Meet Dave, a drum teacher that offers expert drum lessons to students of all ages, helping them develop their skills and passion for music. With years of experience, Dave combines technical proficiency with a fun and engaging teaching style, making the learning process both enjoyable and educational. Additionally, whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your advanced skills, Dave is here to guide you every step of the way toward success.
Quick Facts about Dave
- Teaches Beginning-Intermediate drums
- Specializes in rock, jazz, pop, funk, soul, r&b, hip hop, latin styles, and acoustic/electronic music hybrid styles
- 9 years of experience teaching learners on the spectrum
- Experience with hand percussion instruments, including frame drum, doumbek, and tabl
- Started music education in middle school and played in band, orchestra and jazz ensembles through high school and college.
- Completed junior year as a percussion music performance major and San Francisco State University.
- Was a member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra for three years, under the mentorship of the SF Symphony percussionists.
- Has been teaching private and group lessons for over 30 years
Learn more about Dave
General Teaching Style
I like to keep things fun and energetic for my teaching sessions. I enjoy taking time to learn about the people that I work with and using that information to guide the flow of lessons. I am student-centered in my approach, looking to the learner's strengths and interests to set areas of exploration and learning goals. I like to keep lessons, fun, light and conversational, while building skills and addressing challenges. I am effective with all levels of students. I enjoy meeting each student where they are in their experience level and helping them develop their listening and playing skills as well as supporting enthusiasm and engagement.
I have 9 years of experience teaching learners on the spectrum as a lead classroom teacher in inclusion model classrooms and as a music instructor. I have learned many accommodations and strategies to help support diverse learners including those on the spectrum. I have been an elementary classroom teacher for the past 17 years. I am worked with many neurodiverse learners with different strengths and challenge areas. I quick on my feet and can adapt to meet individuals where they are in their learning journey. I love to laugh and have fun even when attempting challenging things. I enjoy getting to know individuals and using that information to guide lesson material and goal choices.
Curriculum
I use method books, video materials, audio play-alongs. Some of my favorite materials include the books, Building Blocks of Rock, by Dawn Richardson, A Funky Primer for the Rock Drummer, by Charles Dowd, and Syncopation, by Ted Reed. Curriculum choices are made based on the individual student's interests and goals.
Positive and Patient Teacher
I am extremely passionate about music and sharing information with others that may help them. I am a consistent, calm, and most importantly, a patient teacher. I know that each person learns in their own ways and in their own time frame. I support and guide with positivity and encouragement. I have been playing and teaching for a long time and have learned a great deal about helping students navigate the challenges of learning an instrument. I know that there is more than one way to reach a learning target and I am open to trying different approaches to get there.
Top 3 Desert Island Albums
Miles Davis - In a Silent Way
Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children
Radiohead - The King of Limbs
Focus & Goals of the First Lesson
During a first lesson, I like to discover what a student likes about music; what inspires and interests them. We play right away, covering technique, playing positioning, and basic strokes. I like to use a student's favorite song to demonstrate how drum parts can be broken down into smaller parts or exercises. I also like to play along with the student, side by side to demonstrate what it's like to both listen and play at the same time. We take a look at some basic notation to help provide the background for students to practice material at home. This can look pretty much the same for a young learner or an adult!
Most Inspirational Music Moments and Experiences
My first rock concert was seeing The Police when I was 14 years old. It was the Ghost in the Machine Tour. I was standing pretty close to the stage and the energy and excitement coming off the stage was electric. I was blown away by the the feeling of seeing my heroes up close and how they were affecting thousands of people in such a positive and profound way! I knew that I wanted to play music for people.