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I come from a character and values-based education philosophy – one in which the merit of what we study is just as relevant as its content. While this is very rewarding, especially in the study of music, it is also difficult to assess or quantify. This is a big part of why I choose to teach in the private sector; I am able to spend more time studying and making music with students – giving them my undivided attention – and less time trying to justify our work together to administrators and other staff members. I absolutely love working with students – from elementary school ages straight through college – and do everything I can to make sure our time together is productive, engaging, and uniquely catered to their specific needs. It is through a combination of joy, humility, energy, professionalism, musicianship, community engagement, clarity, and life-long learning that I aim to serve the needs of students in order to help them establish their own, unique relationship with music, arts, and their respective communities. ABOUT BLACK DOG MUSIC STUDIO Black Dog Music Studio is a state of the art percussion teaching facility in which students of any age (though, primarily college-bound advanced high school students) can study privately every week with Mr. Ben Wahlund. Lessons are in either half-hour or hour-long increments and can include work with snare drum (concert & rudimental), keyboard (two & four mallets) drumset (jazz, rock, world, etc.), world percussion (congas, steel drums, cajon, etc.) timpani and orchestral percussion (tambourine, triangle, etc.). Lessons generally consist of rotating between the study of drums and keyboard instruments, but special circumstances arise that may demand focused attention on one more than the other for a while. It should be made very clear, however, that the success of a percussionist depends in large part on his or her ability to play a wide variety of instruments in a very musical fashion. That having been said, students of Black Dog Music Studio should expect to study a lot of different percussion instruments, not just one. Details about studio policies and student expectations can be found below, as well as a student/parent information sheet to bring to your first lesson. | |
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EDUCATION RESOURCES (click to download PDF)
The Forty International Snare Drum Rudiments The Anatomy of a Roll Seventeen Basic Drumset Grooves Clave Patterns Basic Conga Patterns Chromatic Scale Exercises Major and Minor Triplet Arpeggio Exercises Major Scales with Arpeggios The Anatomy of a Minor Scale Natural Minor Scales with Arpeggios Harmonic Minor Scales with Arpeggios The Relationship of Relative and Parallel Minor Scales Common Scales and Modes The Circle of Fifths/Fourths Key Signature Recognition and the Order of Flats & Sharps Ben's Magic Chord Sheet Four-Mallet Keyboard Exercises Major and Minor Chord Studies "Mocha" marimba solo "Flight" marimba solo Time Management Sheet Practice Tips for the Young (and Old) Musician Suggested Sticks and Mallets Buying a Drumset Buying a Marimba www.birchcreek.org www.nchsdrumshow.com & www.nchsbands.info www.pas.org www.innovativepercussion.com www.sabiancymbals.com www.remo.com
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