Lee H.

Hi, my name is Lee, and I am a Drummer/Percussionist from Phoenix, Az. I have been a student of music for 15 years and a professional musician and educator for nearly 10 years. My musical influences include 60's-present R&B, Funk and Soul and I also enjoy Salsa/World Music and Rock. My teaching style can best be described as adaptive and accessible while still being rooted in fundamentals and rhythmic traditions. My teaching philosophy can best be described by saying that I always prioritize a student's confidence in themselves in order to allow them to take on more challenging materials without being afraid to mess up and try again. In my lessons, you can expect to learn a core series of fundamental concepts that will be adaptable to whatever the student wants to learn in the future drum beats that work across genres, practice habits that are built on developing real world skills, etc.. I like to tell my students the only thing stopping us from progressing is the fear of failure, so let's dive in and mess up so we can figure out what we need to do better! Everyone has to start somewhere and a lot of energy is wasted beating oneself up for mistakes or perceived shortfalls. My favorite thing about teaching is the look on a student's face when they finally lock in on a groove or concept, and we can both appreciate how far they've come and that they're finally playing music! Those hands-in-the-air "Wow! I did it!" moments. My favorite performance was when I performed at several country festivals with Maiah Wynne in Montana a few years back. It was great to be put up and fed in such a beautiful place just to play music! My students love that I am flexible while also being stern about goals and expectations. If we agree on practice/learning expectations and they're not met, I'm always willing to reassess and create goals that still challenge the student, but still account for what a student can handle so practice and lessons aren't a chore. I primarily teach Drums/percussion at basically any level, but I can also teach piano, bass, and guitar at beginner levels. However with my background in Jazz education, I've found that I also have things to offer intermediate/advanced rhythm section players by offering them a chance to play with a drummer and trade solos, work on groove, etc. My approach as a teacher is to instill solid fundamentals that give students a good base to go any direction they like, and encourage a fearless, fun, and exploration-driven approach to learning and music in general. Thanks for taking a look at my profile. Hope to meet you soon!