Whether you're an aspiring beginner, hobbyist, weekend musician, college or university music student, semi professional or professional musician - ALL are welcome!

Frequency Guidelines: These are reality-based principles that apply to consistent progress. It's about getting the most out of your studies, while making the best progress in the shortest amount of time, & avoiding the detrimental shortcuts.

• Once per week is the best schedule for steady progress and continuity of learning.  Allowing time between lessons to practice material and introduce new concepts at a brisk pace.  This is the ultimate option for progress.
• Once every 2 weeks (bi-weekly) is the longest time between lessons that still allow progress at a pace that can be “felt” (and prevents improper practice habits to become habit).  Thinking about lessons every 2 weeks, at best is 26 lessons a year without cancellations or unforeseen problems.  Realistically, students who take lessons every 2 weeks average about 14-20 lessons annually.  When you think about an year, that’s not much new material in one year.
• Point is there are many options available to tailor studies to your schedule.

How to Improve by John Castellano

In all fields of study, understanding , not only, what to do to improve, but also how, is imperative. Many musicians struggle unnecessarily, because they lack understanding of the dynamics of the student and teach relationship.

1. Talent
2. Quality of Instruction
3. Diligent Focus
4. Quality of Experience
5. Passage of Time

Talent - Natural ability - intrinsic ability to avoid antagonistic muscle movements, that allow one to develop with less effort than another.

Quality of Instruction - formal instruction and unpretentious guidance offered with regards of "how" to achieve goals. What works for you. Rating teachers:

1. Lesser
   The teacher lacks Professional Knowledge& Ability and is unable to explain "how" it's done.
2. Average
   The teacher has Professional Knowledge& Ability, and yet can only explain how he or she does it.
3. Outstanding
   The teacher has the Professional Knowledge& Ability to "speak the language" of the student and the confidence to guide the student, allowing self discovery, toward their goals.

Diligent Focused Effort - This is the aspect the student has the most control. Focused, Consistent, Goal Oriented Practice.

1. Prioritize you goals, identify weaknesses.
2. Allot time for each goal. Spending more time on your weakest aspect.
3. Everyone's time is limited. When you can't cover all the material in one individual practice session, alternate what you practice between two different days
4. Stay Focused
5. Work incrementally using a metronome and full sized, spiral bound music manuscript book to track of your progress.

THE QUALITY OF YOUR EXPERIENCE - has to do with input - includes from what you listen to, to the kind and caliber of music you’re playing. You are what you take in. Expand your horizons by listening to all types of good music—not just what you know best. You will likely become a better overall musician. Also, try to seek out and play with seasoned musicians. A more accomplished musician will often cut you some slack if they know you are serious about making good music.

PASSAGE OF TIME - In time, with diligent, focused effort— depending on your natural abilities—you can improve. Skills develop when you’re not looking. But You made it happen through persistent effort. Observing this process with the requisite patience and perseverance, you can accomplish about any goal. The passage of time! Keep at it and be assured that diligent, focused effort produces results.

__________________________________

Related Links
Drum Lesson in Montreal Overview
Coordinated Independence Videos Videos
Moeller Method Videos Hand Technique Videos
Montreal Drum Set Lessons Advanced Concepts

Musicianship Lessons Ear Training and Music Theory