Best First Lesson!

This young man is one of my former school kids, and today was his first drum lesson with me! His mom called YESTERDAY, and she brought him to start lessons TODAY!!!

His dad is a local pastor, and his mom is the pianist, so of course he wants to play drums in church! I knew from school that he is a natural on drums, but today in his first lesson, he truly exceeded expectations!

After practicing how to hold the sticks and some simple beat patterns, I had him play some church songs with me: Lord, I Lift Your Name On High, and Goodness of God. We worked on ways to vary the sections of the song, moving from hi-hat to ride, and changing the snare hit to a rim click. He even put in some tasteful cymbal hits and backbeats on snare!

To close the lesson we listened to a recording of Goodness of God and practiced counting out loud, "One, two, three, four," so he always knows where "One" is!

I haven't taught kids on drum set since my Michigan school kids were doing country songs pre-covid! It's been a little while, but it's so fun! And this is the first student to play on my college teacher, Kevin Mills' Yamaha Bebop Kit, the Goldie Oldies!

I offer lessons in my home studio north of Ottawa, IL on piano, voice, guitar, drums, and beginning band instruments. Call or text 269-986-2127 to get started!