There is no one-size-fit's-all method of teaching or playing a musical instrument. Every brain learns differently, so every brain should be taught differently! I use a flexible teaching style and employ a variety of tools and techniques to teach rhythm concepts tailored to the specific student. I also stress the importance of positive reinforcement and fun in learning. This is especially important for younger students. 

Progress on an instrument depends on a variety of factors including where the student is starting from, their age, if they've played an instrument before, and how much time they devote to practicing at home. The drum kit is a great instrument for beginning musicians because each groove and fill that is learned can be used to accompany an endless amount of songs. For this reason, I have students first learn some key grooves and simple fills to get them excited about playing. After that, we'll usually pick a song to learn based on where the student is at. I've found that most students are far more motivated to learn a song that they've helped pick out.

Practice is essential to progress. Here are some guidelines for practice:

Quantity: Beginners should start by practicing 20-30 minutes a day. Later on, more advanced students could practice as much as 2 hours a day.

Consistency: Favor shorter more consistent practice sessions over longer sporadic sessions. Our brains retain information far better if it's "needed" on a daily basis. Students' practice sessions will grow longer naturally as they become more self-motivated to overcome their own obstacles.

Quality: Like many other things in life, more isn't always better, and in this case, it can be detrimental. I teach students how to practice effectively through identifying habits, recording progress, and avoiding stagnated routines. We'll also learn how to use a metronome and several other practice aids to our advantage.