Basic Info: My studio is located at Gelb Music in Redwood City. I also use Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype when social distancing is required. Lessons are $60 for 30min, $85 for 45min, and $110 for an hour. Please fill out the contact form if you have questions or would like check availability.
Lesson Philosophy - Teaching drums & percussion has been a staple of my career for over 15 years and it is something I am passionate about. I knew early on when I decided to pursue music as a career that teaching would play a large role, and just as I admired my favorite drummers & musicians, I admired the people who were expert educators, as well. The core principles of my educational philosophy are fostering enthusiasm, developing strong fundamentals, and preparedness for real world musical situations.
Fostering enthusiasm means that I strive to create a fun environment where students can discover the joy of learning music and experience a sense of improvement and growth from week to week that will encourage them to keep playing and practicing.
Every type of music and culture has some form of drums or percussion, making it a wide field to study. I encourage and enable students to study whichever type of music they are passionate about. With this in mind, I feel strongly that one of the most important things I can do as a teacher is develop solid fundamentals of technique that will produce a great sound and keep students playing pain-free for the duration of their musical lives. Hand technique, proper warm-up & ergonomics, hearing protection, setup & posture, and foot/pedal technique are some of the topics in this area.
Preparedness for real world musical situations is another principle that I strongly believe in. Most of my students are either: enrolled in their school music program, playing in a local youth orchestra, preparing for an audition, playing in a jazz ensemble, or learning drums later in life and working towards joining a band as a hobby. My experience as a professional player in both orchestral and drum set arenas helps me spot potential gaps in a student's preparedness level. Examples such as sight-reading, knowledge of styles, mallet (xylophone, bells) proficiency, coordination on the drum kit, and snare drum technique are all things that I have worked on over the years with my own instructors, and it is a privilege to pass on the traditions of the art form and adhere to certain standards of excellence that students can feel proud of.
Every student is different and I strive to meet them where they are and find strategies and approaches that will work for their musical development.
Thanks for taking the time to read my philosophy and happy drumming!
-Matt Germano