About
Learn not just drums, but music!
Drum lessons are tailored to each student with goal of improving not just their drum skills, but also their musicality, listening skills, and creativity.
A bit about myself!... I've been playing drums for the last 15+ years and have been teaching for the last 8. I've worked with students of all ages, including adults. Typically my lessons are in person, but I've gotten used to teaching via zoom or skype calls- wonderful ways to check in on progress and provide guidance remotely!
I have a bachelor of music degree, summa cum laude, from the Hartt School of Music, Dance, and Theatre in Hartford, CT where I studied jazz percussion and music production. Some of my past teachers include:
-Bob Minton
-Eric McPherson (Jackie McLean, Fred Hersch, Pharaoh Sanders)
-JP Bouvet (Periphery, Childish Japes, Generation Axe)
-Richie Morales (The Brecker Brothers, Mike Stern, Al DiMeola)
I've had the pleasure of drumming in a wide array of professional musical environments including: award winning theatre pit orchestras, jazz/ funk bands such as Collision Theory and Fat Bois Brass Band, folk bands such as Deadgrass and Soulfarm, my metal band Gravis, and a tour of the US with one of England's top theatre stars.
Whatever style of music you're interested in, I'm sure I can help you explore it!
*For New York State students interested in NYSSMA:
Growing up in the NY public school system, I have an intimate knowledge of the NYSSMA festival. By junior year of high school I received perfect scores for All-State (level 6) solos on both snare drum and drum set, and since then have helped numerous students perform their solos with confidence, resulting in scores they were proud of. I would love to help you prepare for the incredibly rewarding solo festival, too!
For more info feel free to visit www.EthanGDrums.com/lessons
I love fostering an excitement for music in all of my students. Music is an incredibly personal art form, so I follow my students' leads in regards to their personal interests and ambitions. Tell me what music makes you the most excited and I'll help you explore it and branch out from there!
Specialties
Able to read music
Musical styles
Years experience
Types of drums
Lesson length
Student's age
Student have drums
Photos and videos
Reviews
Rachel L.
Sal M.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
With any new student I make sure to find out what their ambitions are. That way I can come up with an approach that will help them achieve their specific goals as effectively as possible. However, if they're not really sure of what they want to do with the drums, but know they want to play, I spend time exploring lots of different concepts with them to see what peaks their interest.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been a drum student for over 15 years, and continue to study the instrument every day. I have a bachelor of music degree from the Hartt School of Music, Dance, and Theatre- a conservatory in Hartford, CT. There I studied jazz percussion as well as music production and graduated summa cum laude.
In addition to my education, I have real world performing experience in several genres of music and 17 different states. This includes pit orchestras (for award winning theatres throughout the northeast), jazz bands, funk bands, rock bands, metal bands, and symphony orchestras. Besides live performance I also frequently work as a session drummer for studio recordings in all of the genres listed above.
How did you get started teaching?
Growing up I had the privilege of having a great drum teacher who brought out my personal strengths and helped me expand on them. I wanted to do the same for other drummers as soon as I was able to because the experience and satisfaction is incredibly rewarding. Thus my goal as a teacher is to foster an excitement for drums in every student and help them find what their strenghts are.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with beginners as young as 5 years old, all the way through adult students learning as a hobby.
With the younger students I can help them prepare for any music they get from their school bands, including preparation for the NYSSMA solo festival (for NY state).
For adults, it's a pleasure to help connect people with the music they've loved for years in a new way. Internalizing the music from behind the drum set is a brand new and exciting perspective.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Define what your personal goals are with the drums. They can be as specific or as vague as you want, but to have an idea of what your ambitions are will A) help you find a teacher that is best equipped to help you and B) help that teacher guide you in the best way possible.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Some questions could include:
-"What strenghts do I already have that I can use as a foundation?" (Even for a total beginner this can include strengths such as learning well by ear, having good self-discipline, being creative, being organized, etc).
-"What type of music do I see myself playing?" This will help determine which methods/ techniques will be the most helpful for you.
-"How much time am I looking to commit to this?" There is no right or wrong answer here!! Music is supposed to be ENJOYABLE, not a source of stress. Communicating how much time you will realistically put into the instrument will ensure that you're not faced with unrealisitc expactations that cause you to feel negatively towards the instrument.