What makes me unique as an instructor?
There are so many ways to answer this- my charm, sharp wit, and fierce fashion sense all immediately come to mind. But when do they not? Did I mention my ponytail? Not to take away from any of those things, but there are other things that make my teaching unique, as well.
* My original teaching manual! - Over the last few years I have developed my work, Percussion Practicing Guidebook, and every student gets a free digital copy. It is the only book I know of that focuses directly on the art of practicing, so students can learn as thoroughly and efficiently as possible. It is ninety-five pages long and provides clear and simple methods for how to best practice all of the most useful tasks a beginning and intermediate percussionist needs to know. The book covers snare drum, drum set, mallets, and timpani.
* Original compositions and arrangements! - While I am well-versed in the standard teaching repertoire and written solos for beginning and intermediate percussionists, I also routinely compose my own works, often for the specific student I am working with. These pieces generally include piano accompaniment and are practical, intellectually rigorous, audience friendly, and fun! You can hear student performances of some of these pieces on this site.
* Very wide range of musical experience! - While many percussion teachers focus on either drum set or classical percussion, I do both, and a lot of world music, as well. I knew that I wanted to teach for many years, so I made acquiring a diverse range of skills a priority in order to best serve the needs of my students. I have had students successfully audition for both Jazz Studies and Music Education programs and receive significant scholarships, as well. I do not consider myself “a performer that decided to teach a little”, but rather “A teacher that performs a lot”. For me, teaching and playing are two sides of the same job and I love them both equally.
* Videos of student performances and recordings for Zoom lessons! - Over ten years of teaching in a variety of settings, I have learned that recitals are frequently problematic due to logistical problems with equipment and scheduling. Also, for students that finish pieces quickly, they have to choose only one piece to perform. Because of this, student performances are always recorded so you can see everything that is completed. If lessons are conducted over Zoom, I am frequently able to make a practice track for the student to play with. From there, students are able to record themselves playing and I can put the tracks together so we have a recording of the piece for parents to listen to.
Rates and Technical Information
Rates do vary depending on a variety of circumstances, such as length of time, location, special offers, etc. However, I always aim to make my prices as affordable as possible, while still being fair to others in my field. For exact rates, please contact me directly, my information is listed on this website. I always welcome any questions about pricing.
For new students, I always do one lesson for free to accurately assess where the student is at musically, and to make sure that we are a good fit.