Michael Hams Private Music Teacher

Introduction: I grew up in a very musically friendly family, my parents owned and operated the local music store in St. Cloud, MN and from a young age I was immersed in the world of music. At the age of four my parents enrolled me in the Suzuki program playing violin, then piano at six. When I was ten I joined the school orchestra on upright bass and also began my studies in percussion. Two years lated I had my first band and we played a cover of "Hello, Goodbye" by the Beatles for our sixth grade graduation. After high school I moved to Seattle, WA to study jazz at Cornish College of the Arts, where I earned my Bachelor's degree in 2006, (Jazz Performance- Drumset). My approach to teaching and my philosophies on music are rooted in patience, focus, a positive atmosphere, and a clear understanding of communication. I love to see the gears turning, that moment when a student starts to see the picture and truly understands what is happening. Because each student is different, and takes slightly different paths on their musical journey, my approach to each student is different. Rudiments, sight reading, grooves (jazz, rock, funk, r&b, hip-hop, Brazilian, Afro- Cuban...), poly-rhythms, improvisation, song structure, music theory and more are examined in my lessons.