipment seating for parents *** Travel Equipment *** I will provide the following: practice pad, metronome, Play along material, hand drums and small percussion, and teaching resources. The student must provide: drum set, keyboard instruments, sticks and mallets, books that are assigned, folder for hand outs. *** Specialties *** I use several effective methods for percussion and general teaching including: Gordon Method Orff Method Free-hand technique Syncopation method Moehler technique I believe that drum set students should have a well balanced of understanding of many styles of music. I teach all of these styles: Jazz, Rock, R&B, Blues, Afro-Caribbean, Orchestral, and Rudimental. I use several books to aid in my teaching as well as my own exercises. Here is a link to my personal exercises, which is always available to my students: http://drumlooplab.com/Drum%20Lessons.htm Here are some of the books that I use: Syncopation, Stick Control, Realistic Rock, The Art of Bop Drumming, Studio and Big Band Drumming, Portraits in Rhythm, The New Breed, Future Sounds, Modern School for Snare Drum, Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone, The Patterns series by Gary Chaffee, plus several others.....