Chris Parker, Drum Teacher
804-301-8032
cparker44@verizon.net
Teaching drums in Richmond's West End for over twenty years.
Now teaching online!
I have a passion for drums! Teaching and playing drums has been my full-time job for over twenty years. Experience matters. Books and videos are great, but they can’t see you play the drums. When you take lessons from me, you get an experienced and caring teacher, watching and listening to you to help you become a great drummer.
Most of my drum lessons are 30 minutes, once a week. I teach students of all ages. Here are the basic elements of my lessons:
Fundamentals of music: To become a great drummer, you must have a strong foundation. That’s why I stress fundamentals. For all musicians, but especially for drummers, a solid understanding of rhythm is critical for success. I’ll teach you to identify the pulse of the music and learn how rhythm is connected to it. I’ll teach you technique, coordination, song structure, and more.
Lessons tailored for each student: You’re an individual! Each student has different goals and desires. And, even if your goals and desires are the same as another student, the way you learn may not be the same. That’s why my lessons are tailored to you. I try to find an aspect of drumming that motivates you, and I create a lesson plan around that. I approach the elements of drumming from a variety of points of view, to find the one that works best for you. And as your goals or desires change, your lessons can change, too.
Defined goals and measured improvement: Together, we will determine your long-range goals. Then, each lesson is designed as a step toward those goals. After each lesson, I’ll make sure that you have a clear understanding of what to work on before the next lesson. Through these progressive steps, you will see improvement in your ability to understand and perform music.
For the school band student: If you are in middle or high school band, you have to meet the demands that the school curriculum places upon you. I will help you! I’ll teach you how to read music and how to properly play rudiments and mallet instruments such as the orchestra bells and the xylophone, tympani, and auxiliary percussion. I played in school band myself, and I studied percussion in college. Most of my students are among the top players in their schools.
For the drum-set player: If you think that playing the drums is fun, you’re right! If you are a beginner, we’ll start with simple grooves and fills. If you already know how to play, we’ll work on advanced techniques and concepts. I’ll teach you to play along with recordings by ear, and by reading charts and transcriptions.
Online and in-person lessons: If you prefer to learn from home on your drums or want to play with me in my studio, I’m happy to provide both options. My studio is in the West End Assembly of God Church at 401 N. Parham Rd. The church’s music academy also offers lessons in guitar, piano, voice, and strings.
Online or in-person lessons with an experienced teacher and performer!
• Snare drum
• Drum set
• Mallet percussion
• Hand percussion
• Reading
