Drum Lessons

I teach mainly in-home lessons on drum set, general studies/technique, and hand drumming. Lessons are booked by the month, at the end of the previous month. You only pay for weeks when you'll have a lesson, and I have a 48-hour cancellation policy for non-emergencies.

Thirty-minute lessons are $35 for in-home or $30 for in-studio (Minneapolis), 45-minute lessons are $50 for in-home or $45 in-studio, but I often run over, as I prefer to be generous with my time when I can. Between that and traffic variance, I ask that students and their families budget an extra 30 minutes for each in-home lesson.

My students learn fundamentals of ergonomics, technique, reading, and counting; applying them in rock, jazz, and Latin musical styles. There are a couple of books my students work out of, but they don't need them immediately, and the books are inexpensive. I focus students' studies on what is most practical for them immediately, and then branch out into more advanced, conceptual material when the basics are in place. Most students take weekly lessons on an ongoing basis, with the expectation of continuous progress. Students are encouraged to contact me between lessons if they have questions about the material for the week, or have questions about anything else music-related.

Students are expected to have their own instrument and sticks/mallets/brushes, a dependable music stand, a notebook and 3-ring binder, a clean and well-lit practice space, a metronome, and a way to hear that metronome above the drums (sound isolating headphones are best because they also protect the student's hearing and allow us to play along with recordings).

I have worked as a show drummer and music director for Celebrity Cruises and The Yachts Of Seabourn. I've been a guest artist and instructed jazz combo classes at Hamline University, and a drum set clinician and hired performer for area schools, churches, and community education programs. I also do recording work. I currently perform with rock and roll cover band The Zebra Mussels, world music group The Robert Everest Expedition, and acclaimed big band The Acme Jazz Company. Through my career on land and sea, I've backed up many national and international performing artists, including Claudia Acuna, Barry Danelian, Mark Preston, and Jack Walker. Locally, I've also worked with the Redneck Hippies, Steve Clarke and the Working Stiffs, East Side, the Jerry O'Hagan Big Band, the Stan Bann Big Band, the Twin Cities Jazz Orchestra, Trish & The North Shore Drive (TNSD), Chill 7, Higher Call, David Haas, Lori True, Michael Joncas, and Robby Vee.

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