Yamaha Recording Custom Drum Kit
Q: What instruments do you teach — drum set or just snare drum?
A: Both. I focus on the drum set, but I also teach snare drum technique as well. I was taught rudimental snare drum technique from the beginning, and I believe that it has helped me tremendously when learning the drum set. I have two marching snare drums, and two set up for orchestral playing.
Q: Do you teach on drum pads, or on drums?
A: I teach on primarily on drums.
Pad work is done as needed.
Q: Do you teach hand percussion such as congas and/or djembe?
A: No. I love hand drumming, however, my focus is on the drum set. A passion of mine is to take traditional Latin and World rhythms and apply those ideas to the drum kit.
Q: Do you teach mallets?
A: Yes. I have two xylophones at Gregory Tech Drum Center. I teach theory, scales, and reading.
Q: How long have you been teaching drum lessons?
A: I have been teaching since 1985
Q: Do you accept beginning drum students?
A: Yes — My students are all ages and at all levels. Drum lessons for kids are usually a half hour in length; however, that really depends on the person. My youngest student is 6, and my oldest is 76!
Q: What kind of training/qualifications do you have?
A: I started drum lessons at the age of twelve. I have been playing drums for over fifty years, and have close to that many years of professional experience performing. At the Berklee College of Music, I studied with Skip Hadden and Joe Hunt. I also studied with Alan Dawson while in Boston. Buster Bailey was a mentor of mine when I lived in New York City, as was Kenwood Dennard. I am a member of the Vic Firth Private Drum Teacher Program; Hudson Music Teacher Integration Program; the Percussive Arts Society; and the Professional Drum Teachers Guild.
Q: What do I need to bring to my drum lessons?
A: You will need your enthusiasm and dedication to learning. This includes listening to music on your own, coming prepared, and giving it all you’ve got during the lesson. My best students are the ones who try the hardest. You will also need drum sticks and a blank manuscript book that I can write in. As you progress, it will be a good idea for you to study from various method books, which I can recommend.
Q: Where are you located?
A: Gregory Tech Drum Center is in Yardley, PA, conveniently located near Rt 295 and Rt 1 — close to Washington Crossing, Newtown, Richboro, New Hope, Princeton, NJ and Hamilton, NJ — providing drum lessons for the greater Philadelphia area.
Q: When are you available to teach?
A: Gregory Tech Drum Center is open Monday through Saturday. Please call or look at my availability online:
Q: How much do you charge?
A: As of January 1, 2024, my rate is $70 per hour lesson and $40 per half hour lesson. Lessons are preferably scheduled weekly. These rates may have changed, so please call or email for current rates.
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: Gregory Tech Drum Center accepts major Credit Cards, Venmo, Zelle, Personal Checks, Apple Cash, Google Pay, PayPal, or Cash.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: I require at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to reschedule a lesson. If proper notice is not given, you will be charged for the missed lesson and will not be eligible for a make-up lesson. Make-up lessons must be made up within one week of the canceled lesson, or no credit will be issued. Likewise, If I need to reschedule a lesson and do not give you at least 24 hours’ notice, your next lesson will be free of charge. Exceptions will be made for inclement weather, sudden illness, and family emergencies.