There are all kinds of students. And, from the novice to the pro, I seem to get the whole catalog. But– the truly fascinating ones are the ones who claim to have no rhythm. These are the special cases, and they often seek piano and drum lessons in Chicago to break through their self-doubt.
What is a drum teacher to do with someone who says: “Look, I have no rhythm! There has been a curse on my family made way back by the witches of Norland, and, since then, we have no idea what to shake, swing, or boogie when we hear a rhythm.” Well, as a drum teacher in Chicago, this is exactly the kind of challenge I enjoy!
Time to bear dance. I put on a song, something with a beat as obvious as a military march, the kind you can play with a bulldozer. This is where drum lessons in Chicago get fun because you can start to help a student connect with the rhythm.
I then ask the student to stand up. Then, I guide them to wobble one foot after the other to the beat that they hear. So far, nobody has failed at that. I let them get into it for a while, giving them time to gain confidence in their abilities. If I feel they’re getting good at it, I ask them to clap the “2” and “4″. That’s where we’ll place the snare drum later on. That simple exercise emphasizes a landmark in the music, and it’s a great introduction to piano and drum lessons in Chicago.
I only met one person who couldn’t bear to dance. He wasn’t a student of mine. I was still young at the time, and I didn’t have the time to work with him. I’m sure he would have gotten it though. Given enough time and patience, I’m confident he would have found his rhythm, just like many students who come to me for piano and drum lessons in Chicago. Good old bear dance.
