
Would you like Garey Williams to give you a drum lesson in your home? Well now you can!!
Garey Williams has successfully taught drum lessons using Skype and FaceTime for the past five years. Have you ever considered having a Skype or FaceTime drum lessons? You’re probably thinking… “no way” or “this could never be as good as a ‘real’ lesson”, or “the sound will be weird”. Perhaps you’re thinking, “it’s to complicated” or that “it just won’t be nearly as good as a live lesson”. I, myself, was VERY skeptical of Skype lessons and understand how you may feel. However, I tried one and found it to work much better than I imagined. In fact, after many students try a Skype or FaceTime drum lesson, they prefer to continue their lessons this way. There are many benefits to online lessons. Here are some advantages to having Skype lessons in your home rather than live lessons at a different location:
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You get to play YOUR DRUMSET rather than trying to adjust to a foreign feeling Drumset at the teachers studio.
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The Skype and FaceTime programs are easy to use.
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Todays advancing technology produces a sound and picture that is clear and everything is in real time.
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Your drum lesson is in the privacy of your home rather than at a public location where others can here you.
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Garey can help you with tuning your drums to make them sound great.
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Garey can offer advice on your drum and cymbal set-up to help you make your Drumset easier to play.
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You can view your posture on the computer screen, similar to practicing in front of a mirror. Posture is essential to good drumming.
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You can be warmed up and ready for your lesson on time with no delays do to transportation conflicts. This is especially great in bad weather conditions.
- Following the lesson you can immediately practice rather than have to wait. This helps in retaining the lesson information and accomplishing more practice time overall.
- You get to study with the teacher you want and not be limited by a less knowledgable teacher in your area.
- Skype lessons are better than no lessons.
- Drum lessons make you smarter!! Check out this study from Oxford and Harvard universities: https://pionic.org/study-claims-that-drummers-are-more-intelligent-than-everyone
Here are some comments from students who
tried and continue to take Skype lessons:
You owe it to yourself to be brave and give a Skype
lessons a try. I guarantee you will like it!

Drum Lessons
You learn the foundation of how to hold drumsticks to feel comfortable playing and achieve a good drum sound. You will be introduced to Rudiments and how to use them musically to improve your drumming. You will learn: Single Stroke Rolls, Double Stroke Rolls, Multiple Bounce Rolls, the Seven Essential Rudiments, and all 40 Rudiments if you choose. Garey studied with Jim Chapin and the techniques of many master drummers such as: Billy Gladstone, Murry Spivack, Sanford Moeller, Henry Adler, Jo Jo Mayer, Tommy Igoe and more. Check out Garey’s Youtube videos on Rudiments:
You will learn the foundation of Rock and Roll Drumming and the coordination needed to play solid and hard hitting grooves and Fills. You will be introduced to how to set up your drums to play Rock and Roll, Rock Tuning, how to play Snare Drum Rimshots, how to strike the Toms and Cymbals and especially how to play the Bass Drum pedal to get that BIG Rock and Roll sound. Garey’s studied Rock drumming with Michael Derosier (Drummer for, Heart, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Drummer) and the styles of many great Rock drummers such as: John Bonham, Neil Peart, Alex Van Halen, Phil Ehart, Mitch Mitchell, Carmine Appice, Stewart Copland, Bill Bruford, Allan White, Jeff Porcaro, Barriemore Barlow and more. Check out Garey’s book called, The Hi Hat Foot
You will learn the foundation of Funk Drumming and the the way to play Grooves and Fills to get that Funky sound. You will learn about Funk drumming tuning, Ghost strokes, Accents, Tip and Edge Strokes on the Hi Hat, Accented Ride Cymbal patterns and Linear Drumming. Garey studied the Funk drumming styles and methods of: David Garibaldi, Bernard Purdie, Steve Gadd, Clyde Stubblefield, Mike Clark, Dennis Chambers, Steve Jordan, Harvey Mason, Lenny White, James Gadson, Carlos Vega and more. Check out Garey’s book, The Ride Hand
You will learn the foundations of Blues Drumming and how to play Slow 12/8 Blues Beats, Shuffle Beats and Fills. You will be introduced to how to play a variety of Shuffle grooves; Bass Drum Shuffle, Hi Hat and Ride Cymbal Shuffle, Double Shuffle, Triplet Fills and how to achieve that Bluesy, triplet based feel to your grooves. Garey studied the Blues Drumming styles of: Steve Jordan, Chris Layton, Earl Palmer, Earl Palmer, Steve Gadd, Stanton Moore, John Bonham and more. Check out Garey’s 12/8 Blues Beat from his book, Drummer’s Guide to Big Band:
You will learn the foundations of Jazz Drumming and to play Slow, Medium, Fast Jazz Tempos and how to achieve that Authentic jazz feel. You will learn how to set up your drums to effectively play jazz, Tuning, Ride Cymbal techniques, Hi Hat and Bass Drum pedal techniques, Snare Drum Comping, Soloing and more. Garey studied with Jeff Hamilton and the jazz drumming styles of many masters such as: Jimmy Cobb, Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Jack DeJohnette, Billy Higgins, Paul Motian, Peter Erskine, Steve Gadd, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Bill Stewart and more. Check out Garey’s book, Drummer’s Guide to Big Band
You will learn the foundation of Brushes including Grip, Tap Stokes, Sweep Strokes, Lateral Strokes and how to achieve a smooth Brush sound and feel. You will learn 8/8 and 12/8 Ballad Strokes, Slow, Medium and Fast Swing strokes, Trills, Scrapes, Rolls, Soloing and more. Garey studied Brushes with Jeff Hamilton and the Brush playing styles of many great jazz drummers such as: Ed Thigpen, Philly Joe Jones, Adam Nussbaum, Billy Hart, Max Roach, Kenny Clark, Billy Higgins, Mel Lewis, Steve Gadd, Peter Erskine, Clayton Cameron and more. Check out Garey’s video on Brush Playing Techniques:
