Drum Lessons

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Most of my students are kids but I have a few adults too.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. I say check around, ask about their background and track record. But you want to find somebody who you or your child clicks with. I believe that we are made to learn and if it's not fun, there is something wrong.

Kids tend to be overloaded these days. They don't have time to be kids. This is not right. That's why making sure they have a good time and feel good about themselves is paramount in my book. But that doesn't mean I don't expect them to practice.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. I think that the most important thing is to learn correct sticking technique right off the bat, otherwise you are going to have problems down the line. That's why you need a private teacher. Band directors are amazing creatures but very few are drummers. I too often have to fix their screw ups.

The second thing is to establish regular practice habits. The ones that do, go far. The ones that don't, go nowhere. That's the awful truth. If you are a musician, it means you play. That's all there is too it.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. A lot of people who begin studying with me already have drum sets. That's OK, but the traditional way is to study snare drum technique for a year before you start on the set. There is wisdom in this. So, if you have a drum set, be aware that I'm going to make you learn your rudiments too. Before too long you are going to realize why you need them anyway.

There are exceptions to this. Little kids (6-7) don't have the self discipline or focus to learn rudiments. It's just going to blow them out. They just like to pound on their drums and most schools don't have band class at that age. So it's OK. We don't want them to loose their fascination with the sound of the drums. That's at the root of everything. I'll teach them the snare drum technique when the time is right.

5th or 6th grade is a good time for the rudiments. I find that bribery is good. You can say, "Drumsets cost a lot, I'll get you one but first you must prove that you have what it takes by learning the rudiments". It usually works.

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

A. I've been doing it longer than most and have refined my techniques over the past 15 years to help people learn faster and better. It's also made me better.

I was one of the first ones who started teaching in schools. I work with the band directors. I think I have better teaching tools and I know how to work with children. I've found that the electronic drums are a superb learning, practicing and teaching tool in many ways.

Because I've been playing drums since 1967 and professionally most of my life, I have a really broad background in musical styles. I came up through the different eras and had to earn a living. But I was taught that if you are a musician, you can play anything so I have pursued that as one of my goals.

Most people specialize in one area. I don't have to do that. People who hear me play rock think I'm a rock drummer. People who hear me play jazz think I'm a jazz drummer. People who hear me play reggae or Latin, or funk think I specialize in that. I actually specialize in whatever I'm playing at any given moment.

I also have a parade drum background and a command of rudiments that is unsurpassed and I know how to use them on drum set. Thus I am a superb soloist but I can also make you dance. I never actually stopped studying. This gives me a wealth of knowledge that few drummers have.

When you fist start learning, it's all about coordination, reading and technique. But once you've got that, you need to apply it to music. People branch off in different directions, but to a professional, style is everything. This is when having that broad background pays off, because there is a little bit of everything in everything.

Therefore, if you are playing drumset and there is a jazz program in your school, you should go for it even if you are into rock. You may not get the chance again and it will make you a way better rock player. Trust me. That goes for drum line too. And if you are a beginner, you can't go wrong by signing up for concert band.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I like teaching. I never realized how rewarding it is. I like hanging with my little friends [and big ones too]. It keeps me young. I like watching my students grow up, become monster drummers and join their own bands. I like the 'right livelihood' aspect of it. Even if they don't become musicians, I know that studying music is one of the most effective ways to develop their minds and will enrich their lives in a myriad of ways for as long as they live.

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

A. To be honest, the main question is how much it costs and when can they start. I charge $110 per month. That's for 4 half hour lessons. I hate to admit that especially if you study at my house, you may get an hour lesson sometimes. I'm not all that strict about the time if nobody’s in a hurry.

This is the way I look at it: I charge for my time, the lessons are free. -Same with playing. I feel that music cannot be sold or purchased. You may purchase a disc or an MP3 but that's not the same as the music on it or the way it makes you feel. This is a magical thing. Nobody has really been able to explain what music is or why it does what it does. Of course, they have Musicologists and Neurologists diligently working on it. They know a lot, but I don't think they are there yet.

What I get paid for is hauling, setting up and tearing down equipment, practicing, rehearsals, -all that, the music is a gift. I have to pay the rent so there needs to be a basic fee. After that, I'm doing what I want. I'm not trying to get rich. Otherwise I would be a bankster and work for Goldman Sachs. If the lesson so happens to go on longer, it's because I'm having fun, or because you need it. Dig?

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. I had two students graduate from Roosevelt HS last year. I started them both in 6th grade. One who was the drummer of the jazz band got a full scholarship to Berklee and the other one who led the drum line made the Husky drum line. -A very prestigious proposition. He is still studying with me. These kids have already had opportunities I never had. And there is still more of this story yet to unfold. That's awesome!

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I need to stress that although there are different schools of thought on correct stick technique, there are ways that are incorrect and will cause harm and a necessity to correct at some point. It's better to learn right in the first place. So especially beginners need some professional help.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. About '95 I got severely burned out from playing commercial music too long. I've seen this happen a lot. I even quit playing [for about 3 weeks]. I stopped into a music store and saw an ad where another drummer had got a day job and needed someone to take over his students. I took them over and got back into playing jazz and recording. I needed to rediscover why I began playing music in the first place. It worked, and having a student base now allows me to pick and choose the gigs I want.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I recently had one little kid [6yo] who had severe autism and ADHD but he loves the drums. It's mostly for therapy. It was really hard to teach him, even reach him. He only been studied with me for a month or two, but last time I got through to him and made him laugh big time. It was such a kick to see him come out of his shell and hear the sound of his laughter for the first time. I'll never forget that. I feel this was a breakthrough, but music and the study of it is good therapy for anybody.

For a long time I thought that my job was to make all my students superstars and if I didn’t I was screwing up. I can do it if you can, but now I realize that those kids that could win a scholarship to Berklee are one in a hundred, maybe a thousand. So at some point I had to lighten up and get over it.

Most parents don’t give their kids lessons because they want them to be professional musicians. It’s a tough life. I don’t care what level you are on. I finally came to see that music is a value in itself. I’m proud of all of my students.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I'm not sure there are any "latest" developments. The last time the drumset was reinvented was in the 70s with the linear fusion revolution, but I used to teach at the Donn Bennett Drum Shop in Bellevue. It's a great resource. I keep an eye on who is in town giving clinics and lessons. So that's how I learn, by studying with the masters and going to hear them when they are here.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. This question is basically not applicable because in the arts, nobody can predict what will happen next.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. I recently finished a jazz album where we fused all sorts of western grooves with Indian music. It involved traveling to India for the Indian tracks. The other half of the album was Afro-Cuban and Brazilian jazz. It featured some of the best players in town. It took a couple years and it cost a lot.

I'm currently working with a 5 piece classic R&B band for the private party market and a Reggae band.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. Basically I don't raise the rates as long as the students stay with me. The music store is always upping the price so I have to charge the new students the going rate. So yes, it is complicated.

Also, if I do house calls, I have to charge more because it takes twice as much of my time.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Practice hard and get as much professional experience as you can. Fill your head with all kinds of music.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. "What is the nature of life?" Said the Dalai Lama: "Life is like a beanstalk isn't it?" That's all I have to say.