This month's update is going to be a little bit different from previous ones. In Orange County where I teach, there is no shortage of qualified drum teachers. Many of these teachers I'm blessed to call my friends. Others aren't so scrupulous and I avoid. The point of this month's blog is that there is room for everyone and it is important to find the teacher that best suits your needs.
When I was a kid, my mom and dad (although they were great) did not support my drumming endeavors. As a result, I had to do everything on my own. I wasn't able to get lessons until I could afford them myself. Two of the teachers I first studied with were frustrated burn-outs who took out their bitterness on their students. They would mock my choice in music/drummers. They did not teach me well. They would speak badly of other teachers/drummers.
The first good teacher I learned from (recommended by two church friends) was a guy named Mike Brucher. Mike had a gentle, encouraging spirit. He taught me the rudiments and got me started reading drum music out of the Funky Primer book. Eventually money became an issue and I had to stop. I did not take lessons for many years after this and tried my best to continue on teaching myself.
The second good teacher I had was Roy Burns. I went to him when I was just out of college. I had developed tons of bad habits and Roy corrected all of them. He picked up right where Mike left off. Rudiments, reading, technique and most importantly he taught me about life. Life as a human AND as a musician. I was playing in a country band at the time and he was my lifeline. It was my first pro gig. Roy's advice was priceless. I had read his column called "Concepts" in Modern Drummer magazine throughout the mid 80s and was so lucky to study with him.
The third good teacher I had was Tony Pia. He was recommended by Gregg Bissonette and a guitarist friend of mine. Tony was instrumental in my development as an all-around drummer. He's a super nice and humble guy. He worked on my coordinated independence and playing different styles. He is also the main reason I teach today! He encouraged me to start teaching more seriously!
The fourth good teacher I studied with was Chuck Silverman. Chuck is an amazing teacher/drummer known for his Afro-Caribbean playing. In addition to working on all the Latin stuff, Chuck hipped me to tons of career-saving techniques taught to him by the inimitable Murray Spivak (middle finger fulcrum on my right hand matched grip, the Free Stroke/Gladstone technique, etc.)
I often find myself getting discouraged in hindsight thinking what I might have been had I the parental support I see so many of my own students benefiting from at such a young age. Then I remind myself that I am truly blessed to have studied with so many amazing drummers who are also amazing human beings.
This brings me to my main point. When looking for a drum teacher, it is critical to find the right one to suit your needs or the needs of your child. I wrote some pointers on my website to help educate those looking for a good instructor:
How To Find The Right Drum Teacher For You
I started my teaching career offering lessons out of my home, one day a week. I began supplementing my home students by offering mobile lessons. The next step in my teaching journey had me teaching out of a Mars Music store. When that store went under, I was fortunate enough to start a co-op music school in Anaheim Hills. That eventually became a corporation and grew very large. In 2006, I sold my shares to my then business partner and came home... literally! I went back to teaching out of my house and I've never looked back!
Each of the above teaching modes has pros and cons. Each drum instructor will base their mode of teaching on what works best for them and their students. When choosing the right instructor for you or your child, educate yourself as much as possible. Nothing beats word-of-mouth advertising. My approach to teaching is more of mentor/coach based approach then the archetypical Russian piano teacher approach. This approach works for me and the students who continue studying with me. Others may need more of a disciplinarian. Others yet might need the environment of a large lesson studio that offers friendly competition and frequent recitals. Still others might learn best in the comfort of their own home on their own set of drums.
Regardless of your preferred learning style, finding the right teacher creates a magical bond. I've never forgotten the influences of my teachers both in drumming and in life. I can only hope my students will feel the same way about me.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
February Update!
