Dave Gager
each
of my students is at a different stage of their musical career, unique with
their own musical tastes and styles. i strive to teach and instill correct
fundamental drumming techniques, stimulate each student’s musical curiosity,
and create a learning environment that is both challenging and rewarding.
i
don’t teach just
"beats and fills". if
that's all a student is after, then i'm probably the wrong teacher. rather, i try and teach them to understand what drumming and rhythm are, so that
they are motivated to explore and hopefully grow musically.
learning
drum fundamentals is a dislocated process which can seem redundant and
non-musical and requires real dedication. in order to motivate this kind of
devotion, i constantly demonstrate the direction that the exercises will take
the student. beginners, sometimes with only a few lessons under their belt,
often find they are able to play some simple beats well enough to play along with some of their favorite
cd’s. these experiences are often a dream come true to these beginning
students.
i believe the techniques of those who came before are still the best ways to learn the art of drumming, although, there are modern contributions to the art that are just as phenomenal, and I make a point to pass these along as well.