Ivy-League Grad teaches drums for any genre, any level. Juilliard callback received (in my first 3.5 years of practicing)

Find out more about Robert

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favorite instrument?

  My passion for music and the drum set first sparked in 2017. The strength of my motivation was so strong that in the following years I had seasons of practicing 12 hours every day, sought out the guidance of dozens of the world's most recognized drummers so I could learn more effectively, and earned a serious mentorship under legendary drummer/producers Corey Fonville and Mark Ambrosino. I say the following not as a brag but for the confidence of my students: I have accomplished more in 7 years than most others have in 20. You can start at ANY AGE and accomplish incredible things, I promise you.

• Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  My favorite artists that I can listen to on repeat include James Brown, Bob Marley, M83, Yussef Dayes, Fred Again.., Flume, The Beatles, Sia, Kendrick Lamar, John Coltrane and many others. I am in love with so many genres of music.

• Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  For drumming, the course would work towards a student learning a specific drum groove or solo but also learn the entire context of the song like Tony Williams did. That involves being able to sing back and play the drum part, but also being able to sing along with the bassline and chords and lyrics. This gives you a holistic musical understanding that WILL instantly advance your skill level, as it's a fact that the best drummers in history practiced this way.

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  I would argue music production is the most complicated to master because people often fail to treat it like any other instrument. How do you get good at guitar, songwriting, etc? 1. Practice fundamentals 2. Listen to the greats 3. Learn by ear and practice those parts on your instrument until you can make them sound as good as the recording. 4. Improvise/create new songs
  
  
  Music production needs to be taught in the same type of way where it's focused on learning by ear from the best music out there, and then working on your fundamentals and making song after song until you get closer towards your goals. But with all the YouTube content and general impatience, people think there's always some sort of "secret" to mixing or producing, when it is really just a matter of paying attention to the important details, practicing a lot, and always listening to music that inspires you. It becomes complicated to master when people forget that DAW's are simply another musical interface just like physical instruments.

• What are your keys to success?

  My personal success comes from a combination of unrelenting drive and a balanced lifestyle. I work 70-80 hours a week, most of that being multi-instrumental practice, creating my original music, co-writing, producing & mixing for artists, playing gigs, studying music, and practicing fundamentals across music production. But I also exercise every day, go to bed early and sleep 8 hours, and hang out with my friends a few times every week.
  
  
  You do not have to be full time to get good at music; you just have to be focused when you do it. My proof is that I reached a professional level of music in just a few years while maintaining a 3.8 GPA at Columbia University. Additionally, I only practice each of my 6 instruments a fraction of what I used to practice drums alone, and because I am deeply paying attention while doing it, I am quickly improving on all of those instruments.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  Harley Streten (Flume), Anthony Gonzales (M83), and Yussef Dayes.
  
  These three have emotionally impacted me on a significant level. That's the most important thing to me in music is emotional impact, and so I not only praise these three artists for their music but also for teaching me how I can impact others with mine. Additionally, watching interviews of them has shown me how humble and cool they are. They are so deep in the craft of making their music they do not waste any energy exerting their ego or caring about results/rankings. That's exactly how I want to be.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  I had a frustrating experience with a band I tried to lead for nearly a year that made me realize I did not enjoy relying on a group of people for my shot at a music career. Instead of getting upset and quitting being a drummer, I sat and thought about what kind of role I could have in a music career that is as independent as possible so I could do it by myself. I then realized if I learned other instruments and music production, I could make full songs on my own and pitch them to people in TV, film, advertising, and video games to get sync deals and make my money that way. I quite literally put the drumsticks down and spent 12 hours a day on music production fundamentals, learning plugins, mixing, synth design, piano, songwriting, drum programming, and more. A quick 1.5 years later, I am full time professionally producing not just for those clients mentioned above, but also for a wide range of artists from different genres, playing 6 instruments, mixing for clients who bring me fully completed songs, and scoring films.
  
  
  The takeaway: follow your gut and do *exactly* what you want to do. It's difficult to change paths, scary to drop your main skillset for a brand new one, but if you truly love it, it will pay off sooner than you think.

• What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  My past experiences in professional sales and gig booking/management have made me an excellent listener. In the context of teaching, I use this ability to pay super close attention to everything a student says and asks, as it shows me precisely what they need in their custom curriculum. The more closely I listen, and the more closely I pay attention, the easier and quicker it is to identify what the problem they want to solve is. I am fully engaged, never looking at my phone, always energetic, and genuinely happy to be teaching.
  
  
  Additionally, I have spent the last 7 years writing and recently concluding my thesis: "why the greats are great & how to get good at music". When my love for music became very serious, I was obsessed with the idea of why I was not yet good but others were amazing. It might sound bold of me to say this but I can confidently state I have figured out the exact reasons why the greats excel and the average musician does not get to the place they want. In summary, it's a difference of paying attention to details and being fully present and patient. In my lessons, I use this thesis to guide my students along to very efficient improvement so they can reach their goals soon.