“Why do we study music? For me, it ultimately boils down to a fundamental desire for self-expression. Music is a language, and mastering a musical instrument is a means to gain the fluency to express oneself without limits. I see myself as a perpetual student of my instrument. There is always something more to discover, and it is that discovery process that keeps me hungry to learn. For my students, I hope to foster this desire for exploration and discovery in them. With that, they will go on well beyond their student years continuing to become more and more fluent in their language of self-expression. It is also part of my teaching philosophy to integrate some music theory and history into lessons, as to give students context for their instrument's role in an ensemble and the different music styles they play. It is my hope as a teacher to give students not only solid foundations in their playing, but to also equip them with the necessary tools to help them attain their next level of ability, regardless of their musical background. As I consider myself a perpetual student of drumming, I hope to pass on a desire to always continue growing as a drummer and as a musician, helping other students perfect their language of self-expression.”