About
Hello, my name is Paul L. Kush. I now have 35+ years of playing and teaching experience resulting in a never ending passion for music, the musicians and the students I work with. As a Touring and Studio Musician based in Los Angeles, I performed as a contractor on T.V. Shows, Studio Recording Sessions, Club Dates and Record Productions.
My focus today is to continue to learn and play with others that share my excitement in creating music. Also to extend my experience to those that are motivated to become better drummers whether for fun or as a professional musician. In my courses we study all styles of music and we have "FUN" while learning. Beginning to Advanced students accepted.
Want to learn more detail about me, click on my biography. You can here me play here.
I enjoy extending my experience as a Professional Musician and Educator. I enjoy seeing the excitement and feeling of accomplishment from my students. The student gets a chance to "be in the drummers chair" and hear what is like to play with a professional band. Every song my students complete is recorded, engineered and made available on CD and the Internet for family and friends to enjoy. I approach each student individually and comprise a personalized program that is right and most effective for them. I studied with Fred Gruber, Joe Porcaro and Denny Dennis in Los Angeles. These are some of the finest teachers of their time. I also studied at The Dick Grove School Of Music, a then prestigious school that was lead by Studio Musicians in Los Angeles. I am on Facebook www.facebook.com/Drum4uProductionsDrumLessons. You can also check out my website at http://www.drum4u.com.
Specialties
Able to read music
Musical styles
Years experience
Types of drums
Lesson length
Student's age
Student have drums
Reviews
Todd P.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Lessons are private only. Each student is treated with individual care with programs suited to their current level and adaptation rate. We make playing music fun by working with current popular music. When the student completes a song, it is recorded professionally and presented to them on a CD and posted for parents, relatives and friends to see and hear. Check out the examples on my website. http://www.drum4u.com
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I started my music career at 17 years old. After years of playing competitive sports like football and baseball, I decided I wanted to extend myself and career into music performance. I was married at a very young 18 with a newborn son, Paul James. It became evident that it was time to "make some money" to support my new family. I decided to attend Cerritos college after graduating from Downey High School in Downey, California. I immediately joined the Cerritos College Stage band, and started studying with the best teachers I could find including Denny Dennis, Fred Gruber, and Joe Porcaro. I also studied vibes and took classes at The Dick Grove School of Music. At that time I joined a 7 piece group called Magic Grass with the most talented vocalist Miss Zell Black. During that time, the group was signed with Decca records.
After leaving the Grass, I decided to start my own group, "The Next Step". The group recorded its own originals as well as many of its members with well known recording groups. We provided studio musicians for Pandora Records in Compton, CA. I also did private teaching at Downey Music and La Habra Music.
Wanting to try something new, I joined the Eddie Cash Show. We did a tour circuit that included Tahoe, Reno and Las Vegas Nevada as well as tours across the Midwest and up the West Coast to Canada.
Eventually the road got old, I missed my family and returned to Los Angeles to start up another group again calling it "The Next Step". We played primarily in the Los Angeles, Orange County areas. During this period I started playing more and more in the studios doing jingles, TV Cues (Hawaii 5.0/Knott's Landing), and with various recording artists including Aretha Franklin and Lalo Shifrin. About this time synthesizers started to enter the scene. The new electronics included drum machines, sequencers and software designed to the MIDI specification. I decided I would join the computer revolution rather than fight it. In 1982, I decided to perform part-time and start a business distributing high-end computer based imaging hardware and software. The products we represented were sold to Fortune 1000 companies all over the U.S. including Rockwell International and NASA.
In 1992 I moved to Houston, TX to run a large project for Intergraph; a major CAD/CAM computer manufacturer. Because music is always in your blood, I really missed performing and decided to get back into the music scene. At that time, close friend and fellow musician of now 30+ years, Mr. Michael Hinton moved to Houston in 1998 to run the Training programs for Compaq. I started teaching again and performing in local venues and for corporate events. I still continue my "day gig" as a Business Broker - Mergers & Acquisitions advisor and devote my personal time to playing and teaching music.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I give 1 hour and 1/2 hour lessons.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching in CA in a music store while performing and doing studio work.
What types of students have you worked with?
All ages 6-85, male and female. Pros, intermediates and beginners. I also work closely with CCISD, Pasadena and Friendswood School district children in marching bands, jazz bands and orchestral bands.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
A teacher that has experience in working with someone your age group, with an understanding of your desire to play drums, and the ability to relate to and develop a program that is built especially for you.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Why they want to play?
Are they willing to dedicate time to practice on a regular basis?
Are they enthusiastic about learning?