Matthew M. TakeLessons Instructor Drums, Percussion oak st. Somerville MA, Somerville, MA

I have been playing the drums for thirteen years and my background is in jazz and rock. During my high school years, I spent my summers attending Interlochen Arts Camp where I studied both jazz and classical performance. I studied jazz performance at the New England Conservatory of Music, and graduated with a Bachelors of music degree in 2007. I have studied with Joe Morello,Gary Chaffee, Billy Hart and Bob Moses. Currently, I am working as a professional musician and educator in the New England and New York Metropolitan areas. I am a member of Local 802 musicians union of New York City and perform regularly as a freelance musician. I am also a member of the band White Hinterland that has recently been signed with Dead Oceans Records. I have toured the United states, Canada, The United Kingdom and Europe.

Venues I have performed at include

• The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco
• The Tipple Door in Seattle
• National Public Radio in New York City, the South-by-South West music festival in Austin Texas
• Wilton Music Hall in London
• the Middle East in Boston
  
• Kunstlerhaus Mousonturm in Frankfurt Germany
• Ancienne Belgique in Belgium Brussels

I tailor my lessons to fit the specific needs of each of my students. I do this so that I can provide them with a low-pressure environment that is both fun and effective. My goal as a teacher is to not just have my students learn how to simply play beats but to become a versatile drummer that has a solid understanding of music. In addition to working on the basic skills of a drummer, such as keeping time, we will also learn about music theory and the history of the drums. To help recreate the setting of an actual performance, I sometimes play bass or guitar to help my students learn how musicians interact with each other during a performance.

I am also interested in teaching basic percussion lessons to beginners.

Jazz, Rock

Drums, Percussion

"To teach music well one must have a fun learning experience as a primary goal, along with the patience and determination to achieve musical growth. As a musician, educator, and someone who has worked alongside Matt for over five years, I know that he not only embodies these characteristics, but takes them to a whole new level." -Mary Sutton