Home > Teaching Philosophy



I've been fortunate to study with some great teachers over the years. My time with them, in addition to my years of experience teaching my own private students, has helped to form my teaching philosophy.

The thing I value most of all in a teacher-student relationship is trust. Trust from the student comes from the teacher being prompt and consistent in lesson attendance, always being patient with mistakes and questions, giving honest and fair evaluations of progress, and never using ridicule or intimidation as a teaching tool. Trust from the teacher comes from the student being consistent and prompt in lesson attendance, listening and asking any questions that come up during the lesson, and practicing thoughtfully and consistently between lessons.

My goal in teaching is to provide each of my students with the best possible music education, to help them reach their full potential on the instrument, and to encourage them to build more of their own musical experiences through performance and concert attendance of their own. All of my students have the opportunity to perform solos or chamber music at my annual studio recital. My advanced drum and percussion students also get opportunities to perform with the orchestras I play in, when we need extra percussionists.