Lessons

Good news! I'm currently available for private lessons! Click HERE to contact me about them or read on for more info...

Background

I've been teaching in several different capacities for the last six years since age 19. I began teaching with a couple drumset technique clinics at local high schools, and then transitioned into teaching privately with several students around my hometown of Olympia, WA. Since then, I've been teaching lessons and drumlines in the greater Seattle area and haven't stopped. I started out teaching drumline at Edmonds Woodway HS while still attending UW. After graduating and aging out of drum corps, I continued pursuing better teaching jobs and landed a summer drum corps teaching job in 2007 with Open Class drum corps group Spokane Thunder. In 2008, I was offered an assisstant instructor position with the UW drumline. Shortly thereafter, I got a job as a tenor tech with DCI World Class corps, The Cascades. All during this, I helped several students improve their skills both on drumset and with any marching percussion instrument (Snare, Tenor, Bass). I also kept doing clinics and consulting groups at various high schools in the area, helping improve the performance of their drumlines, jazz bands, and concert percussion ensembles.

Rates and other Information

• My current rates are $20 per half hour or $40 per hour if you come to UW for lessons.
• Lessons currently happen on Sundays at the UW Band Equipment room. Plenty of top-of-the-line gear to use, and free parking!
• Lessons can be scheduled either weekly or bi-weekly for either time slot.
• Occasional lessons cost $25 per half hour.
• I currently teach Drumset, as well as Marching Snare, Tenor (Quads), and Bass Drum
• Lessons are located at the Band Equipment Room at the University of Washington
• Lesson fees must be paid in full on the first lesson of each month.
• Plan ahead for absences, if you are a no show and haven't let me know well in advance, you will still have to pay.
• If your lesson must be missed because of a commitment on my part, or because it falls on a holiday, we will try to reschedule or just prorate it in advance so you aren't unfairly impacted financially.
• Be on time. Allow plently of time for traffic and parking. If you are tardy, your lesson will still end at the regular time.
• Remember all your necessary materials including sticks, books, notes, CDs, etc for each lesson. You will be given regular assignments each week to bring back to the next lesson. If you forget your materials, your lesson is sure to be much less productive.
• Come in prepared. Create a practice schedule for yourself and stick to it. Make sure you put enough time into your assignment to make it worth your while (and your money).
• It's extremely important that students are clear with me about what they hope to accomplish as they study their instrument. They will surely become interested in different things over time, and their goals will change as they accomplish some, and move away from others.

What you will learn

• Drumset players will be taught how to successfully function as a professional drummer in most any context. Topics covered will include developing hand and foot technique, reading music, tuning, practical set-up, listening, how to practice, and playing with a metronome. Students will be asked to purchase certain educational materials such as method books, CDs, DVDs, practice pads, metronomes, etc. to facilitate their development. Student also MUST own their own drumset or have some other viable way to practice enough between each lesson. Lessons can also be tailored to help you with different projects or personal goals that you may have including recording projects, school ensembles, bands, etc.
• Marching percussion students will learn many of the same topics above but will focus much more on hand technique and how it is applied to your specific instrument (snare, tenor, or bass). Topics covered will include hand technique, reading, tuning, marking time, how to practice, and playing with a metronome. Students also may request to work on marching technique. Typically, I give these lessons to a student with a goal in mind, such as marching with a certain Drum Corps or trying out for a certain College Drumline. In these contexts, it's always important to not only learn how to manipulate the sticks, but how to march well at the same time.