What To Look For In A Music teacher P1

Music teachers are so personal and important for the student's development that you can't just go by whoever is closest to your house, a friend's recommendation, or even Google reviews. That teacher may spend several months to several years with the student and can shape how they practice, play with proper technique, produce a good sound, make musical decisions, and even view life!

When I was studying in my younger years, I always chose teachers who had a very specific set of information that I wanted. They played the type of music that I wanted to play and did it at the absolute highest level possible. I discovered them through their recordings and live performances and knew for a fact that they would be great. I would be so awe-struck by the way that they effortlessly moved around the drums, generated excitement, and led a band with such poise, leadership, and command. I knew that they had the experience and all of the answers so that I could beeline directly toward my goals without meandering or wasting any time. 

Distance wasn't even a factor and I knew that studying with them would be more beneficial than going with someone closer. There were periods when I would drive one hour each way to San Francisco for a single lesson with Brandon Etzler. I trudged through snow in NYC to get to the NYU studios for classical percussion lessons with Sean Statser. And I even took like 3 trains each way to get to Kenny Washington's house in Brooklyn and back. If you are serious about the music, distance is not even a factor.

Thank you to my previous teachers: Akira Tana, Brandon Etzler, Sean Statser, Kenny Washington, and Christopher Brown.