It's February already! After a whirlwind January with teaching, gigs and NAMM, February is starting off with a bang as well. I've got my usual routine of live performances with Party Jones. Be sure to check my schedule page regularly if you're interested in seeing me perform live. I post all my gigs and include information on venue, hours and location. It gets updated frequently. Here is the link for my performance schedule:
Calendar
I'm very excited to announce that I've revamped my transcriptions page. As most of you know, over the years I've amassed a collection of transcriptions for my students. The list is continually growing. Because I'm not too proficient in website design but too much of a control freak to let someone else do it, the transcriptions page had become a monstrosity of hyperlinks that was very difficult to navigate. One of my goals in 2013 was to make this page easier for people to see if I had a transcription they needed. I was able to figure out a way using CSS to put all the artists I've transcribed in alphabetical order with a separate submenu with their songs in alphabetical order. This was no easy feat for one such as I but I'm very happy with the outcome and have already received positive feedback from others. Every transcription I do for a student will be made available here so check back regularly! Here's the link:
Transcriptions
The transcriptions I do are for the express purpose of teaching my students. They are my own interpretations of what I hear. I use them to teach my students drum set reading, coordinated independence, grooves, fills, phrasing, and time keeping. Most of my students have 5pc kits. If I'm transcribing a Rush song, I'm going to modify it and take liberties as my students don't have Neil's 360 degree set up in their bedrooms! If you like what you find on my page, please share it with others.
Here's to continued health, happiness and prosperity for all of us in 2013!
Calendar
I'm very excited to announce that I've revamped my transcriptions page. As most of you know, over the years I've amassed a collection of transcriptions for my students. The list is continually growing. Because I'm not too proficient in website design but too much of a control freak to let someone else do it, the transcriptions page had become a monstrosity of hyperlinks that was very difficult to navigate. One of my goals in 2013 was to make this page easier for people to see if I had a transcription they needed. I was able to figure out a way using CSS to put all the artists I've transcribed in alphabetical order with a separate submenu with their songs in alphabetical order. This was no easy feat for one such as I but I'm very happy with the outcome and have already received positive feedback from others. Every transcription I do for a student will be made available here so check back regularly! Here's the link:
Transcriptions
The transcriptions I do are for the express purpose of teaching my students. They are my own interpretations of what I hear. I use them to teach my students drum set reading, coordinated independence, grooves, fills, phrasing, and time keeping. Most of my students have 5pc kits. If I'm transcribing a Rush song, I'm going to modify it and take liberties as my students don't have Neil's 360 degree set up in their bedrooms! If you like what you find on my page, please share it with others.
Here's to continued health, happiness and prosperity for all of us in 2013!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
January Update!
January is almost over and I'm just now getting the chance to update! The year has started off with a bang. My student load is very full and I'm so grateful for all my students and their families. The first year of teaching at my new house/studio was an amazing success. I'm very much looking forward to another year of continued success!
January means NAMM! As is my usual practice, I'll be attending on Friday. Looking forward to touching base with the reps from the companies that support me in all I do and seeing some good friends. So thankful for the opportunity to represent the amazing products I use every day both in my teaching studio and during performances.
Party Jones is playing regularly as always! Be sure to check the calendar page on my website to see about upcoming performances. In addition to Party Jones, I've embarked on a side project comprised of some very talented parents of some students. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on the progress of that band. This band will play more locally and will be an ideal opportunity for those students and their families who want to see me perform but don't want to make the trek to North Orange County where Party Jones typically performs.
January means NAMM! As is my usual practice, I'll be attending on Friday. Looking forward to touching base with the reps from the companies that support me in all I do and seeing some good friends. So thankful for the opportunity to represent the amazing products I use every day both in my teaching studio and during performances.
Party Jones is playing regularly as always! Be sure to check the calendar page on my website to see about upcoming performances. In addition to Party Jones, I've embarked on a side project comprised of some very talented parents of some students. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on the progress of that band. This band will play more locally and will be an ideal opportunity for those students and their families who want to see me perform but don't want to make the trek to North Orange County where Party Jones typically performs.
Monday, December 3, 2012
December Update!
It's that time of year again! Winding down 2012! What a great year this has been. Teaching out of my new studio at my new house has been amazing. I'm so grateful to have so many wonderful students. You guys constantly inspire me. I'm very blessed to be able to do what I do for a living and I never take it for granted.
