Percussion Lessons

at The Drum Exchange, 4501 Interlake Ave North, Suite 7, Seattle, WA 98103 (206) 545-3564

Ed Hartman has been teaching drums and percussion instruments for over 30 years. Ed Hartman Percussion Studio is a fully equipped teaching studio featuring instruction on most percussion instruments (anything you hit with your hands or a stick!) The studio features a video camera (bring your own blank video tape), and play a-long (Ed plays keyboards to sound like the rest of the band!!)

Drumset
Classical/Marching Snare Drum for School Concert Band
Marimba - Xylophone -Vibraphone - Bells
Timpani
Congas
Hand Percussion
Symphonic Percussion

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Business of Music
- Career Counselling, Marketing, Recording, PR, Touring, etc.
Music Theory
- Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Notation

I start by meeting a prospective student in an "info session", that's free. It takes about 1/2 hr to 45 min. Students take lessons once a week for either 25 or 45 minutes. See below for times and possibilities.

I generally starts kids around 9 or 10 yrs old, but have taken younger students. Because of the nature of music lessons, and drums in particular, I want to make sure a student is both physically and mentally ready for lessons. The info session can be an excellent way to figure out a students interest and maturity.
Adult students: I've had adult students into their 70s-so no excuses about "being too old"!

Teaching times:
• School age students take 25 minute lessons M-TH between 3PM-6PM. Some 45 or 60 minute lessons are available afterschool, at a discount, when time permits - Please ask. This is generally reserved for intermediate and advanced students who are combining mallet and drum instruction.

45 minute lessons are available 9AM to 3PM M-F. No evening lessons-sorry. Some school age students have a more flexible schedule, and are welcome to come in at other times.
• The summer tends to be looser-students are in and out of town. School age students can increase their lesson times to 45 minutes. I also teach week long workshops in the summer.

If you can only come in, in the evenings or weekends: Vance Nurkala (vancenurkala.com) also teaches at The Drum Exchange that is available for lessons. Vance is a great player, with a similar studio. His background is a bit more pop and rock oriented, but uses many aspects of my curriculum. He is available in the evenings. He is a primarily a drumset instructor.

Equipment:
Do you need equipment for lessons? That depends on age, lesson history, goals, etc. It is easiest to answer that question after the info session. School age drumset students will need at the very minimum a practice pad and pair of sticks. Drumsets can be made of boxes and pots and pans. Congas can be made of plastic containers. After a month or two, though, the real thing (drumset, mallet instrument, conga, etc.) will be needed. You really need an instrument (or access to) to practice on.

About the info session:
The info session goes over the curriculum, and tells you exactly what to expect for the first 2 months (a bit of an overview, and time to judge your lesson needs, etc.), and then I show you the books and resources used in the first year, or so. Mostly, the info session is to develop a vocabulary of skills that are needed to learn to play drums, percussion, rhythm and music, in general.
I think I've had good success teaching, because I am organized an have come up with universal structures for learning. Once you get the idea of how to do one thing, the rest of it falls into place. I use the analogy of math-my teaching style is exponential in nature. Each task/skill leads to the next, therefore, it's important to get it right, the first time.
Because my background is varied (classical, jazz, pop, world, other percussion instruments-vibes, marimba, congas, etc.) I have developed a universal approach to technique, coordination, notation, reading and the theory of rhythm, itself. That, in itself, makes my program rather unique, I believe.

Drumset students: Most school age students start on the snare drum and/or drumset. I don't start any student on the snare alone. As soon as you learn how to play one drum, you can play them all!!! Most students are really interest in rock and jazz. Classical and marching styles will be worked into the reading curriculum in time.

Mallet students: I teach marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, and bells. I still push a very rhythmic curriculum to start, and add melody and harmony. The structure of the lessons is similar to drumset, and pushes creativity and improvization. You will learn to read both rhythm and melodic notation, in time. I recommend the lowest range mallet instrument you can afford. Xylophones and bells are very high pitched, and can be like learning on a picollo rather than a flute (eek!)

Conga students: Again, the curriculum is similar to drumset, but NO STICKS and adds various sounds out of the drums (slap, open, bass, etc.) The sounds replace the various surfaces of the drumset. Feet are always used to reinforce counting and pulse. Eventually, I recommend players getting pedals with cow-bells and wood-blocks to hear the feet. Beginning conga equipment has become much more affordable, and I recommend the lowest pitch (bass) type drum you can afford. Stay away from just bongos!!! I make recycled drums (Envirodrums) that work for starters. Most African and South or Central American styles use drums, shakers and bells. A basic understanding of how these instruments interact is important for any hand drum instruction. I can also give you a basic understanding of dumbek (Mid-Eastern drum-I recommend the metal shell, the ceramic tend to break!), and Djembe (African wood drum). My background is much more general purpose, and will help a student develop a technique that will work for any drum, rather than a specific style. A combination of private lessons and group classes is especially recommended for hand drum students. (John's Music next store has info about classes). My summer workshops also involve group playing.

