Embedded Files
Rimshot Academy is a custom-developed, individualized, marching battery percussion lesson program tailored for your student. Marching percussion is a competition sport! The overarching goals of my program are to build the excitement and skills needed for competitive marching percussion at the high school or collegiate level. Lessons are provided locally in East Hanover, NJ.
How is marching percussion different from concert percussion?
How is marching percussion different from concert percussion?
Marching percussion is a different beast compared to concert percussion. While concert percussion requires finesse and precision, marching (battery) percussion also requires exact uniformity and chops (muscle). It also requires a good sense of timing and hand-foot coordination.
Marching snare sticks are heavier than the concert sticks that many middle school students are used to. While a marching snare and a concert snare are both 14 inches in diameter, that's about where the similarities end. Marching snares have a deeper shell and a metal rim under the top head, which is pulled much tighter and made of Kevlar. This is all in pursuit of increased volume and sound projection from a football field.
For many students, playing on a marching snare for the first time can be a shock. The idea of stepping off on a left foot and playing on the right hand can be hard to grasp. To have the most rewarding experience in high school, it's essential to get a head start on building marching chops and coordination in middle school and early high school. That's what we do at Rimshot Academy!
preparing for college tryouts
preparing for college tryouts
Although my focus is on building skills for the middle to high school transition, I can also help high school students upskill for college. An an extensive exercise program can help develop the form and technique required to pass selective collegiate tryouts.
In addition to bridging the middle school to high school divide, many high school students do not receive the necessary instruction to succeed in a collegiate try-out. Collegiate tryouts, especially at BIG10 schools like Rutgers and Penn State are highly competitive. Most schools also play traditional grip on snare, while many high school snare lines play match grip. Being able to continue marching band in college is an enriching experience for young adults, and having the skills necessary to pass a demanding tryout is essential.
Teaching philosophy
Teaching philosophy
My overall teaching philosophy is fairly simple - let's have some fun and play together. This means that I don't just sit and tell the student what to do. I play with them. The fact is, I like to play. Marching percussion is all about playing with other people, with precisely the same technique, form, and approach to the drum. Instilling at-home practice habits is essential. For example, playing standing up, marking time, in front of a mirror with a metronome, focusing on sound quality and consistency every time.
I also like to get my students excited about marching percussion in general. There is a huge amount of incredible content from Drum and Bugle Corps International (DCI) available on YouTube, and one of the first things we will do is have a look at some of that for inspiration. DCI corps take marching percussion to the next level.
My methods and techniques follow those of the highest-ranked DCI corps in the country. Although we may not reach their skill level, we will apply the same fundamentals of form, technique, and focus on consistency and quality every time we play. These are universal aspects of excellence in marching percussion from middle school through college and beyond.
About me
I am an alumnus of Penn State (1994-1998), where I played in the Blue Band, with 3 years of experience on Snare and 1 year on tenors as section leader. I also instructed the inaugural year of the Penn State indoor drumline in 1996 and played in the line in 1997.
For my day job, I hold a Nutrition Science PhD and I'm a Principal Scientist at Haleon, a consumer healthcare company. I'm also the Membership Chair for the Hanover Park Marching Band, Committee Chair for Scout Troop 128 in East Hanover, NJ. I'm registered with, and have completed a background check and Youth Protection Training for Scouting America.
My wife Amy and I have 3 musical kids who currently participate in concert band and competition high school marching band at East Hanover Middle School and Hanover Park High School.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse