Drum Lessons

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. As a drum teacher, not only do I recognize the challenges inherent in teaching people of all ages how to play the drums, but I am also aware of the different ways people learn. Some people respond well to verbal instruction, while others have to play through the lesson for themselves. And it helps every student I’ve ever had to actually show them how it’s done.

That is why I launched the Gregory Tech Drum Center. My state-of-the-art, climate controlled studio combines learning tools that trigger all the senses required to learn: sight, touch, and sound. To start with, my students learn to play on drums, not practice pads: the Drum Center is equipped with professional-quality drums, cymbals and hardware. This alone makes a huge difference, as students gain confidence playing a full drum set and learn how different techniques produce different sounds.

But it is the Gregory Tech Drum Center's technology that really sets it apart. Video cameras are positioned to give overhead and kick-drum views of the student and instructor’s kits, and tripod-mounted cameras are also set up for special shots. The images from the cameras appear on three flat-screen color monitors, which can be split to show side-by-side views of teacher and student hand or foot movements. The monitors can also show instructional videos, videos streaming from the Internet, and more. This is particularly compelling for younger students, who are comfortable learning in a video-based environment. It’s also just fun!

The cameras allow recording of the lesson, which can then be burned to a DVD or copied to a flash drive so students can take the lesson home for review on their own. There’s also a live webcam by which parents can watch a student’s lesson via the Internet from anywhere. The Gregory Tech Drum Center is also equipped with microphones, mixers, headphones for independent mixes, midi drum controllers, digital recording equipment and drum machines with click track capabilities.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Gregory Tech Drum Center is the fact that I personally instruct all students. I have 25 years of experience teaching percussion, including 9 years instructing at the Juilliard School in New York City.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I like working with people who are passionate about music. I enjoy helping students unlock their creative potential as musicians who express themselves through the drum set.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Q: What instruments do you teach - drum set or just snare drum?

A: Both. I focus on the drum set, but I also teach snare drum technique as well. I was taught rudimental snare drum technique from the beginning, and I believe that it has helped me tremendously when learning the drum set.

Q: Do you teach on drum pads, or on drums?

A: I teach on drums.

Q: Do you teach hand percussion such as congas and/or djembe?

A: No. I am familiar with hand drums, but my focus is on the drum set. However, I do like to take traditional Latin and World rhythms and apply those ideas to the drum kit.

Q: Do you teach mallets?

A: Yes. I have a xylophone at the Gregory Tech Drum Center. I teach theory, scales, and reading.

Q: How long have you been teaching drum lessons?

A: I have been teaching since 1985.

Q: What kind of training/qualifications do you have?

A: I started drum lessons at the age of twelve. I have been playing drums for over forty years, and have close to that many years of professional experience performing. At the Berklee College of Music, I studied with Skip Hadden and Joe Hunt. I also studied with Alan Dawson while in Boston. Buster Bailey was a mentor of mine when I lived in New York City. I am a member of the Hudson Music Teacher Integration Program, the Percussive Arts Society, and the Professional Drum Teachers Guild.

Q: What do I need to bring to my drum lessons?

A: You will need your enthusiasm and dedication to learning. This includes listening to music on your own, coming prepared, and giving it all you’ve got during the lesson. My best students are the ones who try the hardest. You will also need drum sticks and a blank manuscript book that I can write in. As you progress, it will be a good idea for you to study from various method books, which I can recommend.

Q: Where are you located?

A: The Gregory Tech Drum Center is in Englewood, near University and Yale (DU area). It is centrally located near Southeast Denver, Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village and Glendale.
Q: When are you available to teach?

A: The Gregory Tech Drum Center is open Monday through Friday. Please call or email for currently available open slots.

Q: How much do you charge?

A: As of February 1, 2010, my rate is $45 per hour lesson and $25 per half hour lesson. Lessons are preferably scheduled weekly. These rates may have changed, so please call or email for current rates.