NOT SURE of what instrument to start on?
• A snare drum kit (pad, sticks, snare, stand, bag) is one way to start, especially if the goal is to play in the school concert band-but not the Jazz (aka Stage) Band. Price: ($150-250)
• The drumset is best for rhythmic coordination of hands and feet. The price is moderate Price: $495 & up. (used can be occassionally less)
• Congas (Cuban type) are best for African, South and Central styles. Congas tend to be a bit less expensive to start with. You can use your hand techniques and move to sticks on set (or vice-versa). Price: $100-1000.00
• Mallet instruments combine both melodic/harmonic AND rythmic skills. Marimbas are generally NOT cheap ($795 -10,000). Vibes generally run $1500-5000)
Other instruments: (Timpani-forget owning them-Price: $5000-20,000!!!)

• I am pushing ALL students to invest in a CASIO Electronic Keyboard ($99.95 & up-I can order them for you) It is an incredible cheap keyboard that sounds great (especially through a stereo, headphones, or music amp), has a split keyboard (bass AND piano), lots of sounds-including percussion, a built in drum machine (more fun than a metronome), bass lines, chords, grooves (salsa, jazz, rock, etc.), and 100 built in songs (with a book for melody instruments).

The best advice in picking an instrument is:
A) Go with an instrument you already have, or can afford now.
B) Go with an instrument you LOVE!!!!

***I use BOTH audio and video recording in lessons, and recommend bringing a blank cassette tape and/or video tape for each lesson. You are welcome to record the free info lesson. If a free info lesson is too difficult to schedule, I can loan you a video version.
OTHER NEEDS:
• 3 ring, 1" binder
• All students will need Ultimate Stick Control ($14.95) to start, no matter what instrument they start on.
Yes-this is potentially a lot of stuff (and you haven't even seen the list of 10-12 books used in the first year!). But, that's the deal. I teach for keeps-this is the real thing. If you want "lite" lessons, better go elsewhere!

If you are interested, please call or email. I can email the weekly newsletter to you. It contains a updated list of available times for lessons, and lots of information about percussion activities going on around the area.

2010 Lesson prices:
45 min.: $50.00 (x 4 = $200.00/month)
25 min.: $40.00 (x 4 = $160.00/month)
45 minute lessons available 10AM - 3:00PM, M-F.
25 minute lessons available Weekdays, 3-6PM. Double lessons are always available. I occassionally offer 45 and 60 minute lessons after school, if schedule permits, on certain days or times-especially 5pm.

The curriculum uses many books to teach basic fundamentals of music (rhythm, melody, harmony), and work on the skills needed to learn music (coordination, reading, counting, singing, technique. etc.) Each book and source deals with these specific skills.

BOOKS by Ed Hartman: Ultimate Stick Control (Sticking Patterns), Ultimate Syncopation (Syncopationed Patterns), Ed's Drumset, Conga, Vibraphone, Percussion Play-A Long (Full Jazz, Rock, Latin, World songs with CD), How to Make a Living Playing Mallet Instruments (Business and Music ideas), The Rhythm Method (Rhythmic Notation), Marimbach (Mallet arrangements), and a variety of sheet music titles.

Performance: Ed Hartman has recorded and performed with numerous bands, orchestras, dance and theatre co’s including: Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel, Tickle Tune Typhoon, and Ellipsis. In the Northwest, he has become a top freelance percussionist and recording artist. As a soloist, Ed has performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in NYC. His own bands The Olympic Marimba Band (World) and Northwest Passage (Jazz) perform music from around the world. Ed also performs as a solo one-man-band at concerts, fairs, festivals, schools, colleges and events of all kinds.

Education/Teaching: Originally from Chicago, Ed received his degree in percussion from Indiana University. Ed Hartman has written articles, sheet music and books about music for Olympic Publications, and C. Alan Publications. His albums "The River", "Northwest Passage", and "Marimbells of Christmas" have received national critical acclaim.

Endorsements: Ed is currently touring nationally as a YAMAHA performing artist and clinician. Ed also endorses Mike Balter mallets.

Media Credits: He has scored music for T.V., radio, and even a planetarium. His music has been heard on television, including: Ed's music has been heard on television, "Twas the Night", "Big Love" (HBO) and "Passions", (NBC), "Doc-Block" (MSNBC), "Greek" (ABC Family) , "Nature" (PBS), Channel 5 Takes Latin (TRAVEL), "Shalom In The Home" (TLC), and in the motion pictures, "The Blind Side", Scooby Doo - The Mystery Begins" (Warner Bros.) "Surviving Christmas" (Dreamworks) "Mini's First Time" (Bold Films), and "The Parlyzing Agent" (Z Flight Productions). Recently, Ed scored incidental music for the feature "Fitz" (Who Made Who Productions) - 2008 Alberta Film and Television Awards Nominee: Best Feature Film) and the complete score for the short film "End Zone" (Seattle International Fly Film Festival)