I'm teaching three weeks this month then taking my usual two weeks off for the holidays. I'm very much looking forward to spending time with my family. I have been busy playing holiday parties and have a few more to go before the season ends.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and that 2013 brings us much happiness and health!
I'm teaching three weeks this month then taking my usual two weeks off for the holidays. I'm very much looking forward to spending time with my family. I have been busy playing holiday parties and have a few more to go before the season ends.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and that 2013 brings us much happiness and health!
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
November Update!
What an incredible year this has been at my new studio! I can't believe how fast this year has flown by! Things are still going incredibly well (knock on wood!) I consider myself so blessed to be able to teach and play drums for a living.
The subject of this month's blog post has to do with playing the drums rather than teaching them. I know the focus of my blog is usually about teaching but I was inspired to post about playing/performing this month.
I play in a cover band that plays most weekends. I've been playing in this band for almost 9 years. It has gone through many personnel changes. We play for a variety of clients from small clubs to large corporate parties. With the current economy, we've not had quite the amount of corporate work we used to enjoy, but we are still getting enough. The band is pretty much a dream situation. No rehearsals. All the guys in the band are A level players that can bring it. The band turns down work if the money isn't right. So there should be no reason to complain, right?
Wrong. Just because I get paid to play my drums in a band doesn't mean it's all roses and sunshine. There are the usual issues of egos, differences of opinion, etc... but the thing most of my family, friends and others don't realize is that week after week I'm playing songs I don't like. How do I motivate myself to play these songs that I normally wouldn't even listen to for enjoyment purposes?
My normal way of dealing with this is to resort to the old bumper sticker philosophy of: "The worst day of fishing is better than the best day at my day job." For years I changed it to "The worst day of gigging is better than the best day of ALL those old day jobs I used to suffer through." This attitude has gotten me through many a gig. It reminds me that although I'm not playing anything that feeds my soul, I'm very blessed to be able to play and earn remuneration for it!
But is that how it should be? Suffering through gigs with that attitude and a forced smile? The past few weeks have shown me another way! I was fortunate enough to be able to do some field research at a couple of gigs and the discovery I made was the antithesis of what had been drilled into me by all my good drum teachers and my own type A personality demands!
I was taught that in order to get work and get asked back, I needed to play "for the song," be versatile, use dynamics, play for the room, be prepared, be on time, and be professional. All of these tips have helped me throughout my career but what I learned over the past few weeks has to do with "playing for the room." What does that mean exactly? I thought it meant not playing too loud for the venue. While that's true, I discovered there is more to it than that.
I learned that playing for the room also means I need to consider the crowd as well as the venue. Case in point: For the last 9 years, I've tried my best to play the cover songs as accurately as I can. I have many songs transcribed note for note as well as charts in my book. I would sight-read down my charts placing every beat, fill and note right where it should be. Going through the motions. Mechanical. Emotionless. What I discovered over the course of the last three weeks is that if I'm playing a bar or a club, the people I'm playing for don't care if I catch the 6 Stroke Roll Motown fill every time in "My Girl." They want to drink and dance. Period. They want to be entertained!
So... I'm drawing on one of my earliest drum influences (Stewart Copeland) for inspiration. Stewart is known for playing with abandon and playing busy. His energy is undeniable. His flourish and swagger are predominant. From this point on, when I'm playing the songs I hate at a club full of revelers, I'm going to do my best to focus on being an entertainer. I'm going to go against my nature and play with more abandon. My field research has shown that's what the people want. Who am I to disappoint? Of course if I'm using brushes during a jazzy dinner set at a swanky hotel in Vegas, I'll immediately go back to using my biggest drumming influence (Steve Gadd)!
The subject of this month's blog post has to do with playing the drums rather than teaching them. I know the focus of my blog is usually about teaching but I was inspired to post about playing/performing this month.
I play in a cover band that plays most weekends. I've been playing in this band for almost 9 years. It has gone through many personnel changes. We play for a variety of clients from small clubs to large corporate parties. With the current economy, we've not had quite the amount of corporate work we used to enjoy, but we are still getting enough. The band is pretty much a dream situation. No rehearsals. All the guys in the band are A level players that can bring it. The band turns down work if the money isn't right. So there should be no reason to complain, right?
