Welcome to my Alexandria Drum Lessons drum teacher profile.

Twelve years ago, I decided to play drums in a beginning percussion class at school after my father encouraged me to learn an instrument. I pulled out an old drum set that I got for Christmas a few years back, but never got around to using and for whatever reason something seemed to click. I guess it’s because I listened to a lot of music as a kid, but I could already play some of my favorite songs at that time. At that point in time I was familiar with all kinds of music, but bands like Rage Against the Machine, Aerosmith, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin really resonated with me. All of a sudden, I couldn’t stop playing. I was tapping on my desk all day during school and playing along with music the minute I got home from school. 

As the years went on, I grew an interest into heavier music. I started out by digging deeper into Black Sabbath’s discography and eventually moved on to bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, Slipknot and a whole host of heavy metal bands. A lot of that music required a certain level of technique that I had yet to develop and because I was mostly self-taught at the time, I had a bad habit of trying to play much faster than I actually could, which eventually caught up to me in the form of tendonitis in both of my wrists.

Because I was still participating in concert band at the time I couldn’t stop playing altogether, but I obviously couldn’t play anywhere near as much as I used to, so my focus had to shift towards something else. My band director, a drummer named Dan Helm printed out an entire list of jazz drummers for me to check out. I spent that entire year listening to guys like Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Ben Riley, Ed Blackwell Roy Haynes and a ton of other drummers.

As my tendonitis gradually recovered due to a commitment to perfecting my technique, I started to really get into jazz and fusion. I didn’t have any aspirations of doing it for a living because I wasn’t thinking that far ahead. I just enjoyed the music.

Due to my growing curiosity I set out to find a teacher that could answer some of my questions. I’d had teachers in the past, but whether it was due to my unwillingness to learn or less than adequate instruction I didn’t get much out of it. This time was different though. Around the age of 15 or 16 I started taking lessons with a Brazilian drummer named Alejandro Lucini who opened my mind and fueled my interests and imagination by showing me finger technique, concepts behind playing jazz and fusion, and introducing me to a new style of music with Samba.  

Between the lessons with Alejandro and performing with my high school Marching Band, Concert Band and Jazz Band I was starting to build up a fairly solid foundation without even realizing it. When I was 17 years old my mother encouraged me to audition for the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra. I was reluctant at first because I didn’t think I had the skills for it, but I eventually gave it a try and successfully became a part of the group. Although I didn’t think much of it at the time it was a pretty big accomplishment that would eventually lead into other opportunities.

The director of the Orchestra, Michael Bowie was the one who wrote my recommendation letter for Berklee College of Music in Boston where I studied for 2 years before returning home to finish my studies online and perform in Washington DC with the Peter Edelman Trio for a number of years. 

As of right now, I’m teaching privately in students’ homes while developing my own private teaching studio within Northern Virginia. Ideally the student should have a drum set of their own, but if they don’t, they must at least have a pair of sticks and a practice pad.  

If you are interested in learning drums them I am passionate about helping you reach your drumming goals.

Get in touch and get drumming. Free 30 min. trial lessons – subject to availability.