Introduction: Scheduled days are correct, but hours may vary! Please contact me @ 207..256..9016 any time for more info.
I believe that a good teacher is someone who tries to adapt to each of their students individual interests and personalities. So often you find teachers stuck in a teaching method similar to the way they had been taught. But not everyone learns the same way. Every student has a different way of processing information, and unless your teacher attempts to deliver that information in a manner that is easiest for you to absorb, you as the student are left not only to learn, but to translate as well. When I am teaching students I try to be as adaptive and understanding as I can possibly be. I feel that this is what truly differentiates me from other teachers.
About Me:
As a child I was introduced to music through listening to the radio during long car rides with my parents. My first instrument was a little C harmonica I had been given as a gift. During elementary school my interest in music developed and I took up the tenor saxophone. But as the instrument was large for a boy my age and being that my father was a drummer I was enticed to make the switch over to percussion. This is when I got my first drum, a Pearl piccolo snare.
During my middle school and high school years I auditioned for and took part in both district and state bands for orchestral, vocal, and jazz music. I also took part in school jazz combos, big bands, and vocal jazz groups. Two of which consecutively took 1st place state titles in festivals throughout my high school career. During this time I was individually awarded for outstanding musicianship at state competitions every year I participated. In 2009 I was awarded the judges choice award as well as an Outstanding Musicianship award for my playing in the small combo division at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival.
Aside from playing at school I studied with mentors such as, Bill Manning, Dustin Roher, John Hollenbeck, Kevin Norton, and Steve Grover. I also was involved in various rock and experimental bands with my friends. It was during this time that I began taking an increased interest in playing guitar. As I moved on to college I began to exercise that interest with composition, and song writing along side my study of Percussion.
During my time at Berklee College of Music I studied with teachers such as Mark Walker, Alberto Netto, Ernesto Diaz, Ralph Peterson Jr., Yoron Isreal, Mike Mangini, Dave Weigert, and Bob Gollati. I graduated from Berklee College Of Music in 2013 with a concentration in Jazz Composition, Acoustics, and Drum Set/ Percussion
Performance. Since that time I have been living and working as a professional musician and educator in Portland Maine.
