About
As a graduate of the University of Washington's acclaimed jazz program as well as the prestigious Roosevelt High School Jazz Band, I am a professional drummer and teacher with an extensive and varied set of experiences.
I began teaching in 2008, shortly after beginning my studies at the UW. My private students have ranged in skill level from those who have never touched an instrument before to very advanced players who frequently gig/record/tour/practice, each one presenting a unique set of interests and abilities to work with. I have also taught percussion and presented clinics and workshops at local schools including Garfield High School, Edmonds-Woodway High School, Ballard High School, Roosevelt High School, Seattle JazzED, Eckstein Middle School, Holy Names Academy, Northshore Junior High School, and Spotlight Studios.
In addition to teaching, I am a member of several active and diverse local bands (including Heatwarmer, Night Tapes, Rae, and Hunter Gather) that range in style from rock, pop, and folk to jazz, improvisation, experimental, and beyond. I also work with local jazz institutions Origin Arts and Earshot Jazz, and I am a co-founder of Table & Chairs — a Seattle-based community organization (formerly a record label) rooted in creative, avant-garde, and improvisational music — and the Racer Sessions — a weekly series and jam session dedicated to exploring composition and improvisation.
Since middle school, I have been lucky enough to perform and tour all over North America and Europe, playing everything from house shows to esteemed competitions and festivals. Some other amazing musicians I have been so fortunate to perform with include the Seattle Symphony; UW faculty members Bill Frisell, Cuong Vu, Luke Bergman, Ted Poor, and Marc Seales; several Cornish faculty members including Jim Knapp, Jovino Santos Neto, Wayne Horvitz, and Johnaye Kendrick; and NYC-based players Wynton Marsalis, Tim Berne, Ralph Alessi, Dave Douglas, and Andrew D'Angelo.
*** Lesson Details ***
My lesson plans depend largely on any specific path(s) the student may wish to pursue, though of course it is totally fine if the student doesn't immediately know what they would like to study beyond the basics! In any case, I do my best to construct a curriculum that I think will work well for the student, which may include books, other written or printed material including custom exercises developed specifically for the student, listening and viewing material, and more.
For beginning players, I usually like to start with the books "A Fresh Approach to the Snare Drum" and "A Fresh Approach to the Drum Set," both by Mark Wessels. These books do a great job of laying down the fundamentals that all drummers should learn at the outset of their education. Some of my favorite books I like to use with students for fundamentals and other more specific subjects include:
-"A Fresh Approach to the Snare Drum" (Mark Wessels)
-“A Fresh Approach to the Drum Set" (Mark Wessels)
-"Syncopation" (Ted Reed)
-“Stick Control" (G.L. Stone)
-“The Drummer's Complete Vocabulary As Taught By Alan Dawson" (John Ramsay)
-“Portraits in Rhythm" (Anthony Cirone)
I prefer lessons to be focused on a curriculum, however customized it may be, as I have found that approach to be the most efficient, especially with younger players. While I believe that it is very important to learn the fundamentals of drumming, I also believe that some of the most rewarding experiences a student can have may be achieved through realizing their own unique creative potential. Thus, I find it great to set the curriculum aside for part of the lesson, either to allow the student some time to show me what else they've been working on, listening to, watching, thinking about, or perhaps to just jam and have fun. I do expect students to make progress on their own between lessons, though I understand fully from my teaching experience that the amount of progress I can expect is different for each student.
*** Studio Equipment ***
Two full drum kits, plus a laptop, camera, and high-quality microphone for Online lessons
*** Travel Equipment ***
Sticks, practice pad, books, laptop
*** Specialties ***
Jazz, rock, folk, pop, many Latin and African styles, free improvisation
*** Experience ***
Table & Chairs Music
Co-Founder and Board Member (Mar 2011 - Present)
A Seattle-based record label devoted to the chronicling and advancement of creative new music.
Racer Sessions
Co-Founder and Principal Archivist (Jan 2010 - Present)
A forum and performance outlet for new and improvised music that meets every Sunday night at Café Racer.
Drum Set and Percussion Teacher (Sep 2008 - Present)
Extensive experience giving private lessons as well as clinics and workshops at various schools and organizations.
Working Drummer (Jan 2004 - Present)
Currently involved in several active projects that play entirely original and creative music as well as record and tour.
Recording artist at Paul Allen's Midnight Lamp Studios.
Frequent calls from peers and local professionals to play various engagements in the Seattle area.
Improvised Music Project (IMP)
Managing Director (Sep 2011 - Jun 2012)
A UW Registered Student Organization I co-founded in 2008 that works to present great improvised music and promote its appreciation. Also served as an IMP officer from 2008-2011.
*** Education ***
Bachelor of Music, cum laude, Jazz Studies
Sep 2008 - May 2013
University of Washington
*** Awards ***
Brechemin Scholarship, UW's highest music award
Sep 2011
University of Washington
Beech Scholarship
Sep 2010
University of Washington
Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Awards
-Racer Sessions: A Special Award in recognition of dedication to the enrichment of the Seattle jazz community (2017)
-Sequoia Ensemble: NW Acoustic Jazz Ensemble of the Year (2014)
-Chemical Clock: NW Recording of the Year (2014)
-Table & Chairs: NW Concert of the Year (2014)
-Table & Chairs: NW Concert of the Year (2013)
-Sjenka: Emerging Artist of the Year (2010)
Finalist, GRAMMY Jazz Band
Dec 2007
GRAMMY Foundation
Selected as one of fifteen drummer finalists in the nation for the 2008 GRAMMY Jazz Band
I love how powerful of a tool music can be for expression, communication, and community, so teaching others how to play an instrument and participate in the world of music is something I find to be greatly rewarding. Plus, it is a fact that playing and listening to music is flat-out FUN!
Highlights
Photos and videos
Reviews
Gary
Michelle H.
Katie H.
Jinhoon L.
Rachelle M.
Anne-Marie A.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I like to simply start by asking some questions about their experience and interests, and from there decide what the best way to proceed is. Sometimes it's starting from square one (how to hold a stick, how to strike a drum, etc), sometimes it's diving into a book right away, and sometimes the student is advanced enough that I create custom lesson plans for them that are not tied to a particular curriculum as laid out by a book or the like.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelor of Music, cum laude, Jazz Studies from the University of Washington.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
For lessons online or at my studio, I typically charge $30/$40/$50 for 30/45/60 minute lessons, respectively. For lessons at the student's house, I charge an additional $10 if they live 10 miles or less from me. If they live more than 10 miles away, there's a good chance it is too far for me to travel, but if I am able to I would charge an additional 50 cents per mile I drive (both ways).
How did you get started teaching?
It began by just getting referrals from other friends or family because they knew I was interested in teaching. My first student was a referral through a friend. After that it has been a mix of referrals, word of mouth, putting up flyers, and creating teacher profiles on various websites.
What types of students have you worked with?
My private students have ranged from total beginners to advanced, from 5 year olds to 50+ year olds.