Wrong. Just because I get paid to play my drums in a band doesn't mean it's all roses and sunshine. There are the usual issues of egos, differences of opinion, etc... but the thing most of my family, friends and others don't realize is that week after week I'm playing songs I don't like. How do I motivate myself to play these songs that I normally wouldn't even listen to for enjoyment purposes?
My normal way of dealing with this is to resort to the old bumper sticker philosophy of: "The worst day of fishing is better than the best day at my day job." For years I changed it to "The worst day of gigging is better than the best day of ALL those old day jobs I used to suffer through." This attitude has gotten me through many a gig. It reminds me that although I'm not playing anything that feeds my soul, I'm very blessed to be able to play and earn remuneration for it!
But is that how it should be? Suffering through gigs with that attitude and a forced smile? The past few weeks have shown me another way! I was fortunate enough to be able to do some field research at a couple of gigs and the discovery I made was the antithesis of what had been drilled into me by all my good drum teachers and my own type A personality demands!
I was taught that in order to get work and get asked back, I needed to play "for the song," be versatile, use dynamics, play for the room, be prepared, be on time, and be professional. All of these tips have helped me throughout my career but what I learned over the past few weeks has to do with "playing for the room." What does that mean exactly? I thought it meant not playing too loud for the venue. While that's true, I discovered there is more to it than that.
I learned that playing for the room also means I need to consider the crowd as well as the venue. Case in point: For the last 9 years, I've tried my best to play the cover songs as accurately as I can. I have many songs transcribed note for note as well as charts in my book. I would sight-read down my charts placing every beat, fill and note right where it should be. Going through the motions. Mechanical. Emotionless. What I discovered over the course of the last three weeks is that if I'm playing a bar or a club, the people I'm playing for don't care if I catch the 6 Stroke Roll Motown fill every time in "My Girl." They want to drink and dance. Period. They want to be entertained!
So... I'm drawing on one of my earliest drum influences (Stewart Copeland) for inspiration. Stewart is known for playing with abandon and playing busy. His energy is undeniable. His flourish and swagger are predominant. From this point on, when I'm playing the songs I hate at a club full of revelers, I'm going to do my best to focus on being an entertainer. I'm going to go against my nature and play with more abandon. My field research has shown that's what the people want. Who am I to disappoint? Of course if I'm using brushes during a jazzy dinner set at a swanky hotel in Vegas, I'll immediately go back to using my biggest drumming influence (Steve Gadd)!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
October Update!
October is my favorite month of the year and Fall is my favorite season! That being said, in Mission Viejo where I live, the temperatures have just now dropped to the 80s! It still feels like summer here! The new air conditioning system I installed in the teaching studio has gotten quite the workout but the consensus from myself and all my students is that it feels great!
This month I wanted to talk about practicing. As all my students know, my teaching style is more of a mentor/coach than the stereotypical "Russian piano teacher." Many of my students either don't have enough time to practice or they simply don't prioritize practicing enough. I never come down hard on them for not practicing but rather try to find solutions to fit practicing into their busy schedules. Here is my philosophy regarding practicing.
As a full-time educator and performer, I have more time (and a greater need) to practice than the majority of my students. Couple this fact with the fact that drumming has never come easy for me and you can see why I spend so much time with sticks in hand! That being said, most of my students aren't taking lessons with the goal of becoming professional drummers. They are taking lessons for the fun of it. They must balance drumming with all the other requirements life expects of them. Schoolwork, extracurricular activities, family obligations and the list goes on.
Because drumming is such a physical instrument, the development of proper muscle memory is crucial. I tell my students I would rather have them practice for shorter spans multiple times per week rather than one or two larger "cram" sessions. The reinforcing aspect of practicing the movements repetitively over the course of a week will produce far greater results than a once a week jam session.
