Drumming Preparatory School

Specialties

Welcome to Gil Graham’s Drumming Preparatory School

Conveniently located at the Arlington Center for the Arts, Gil Graham’s Drumming Preparatory School provides drum lessons for beginning, high school, and college-​bound drumming students in Arlington, Belmont, Concord, Cambridge, Lexington, Medford, Somerville, Wellsley, Wincester, Woburn and other Boston area communities in greater Boston and Middlesex county. Whether you are preparing for the high school orchestra or jazz band or want to study drums and percussion in college, Gil encourages all his students to learn proper stick control regardless of their musical preference whether it is rock, latin, funk or jazz. Semi-​private and class instruction are also available.

Learn More Than a Drum Beat – Learn Your Instrument! You Can Do It – It’s Up To You!

–Gil

Though Gil is always thrilled to give private drum lessons to anyone interested in the world of percussion, Gil Graham’s Drumming Preparatory School (DPS) goes a step further.

History

Established in 1992.

Drum lessons at Gil Graham’s Drumming Preparatory School offer:

A simple, enjoyable, systematic approach for all ages

Hand development

Stick control

Independence

Reading/​Sight Reading

A focus on the music you want to learn (eg. funk, jazz, latin, rock, etc.)

And a drummer’s most important function… TIME

A few testimonials (More…):

«I was a little rough around the edges when I went in, and I feel more polished now and an overall better player» — Berklee Student

«Gil is the type of teacher who goes straight to the problem and doesn’t waste the student’s time» — Adult Professional

«Gil was the best introduction to professional drumming I could have wished for. He showed me how to take my drumming to a much higher level” — Berklee Student

«He saw the problem and gave me the tools to easily solve it.» — Adult Beginner

Meet the Business Owner

Gil G.

Business Owner

Other Course Involvement:

Gil Graham was actively involved in the Percussion Department’s Required Lab Program, preparing students for a career in music by strengthening their performing skills. The program was a progressive four-​course sequence designed to prepare students for required percussion examinations and to increase their ability to participate in a wide range of ensembles.

Drum Lab One:

overall hand development and stick control, including basic grip and sticking techniques, rolls, ruffs, flams

snare drum reading, including dynamics, accents, sticking, and simple embellishments in orchestral and rudimental styles

materials included Stick Control (George Stone), Syncopation (Ted Reed), and Musical Studies for the Intermediate Snare Drummer (Garwood Whaley)

Drum Lab Two:

development of drum set time playing and improvisational skills

basic knowledge of swing and bossa nova time feels

reading basic drum charts and lead sheets

more advanced snare drum techniques and reading st