FAQ

An emphatic NO! Most of my students are complete beginners and adults. The unique thing about playing drums is that you can make it as simple or complex as you like. Many of the most memorable songs have a surprisingly simple beat that is very achievable. You just won't know until you try.

Most of my students take on WEEKLY lessons. I have found this tends to work well, but If you would like more or less, I'm happy to work with you schedule.

Yes, and they make great gifts! You let me know how many lessons you'd like to purchase and I will email you the gift certificate with the person's name.

I know we all live in tiny boxes here in NYC, so there are some obvious constraints. The most important thing to purchase first is a practice pad and pair of sticks, this will enable you to start practicing at home without driving your roommates and neighbors crazy. 

If you do have space, a quieter option might be to purchase an electronic drum kit, or e-kit. I discuss the pros and cons of e-kits in this blog post.

Another option would be to rent time at an hourly rehearsal room. There are several places around the city that have fully set up rooms and you pay by the hour. I also offer rental time at my studio to students, happy to discuss that more in person if you're interested.

A lot of drummers, (especially self-taught players) can develop certain habits that may not be the best technique long term. Having another set of eyes and ears might shine a spotlight on little things that are holding you back from getting to the next level. I can help strengthen your hand technique, coordination, independence, as well as how I approach playing and writing.

I accept Zelle, Venmo, Apple Cash, or old school cash. I kindly ask that payments are paid monthly at the beginning of each month.

If you need to cancel a lesson for any reason I require 24 hours notice. I'm happy to reschedule to another time/day or postpone til the next scheduled lesson. If notice of cancellation is given less than 24 hours, I will still need to charge for the lesson.

Reading music is part of learning an instrument, but not the most important part. I like to incorporate music notation at least during the basics because it adds a visual element that usually helps solidify the beats as you learn them. You may be surprised how approachable it is.

I try to maintain a flexible schedule for my students. Openings change constantly based on my student load, so it's best to inquire to be most updated.

My current hours are:

Sunday 10 - 5pm

Monday 11 - 7pm

Tuesday 11 - 7pm

Wednesday 11 - 7pm

Thursday 11 - 7pm

Friday 11 - 7pm

Saturday 10 - 5pm

I charge $80 per hour long lesson at my rehearsal studio in East Williamsburg, BK.

Yes, feel free to message me for rates and availability.

The simple short answer is I don't know, everyone learns at a different pace. One thing I've learned from years of teaching is there is no "one size fits all" student.

My personal goal is to have each student able to play a simple beat by the end of the first lesson, and play through a simple song within a couple months. But as long as you're improving and having fun, I call that a success. 

I know there are a lot of teachers in the area and I know many of them are great. I'd like to say that I bring a unique approach to teaching through my experience being a full time working musician and running my own business. I intently guide lessons based on each individual so not to be stuck with a prewritten curriculum, and find it really motivates my students.

But don't take my word for it, read testimonials from students past and present. 

There is a plethora of tutorials and lessons online, we all know that. Many of these sources are great and I subscribe to a lot of drum YouTube channels. I would have loved to have had access to these sources as a kid when I was starting, so they certainly have a lot to offer. 

However, what online lessons can't provide is immediate feedback. Bad habits can be very hard to un-train and can cause some avoidable hurdles down the line. Not learning proper technique will slow your progress over time and cause a lot of frustration. Having that constant feedback as well as demonstration is a priceless tool.

On a personal note, I was fortunate to take private lessons from a great local teacher when I was a teenager. Watching him play just a few feet from me completely blew my mind! It was mesmerizing and made me want to take my playing seriously. I'll never forget that experience.