I also do quite a bit of mental practicing. During down time or before falling asleep at night, I envision myself at the drums working on material I need improvement on. While listening to a song, I sometimes will try and envision the transcription of a beat in my head or try to put odd phrases against a simple 4/4 tune. There are many ways to improve our drumming skills without the need to have sticks in hand a set of drums to play on.
I think the key to it all is like so many other things in life... BALANCE. Each of us must find how to fit our practicing into our schedules without too much disruption to our lives AND make sure we are maximizing our practice time. How do maximize our practice time? Here are twelve tips from legendary jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis that have helped me!
1. Seek instruction
2. Make a schedule
3. Set and track your goals
4. Concentrate while practicing
5. Relax and practice slowly
6. Practice what you can’t play
7. Always play with maximum expression
8. Don’t be too hard on yourself
9. Don’t be a showoff
10. Think for yourself
11. Be optimistic
12. Look for connections between music and other things
Hope you all have a great Fall!
This month I wanted to talk about practicing. As all my students know, my teaching style is more of a mentor/coach than the stereotypical "Russian piano teacher." Many of my students either don't have enough time to practice or they simply don't prioritize practicing enough. I never come down hard on them for not practicing but rather try to find solutions to fit practicing into their busy schedules. Here is my philosophy regarding practicing.
As a full-time educator and performer, I have more time (and a greater need) to practice than the majority of my students. Couple this fact with the fact that drumming has never come easy for me and you can see why I spend so much time with sticks in hand! That being said, most of my students aren't taking lessons with the goal of becoming professional drummers. They are taking lessons for the fun of it. They must balance drumming with all the other requirements life expects of them. Schoolwork, extracurricular activities, family obligations and the list goes on.
Because drumming is such a physical instrument, the development of proper muscle memory is crucial. I tell my students I would rather have them practice for shorter spans multiple times per week rather than one or two larger "cram" sessions. The reinforcing aspect of practicing the movements repetitively over the course of a week will produce far greater results than a once a week jam session.
I also do quite a bit of mental practicing. During down time or before falling asleep at night, I envision myself at the drums working on material I need improvement on. While listening to a song, I sometimes will try and envision the transcription of a beat in my head or try to put odd phrases against a simple 4/4 tune. There are many ways to improve our drumming skills without the need to have sticks in hand a set of drums to play on.
I think the key to it all is like so many other things in life... BALANCE. Each of us must find how to fit our practicing into our schedules without too much disruption to our lives AND make sure we are maximizing our practice time. How do maximize our practice time? Here are twelve tips from legendary jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis that have helped me!
1. Seek instruction
2. Make a schedule
3. Set and track your goals
4. Concentrate while practicing
5. Relax and practice slowly
6. Practice what you can’t play
7. Always play with maximum expression
8. Don’t be too hard on yourself
9. Don’t be a showoff
10. Think for yourself
11. Be optimistic
12. Look for connections between music and other things
Hope you all have a great Fall!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
September Update!
Wow! It's been two months since my last update! Where did the time go? This past summer was definitely the fastest summer I've ever experienced. I didn't get the opportunity to go on any vacations so it went by even faster!
The studio has had some minor changes since the last update. My rep at Remo was nice enough to give me a big Remo banner so I can represent the best drumheads in my teaching studio! I also got a portable air conditioner for those days when it's 90+ degrees outside. It's been working well and keeping the studio at 77 degrees when needed!
As I said in my June update, I've cut back quite a bit on my live playing and increased my teaching hours. My schedule is thankfully very full and I'm loving it. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to do something I love for a living. My students are a wonderful source of inspiration to me and I cherish each one and their families.
Here's to a successful Fall!
The studio has had some minor changes since the last update. My rep at Remo was nice enough to give me a big Remo banner so I can represent the best drumheads in my teaching studio! I also got a portable air conditioner for those days when it's 90+ degrees outside. It's been working well and keeping the studio at 77 degrees when needed!
As I said in my June update, I've cut back quite a bit on my live playing and increased my teaching hours. My schedule is thankfully very full and I'm loving it. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to do something I love for a living. My students are a wonderful source of inspiration to me and I cherish each one and their families.
Here's to a successful Fall!
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