About
I truley love teaching and passing on my passion for hand drumming. My teaching is always customized to the way the student learns best and I teach with patience.
I love inspiring a student to take it on and go deeper into the instrument. Initially hand drumming may seem more challenging that was expected, but with patience and desire, a student can develop great skills.
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Ira C.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I first assess the skill level and try to determine if their are any learning impedements that I need to work with.
At a basic level, I first start with the sounds of the drum. Each sound has to be distinguished clearly.
Once we have the sounds, I begin teaching basic rhytmic patterns and help the student develop left hand right hand coordination. I use many techniques to develop this essential skill starting with very simple quarter notes through sixteenth notes.
Once the student picks up basic rhythms, we work on timing, fills and feel.
Lastly, we work on syncopations and solo lines.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been a professional percussionist for 20 years playing many styles of music from around the world. I have trained with master percussionists in Arabic, Persian, African, Latin & Indian percussion styles and developed my own teaching methods from this.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Yes
$65 per hour for lessons at my home in Topanga Canyon
$80 per hour for lessons outside my home within a 10 mile radius
$100 per hour for lessons outside my home outside a 10 mile radius up to a 25 mile radius
$70 per hour for facetime/skype lessons
How did you get started teaching?
I started playing and when I developed skills and started playing out, people would come to me asking if I taught. Then I developed a community drum class in my town.
What types of students have you worked with?
Ages 7 - 75 of all different skill level up to professional drummers in other styles.
Kids with mild to severe ADD
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I was asked to created a 2 1/2 minute performance for 6 kids from a local alternative school. 4 of the 6 kids have mild to severe ADD. At first I didn't think they could pull it off but I was able to focus their attention and inspire them to take it on. I was really proud of the results and the kids and school were thrilled.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Make sure you feel good learning from the teacher and that you are excited and motivated when you leave the lesson.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Am I really interested in learning skills and will I work hard to learn them or am I looking for something easy that I can just have fun with.
How much time do I have to practice between lessons? Can I practice a little every day or one day per week?
Do I have any impedements to learning that I can share with my teacher. Have I experienced ways other teachers have worked with me that have been sucessful and can I share that with my teacher?