Tag: Chicago drum instruction

I talk to other drum and piano teacher. and it is always interesting to hear their point of view about the students and/or the parents they deal with. Of course, the first thing to be said is that those teachers are proud of their students. They enjoy the relationship they build over the weeks, months…

Let’s establish some foundations in the realm of music instruction, particularly from the perspective of a Chicago music instructor. In classical music, performers are trained to play precisely what is written on the page. While some classical musicians can improvise or compose, they are not the same multitude found in the vibrant world of jazz.…

The title of this blog might be a bit misleading. You may think it means dedicating a whole day to practice, but that’s not what I intended. It’s quite the opposite: it’s about fitting in a few efficient practice sessions with your instrument during a busy week. Let’s consider a typical week filled with work,…

The decisions you make determine your fate when you’re a self-employed musician. You have to take the little decisions like the ones who concern what you wear for a gig, and the medium ones like which kind of car you buy, and the big ones like deciding to become a teacher or a player. All…

Is it too late? For resolution, I mean. Am I out of time? Anybody? No answers! Ok, then, I’ll decide: no too late. Just on time. I was right on. That was easy. So, first of all, here goes: Happy New Year! I hope all your wishes and dreams come true. Second, as per title…

Part 1 As one journeys through learning piano or drum lessons in Chicago, something weird happens. Like everybody else, I am a victim of this phenomenon. It frustrates me and makes me feel weak like my efforts are not rewarded by what they are due. Instead of explaining the matter, I’ll give you an example.…

What we have determined in the first part is something that I am sure any musician has experienced and dreaded: you practice a tune your butt off and you can’t play it correctly in front of an audience. I hinted that the remedy is playing with others. Hmm, the plot thickens. What “others” am I…

As one journeys through learning to play piano or learning to play drums, something weird happens. And like everybody else, I am a victim of this phenomenon. It frustrates me and makes me feel weak like my efforts are not rewarded by what they are due through practice and lifelong playing. Instead of explaining the…

I’ll give you my answer right away: I don’t know the “perfect age” to start learning an instrument. I’ve seen people starting to play piano or drums as an adult hobby in their thirties or even later and ending up as dedicated musicians or even professionals. And it wasn’t luck—it was a lot of hard…

To fit music lessons into a busy schedule, you can: schedule dedicated practice time in your calendar, break practice sessions into smaller chunks, utilize short “in-between” moments, consider online lessons for flexibility, and communicate with your teacher about your availability to find suitable lesson times; essentially, prioritize music practice by treating it like any other important appointment…