Drums With Lucas
About
I'm a professional drummer and educator in Chicago. In my 13 years of teaching, I've taught everyone from four-year-olds to professional drummers, so I have the experience to help you, wherever you are in your drumming journey.
I play drum set with Blue Man Group, I regularly perform at the top jazz clubs in Chicago, and I've toured the country with indie bands. I'm also a high school percussion ensemble director and college drum set teacher, so I have a broad range of experiences to pull from as I craft a customized plan to help you meet your drumming goals. I have bachelor's and master's degrees in Drums and Percussion (Jazz Studies emphasis) from Northern Illinois University and DePaul University.
In my lessons, I like to balance a focus on drumming fundamentals (technique, rhythm reading, time-keeping) with the flexibility to explore the student's own interests, whether that be learning a specific song, preparing a part for school band, or trying to figure out what the drummer's doing in an inspiring video you found online!
I'm passionate about playing music and am so grateful that I get to make a living doing what I love. My hope is to share some of that passion with you through engaging lessons and clear, motivating, and fun practice plans.
I consider myself a perpetual student -- I'm always searching out new music, reading music books, getting in my daily practice, and dreaming up new projects. I love going on this journey of learning along with my students!
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
When a new student signs up for lessons, I like to schedule a (free) 15-minute preliminary meeting online to get to know the student, talk to them about their goals with lessons, and work out any technological/logistical issues.
After assessing the student's knowledge, experience, goals, and musical preferences, I begin crafting a customized curriculum plan that will include everything from technique exercises to songs to learn. Given this preliminary session, we're able to "hit the ground running" in the first full-length lesson and get started on some fun, educational, and motivating drumming activities.
During each lesson, I take notes on how the lesson goes, what materials we covered, and what I think we should do next. After the lesson is over, I create a custom practice plan for the student for the next week and promptly email that to the student, so they know exactly what to work on in their practice and exactly what to expect in next week's lesson.