All ages, Any level
LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS NY
Photo by David Cavallo
DRUM LESSONS
Long Island City, Queens NY
I understand the importance of honing the technical proficiency to play the way you want to, while developing your natural instincts to bring out your individual voice. I also understand the benefits and challenges one faces when they are self-taught. I was self-taught until I went to college. I had my first drum lessons and studied under a fantastic drummer and teacher who not only introduced me to new ideas and helped me fix my bad habits, but also inspired me in ways I couldn't even have imagined.
Picking everything up on your own can be very tricky. Without proper instruction (drum lessons), you can form bad habits that could make things more difficult and even cause injury. It can also be very frustrating when you hear something you like but you can't quite figure out what it is or how to play it. Or when you hear yourself playing the same patterns and fills over and over and you can’t figure out how to progress.
An experienced drum teacher providing careful instruction and feedback can help you make the most of your time and help you play the way you want to.
I've been drumming since I was two years old and feel so passionate about it, I've devoted my life to playing and teaching drums. I truly enjoy passing on my musical knowledge and inspiring others to get as much enjoyment out of drumming as I do. In all my drum lessons, I custom design a program which balances the development of technical skills with the encouragement of personal creativity and expression, helping you become the drummer you've always wanted to be.
Conveniently located near the 7WNRMEF and G trains at Queensboro Plaza, my LIC, Queens drum lessons studio is equipped with 2 drum sets so we can play together and a PA so we can learn and play along to songs. Give me a call or email me and we’ll schedule your FREE trial drum lesson to find out if I'm the right fit for you.
Photo by David Cavallo
Photos by Greg Kessler
TECHNIQUES
Beginner Drum Lessons
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Stick technique, grip, and control
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Rhythms and patterns of any genre (rock, funk, reggae, blues, Americana, metal, punk, etc.)
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Fills
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Rudiments and Rolls
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Drumming notation based on songs of your choice
Advanced Drum Lessons
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Refining grip, rudiments, & rolls
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Advanced drum set techniques such as jazz, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, second-line, etc.
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Adapting modern electronic drumming to the drum set (drum and bass, jungle, hip hop, etc.)
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4 way independence
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Polyrhythms
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Soloing
Photo by David Cavallo
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
Photography by Greg Kessler
Jesse Wallace is a professional drummer and teacher living in Long Island City, Queens, New York. Growing up in a musical family, he was consumed by music early on, began playing drums at age 7, and has spent almost every moment thereafter pursuing a life of music and drumming.
After playing in rock bands throughout middle and high school, he graduated with a BA in Music Performance from University of Massachusetts at Lowell, where he studied Jazz drumming with principal drum set player for the Boston Pops, Fred Buda, who once said of Jesse, “That kid is a walking polyrhythm”. Jesse has also studied Afro-Cuban drumming with Yahuba Garcia.
Jesse has always thrived on his diversity as a musician, whether he's playing with his New Orleans funk/soul/r'n'b band Jellyroll Fats and The Zulu Kings, Afro/funk/soul/bugalu orchestra Abrazos, salsa band Los Salsatanes, oddrock group Bryan Wade's Ghost Notes, or any of the wonderfully varied other projects Jesse has had the pleasure to work with.
Since arriving in NYC in 1999, Jesse has played in groups of many styles, toured internationally, and collaborated on film and theater. For the past thirteen years he has also taught private drum lessons, group drumming classes, rock band classes, music production classes, and other musical experiences all over the world.
Jesse has had the pleasure to work with Grammy-nominated producer Tor Hyams, Yoshikuni Dōchin (Chemistry), Nikolai Fraiture (The Strokes), Kate Havnevik, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Dresden Dolls, Chris Isom (The Mooney Suzuki), Jeffery Shurdut, Dan "The Automator", Only Son (Members of The Moldy Peaches), Izititiz (members of No Neck Blues Band), Nami Yamamoto, Doug Yowell (Suzanne Vega), and many others.
TESTIMONIALS
"Jesse’s teaching style strikes a perfect balance between the discipline of mastering technique with encouraging Ryan's personal expression and creativity."
~Julie, Ryan’s Mom
“I feel incredibly lucky to have found a teacher as knowledgeable and attentive as Jesse.”
~Blythe
“When I began taking lessons with Jesse, I had never even been in the same room as a drum set. Jesse had me blazing through beats and rudiments in no time."
~Andrea
“Jesse is a really great teacher because he lets you move at your own pace. I love my lessons and I've learned a ton!”
~Stella, age 11
“For the past five years, Jesse has helped me expand my musical vocabulary and become a more consistent drummer.”
~Simon