Technique is only valuable insofar as it contributes to a musician’s ability to communicate. The true masters are able to create something that is unique and inspiring, while staying true to the music and their own voice. Lessons are designed to address the various physical challenges of drumming, and allow you to more clearly and accurately paint your own experience through rhythm.

A lesson can be organized in a number of ways, and much of what happens depends upon you. My only agenda is to create a comfortable environment for learning, to help manifest your musical aims. Though I write here in detail about approach and technique, the atmosphere in my studio is casual and relaxed. I believe this is the most useful way to approach any type of creative learning.

I begin with all students by addressing the body and looking at the way it moves most naturally with sticks. This to me is most important, because how we move is how we sound. With a little focused attention, it is possible to develop an effortless and flexible technique in a relatively short amount of time.

At that point , our choices are limited only by imagination: listening, dynamics, independence & coordination, beats, time & feel, rudiments, sticking patterns, accent studies, musical forms, vocalization, fills, solo ideas, breath, notation, phrasing, tuning, set-up, alternate styles, sound choice, transcription, sight reading, lead sheets, audition preparation, studio ideas, composition, theory.

For children the approach is quite different, with more emphasis on expressive games and play.

It's a good idea to come to the first lesson with a blank book of staff paper, and a CD or tape of music that you enjoy. If you have your own recording device, bring it along. If not, my studio is set up for recording. You will always have the written record of all that we do in your staff book, but a recording can be invaluable to your practice and reveals much about your development over time. You’re also welcome to bring any drums, pedals, cymbals, or percussion that you’d like to use or tune during the lesson.

Although there are an endless number of possibilities to explore, by approaching the complexity of drum set performance with simplicity and ease, many of the most frustrating obstacles to mastery fall way.