Red Sparkle Drum Studio

Teaching Drums : Sharing Music : Having Fun ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Seattle drum lessons

Student Quotes

"Mark is an amazing teacher and he really knows how to help you get all the basics down. He has helped me set up a foundation to continue playing for the future. He's just cool.".......Berkeley, age 14

"When I was taught by Mark I never once had a week where I felt overwhelmed with what was expected. I never had a week where I learned nothing and above all never had a week where I didn't have fun. Mark is truly a great teacher. He knows the right mixture of skills and other things that are important to drumming, also when to change something and when to encourage it. He allowed me to learn as I wished but we always learned."........Marshall, age 14

Learning the Drums

Time Commitment

For students to make steady progress on the drum set they will need to practice at least 4 days a week for 15 minutes a day.

Getting Your Kids Involved

Nothing is better than making music with other musicians. Is Kyle playing in the orchestra, jazz band or marching band at school? Does Rachel have a group of friends who play other instruments? Does mom or dad, brother or sister play an instrument or are they interested in learning? Any of these will really give purpose to our private lessons.

Playing vs. Practicing

I encourage my students to have as much fun as possible while playing the drums. "Playing" the drums is sitting behind the drum set and playing the beats and fills that they can already play, the ones that groove and come easily. "Practicing" the drums is sitting at the drum set concentrated and determined, working through the lesson material and being diligent until they get it. In my lessons I will assign just enough homework that with 15 minutes of "practice" 4 days a week my student will have made progress, learned something new and feel good about the accomplishment.

Parental Encouragment

For all of my students parental involvement is critical. Parents should look in the lesson folder each week to see about the current assignment. Talk with them about scheduling their 15 minutes of "practice" 4 times a week. Ask them to explain what they're working on and have them demonstrate the lesson.

Inspiration

My greatest strides have come when I've been inspired about what I'm learning and why I'm learning it. Performing in the band, orchestra and marching band all through my schooling inspired me to do well in private lessons, performing in my cool rock band in high school inspired me to play with confidence (as well as have tight pants and big hair), going to college for music, participating in jazz combos and wind ensemble inspired me to practice every day and living in New Orleans inspired me to learn to play jazz.

I will look for what inspires my students and from there we will learn to make music on the drums.

Mark DiFlorio