Hilltop Studios

Introduction: I am a private instructor with over 25 years' teaching experience. I worked with hundreds of students on topics ranging from basic snare drum and percussion studies to advanced stylistic development on the drumset. My teaching range includes jazz, rock, R&B, funk, Latin, and blues styles. I keep an extensive library of teaching and reference materials for my students’ benefit. In 2006, I published a drumset instruction book specifically for beginning students, Building a Drumset Vocabulary. My teaching philosophy is to equip each student with proper percussion methods, and to assist each student to develop a unique musical style within his or her capabilities. In other words, working from an established and effective basic curriculum, I tailor lessons to suit the aspirations and needs of each individual student. As an instructor, I try to create a fun, relaxing learning environment in which each student can reach his or her full potential as a drummer and music lover. I offer instruction in reading skills, proper hand and foot technique, drumming styles, and chart reading, as well as drum fills, soloing, building speed and control, and working with a click track. Several of my young students have gone on to top music programs at Berklee and other colleges, and some like Tim Molloy of Our Last Night, Luc Laurent of Pepper Rabbit, and Nick Letizio have become professional musicians in their own right. I am also an active performer, with extensive local and national experience. My drum studio includes two complete drumsets, a practice pad and mirror for hand technique, a complete sound system for listen-and-play-along, and a digital recording system to record lessons and provide students CDs for practice and for sharing their performances.