Testimonials

I have been taking drum lessons from Ken for several years now. I am 54 and had always had an interest in drumming but somehow thought I’d need to be in a band to use the skill. Just before turning 50, I decided to invest in a ‘Ready,Set, Go’ Drum Set which came with bass drum, snare, three toms, a hi-hat and a cymbal..and even the stool and sticks. I tinkered around on my own for two years and then decided I’d get lessons. I heard about Ken through a friend and quickly discovered that with background music, I can drum all by myself quite happily. I don’t really want to perform at this point, I just enjoy mastering the drumming techniques that Ken teaches me and trying to improve my skill.

Let me tell you a bit about Ken. He is a very skilled musician all round and on the occasions when he demonstrates techniques in the lessons, he is clearly an awesome drummer. As a teacher, he is definitely tuned in to the interests of his students. In the lessons and practice work, he teaches a good combination of precision work mixed with more relaxed approaches. He helps me develop precision for the drills and hand techniques he teaches, but also encourages relaxed drumming which actually helps those precision skills develop. He encourages me to listen to the drumming in music in general and provides some CD’s for trying out the drumming techniques as you hear them. His lessons are organized but are well-adapted to where I’m at on any particular day. He is reliable and always phones if there is to be a change in the lesson time. The price of his lessons is very reasonable. I guess to sum it up, Ken brings a great spectrum of skills to his teaching. Precision but also fun. And his appreciation of music is obvious.

A. Williams – Student

 

It’s been over four years since I started taking drum lessons from Ken. I began right around the time I retired. I you were to ask me what I have learned I would say that I have learned how naturally uncoordinated I am, and how little I knew about drumming. That’s the easy answer that is reinforced each time I watch a video of any of the pro drummers that are on the market. The longer answer is that Ken has taken me from the very basics (how to hold my sticks), to a point where I have played several gigs with my own band as well as sitting in with a friend’s group when their regular drummer was unavailable. The road has not always been easy, but through Ken’s encouragement and guidance to overcome specific barriers, the journey thus far has been rewarding.

Ken loves jazz but we have dabbled in Country, Pop, Rock, Old Time, Latin and blues to varying degrees. Whatever the genre, Ken is willing to discuss whatever questions I have and is able to demonstrate whatever he is explaining. We have also explored sight reading, how to practice, and how to break down phrases when practicing to make comprehension easier. Most important, aside from the obvious technical things, taking lessons from Ken has provided structure and direction to my endeavours.

F. Schwertner – Student, Performer