You will learn the foundation of Big Band Drumming, how to read Big Band Charts, how to “Kick” the band with Set Up fills and Soloing. You will learn how set up your drums and cymbals play in a Big Band, Tuning, Selecting Cymbals, Ride Cymbal Techniques and more: Garey studied with the late great John Moawad and with Jeff Hamilton and many great Big Band drummers such as: Papa Jo Jones, Sonny Payne, Gene Krupa, Jake Hanna, Mel Lewis, Shelly Mann, Louis Bellson, Buddy Rich, Butch Miles, John Riley, Ed Soph, Peter Erskine and more. Check out Garey’s book, Drummer’s Guide to Big Band
You will learn the Brazilian and Afro Cuban Latin Styles and how to apply the traditional Latin percussion instrument parts to the Drumset to get that Authentic Latin feel. You will learn how to use Cowbells, the Clave Rhythm, Bossa Nova, Samba, Afro-Cyban 6/8, Moambo, Rhumba, Saosla, Cha Cha, Mozambique, Songo and more. Garey has studied the Latin styles and books of such drummers as: Ed Uribe, Tito Puente, Bobby Sanabria, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Ignacio Barrero, Alex Acuna, Antoni Sanchez, Robby Ameen, Jimmy Brandley, Makhtar Samba, Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta and more. Check out Garey’s Latin grooves he crated for the, Groove for Thought arrangement of, Teach Me Tonight:
Your will learn what Fusion Drumming is and how to combine the many different styles of drumming into a smooth, seamless contemporary Fusion drumming style. You will learn how to achieve a Fusion Drum and Cymbal set-up and sound, Double Bass Drum techniques, Two Surface Ride grooves, Mixed Sticking grooves, Linear Grooves, Odd Time Signatures, Polyrhythms, Metric Modulation, Multi Dimensional Drumming and more. Garey has studied the Fusion drumming styles of such greats as: Bill Bruford, Chad Wackerman, Gary Husband, Gary Novack, Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Carlos Vega, Tommy Igoe, Tony Williams, Rod Morgenstein, Peter Erskine, Omar Hakim, Steve Smith, Billy Cobham and more. Check out Garey’s drumming with his Fusion band, Ecstasy In Numbers
You will learn the styles of Contemporary Christian, and Gospel music with influences of R&B, Soul and Hip Hop Grooves. You will learn how to get a quality Drum, Cymbal and Percussion Accessory sounds to go from hand drumming, soft, medium to loud: Brush, Multi-rod and Stick drumming. You will learn how to create Drum Charts from the Recordings and how to effectively support the song and message of the music. Garey played professional in a church for over eight years working with numerous singers and instrumentalist of all levels from amateur, semi pro to touring recording artists. You will learn the styles of Aaron Spears, Calvin Rodgers, Teddy Campbell, Chris Coleman, Larnell Lewis, Marvin McQuitty, Zoro, and more.
Garey has taught numerous master classes from as few as three students up to fifteen. The master classes focus on specific styles of music and drumming techniques. Students are encouraged to participate in the master classes. There will be given a handout to work from during the class and to take home. Master classes can be hosted at your location. The fees very depending upon the location, length of the class and the number of participants. Contact Garey for more details and to arrange a Master Class for your friends and students.
Garey has conducted drum clinics in over 150 different schools and at numerous music stores, drum shops and jazz festivals. Garey’s drum clinic’s last between 60 and 90 minutes. There is no limit to how many students can attend. Each clinic will focus on a specific drumming topic and includes a handout to take home. Students are encouraged to ask as many questions as possible so that they may learn the most from the clinic. Garey’s clinic fee can be co-opted between the host and Garey’s sponsors: Ludwig drums, Paiste cymbals, Remo drumheads, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets and Latin Percussion. Contact Garey for more details and to arrange a Drum Clinic at your location for your students and drumming clients.
Teaching drums is like playing the drums… the longer you teach the better teacher you will become. Garey Williams is a veteran teacher with over 35 years of experience. Garey has consistently helped his students gain entrance into award winning ensembles, colleges, universities, touring groups, band projects, recording projects and helped them to develop successful private teaching skills. Would you like some help with how to teach technique, reading, coordination and numerous additional drumming skills? How about how to recruit more students and make a living as a private teacher? Garey Williams is considered “Seattle’s Drum Guru” and can help you become a more knowledgeable and successful private drum instructor.
Are you a lover of music? Do you enjoy the feeling of the beat and especially excited by the sound of the drumset and the drumming in music? Music is part of everyone’s life and learning to play the drums for fun is the best reason to take drum lessons. Garey loves teaching students who want to play the drums just for the fun of it. Not to be a professional musician or to even perform. . .just for fun. Garey’s very gentle, relaxed and supportive teaching style will help any student who wants learn. Give a lesson a try. I’m sure we will have a blast! No experience is required and I have all the drums, cymbals and sticks you will need to try a lesson. Let’s have some fun with the drums!!
My Home Studio
Garey Williams offers on-line lessons using Skype or FaceTime and also teaches private and group drum lessons in his home studio is in Ellensburg Washington.
My studio is complete with: two Ludwig Drumsets, Paiste Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, Innovative Percussion Sticks & Brushes, LP Cowbells and Ahead Practice Pads on Stands, mirrors for posture and technique, video and audio recordings of each lesson upon request and an extensive video/DVD/book loaning library. My state-of-the-art teaching studio is sound proof and has a large bay window, air-conditioned and a ventilation system.