Summer Percussion Lessons

The end of the school year is quickly approaching, and along with visions of beaches, poolside lounging and watching TV on the couch, you may be wondering how you're going to keep up your percussion chops over the long break! Have no fear! I'm available for lessons throughout the summer, and we can work on whatever you'd like.

Feeling let down after audition results were posted? We can work on what may be holding you back. Want to get up the nerve to play drumset in your church? I've got a plan that will help you get grooving in no time! Ready to take the plunge into four-mallet technique? It's easier than you think! We can work on multiple areas or just concentrate on one discipline; it's completely up to you!

COST: $16 for 30 minutes, $25 for 45 minutes, $30 for 60 minutes. If you have more than one student taking lessons from me or you want multiple lessons per week, then it's only $15 per 30 minutes! I ask that four lessons be paid in advance, or we can work out a monthly schedule to make life easier on everyone.

DAYS/TIMES/LOCATIONS: Beginning Wednesday, June 9, all lessons will be at Keller HS, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with the first lesson each day beginning at 9:00am and the last lesson beginning at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm end time. I may be hosting a percussion ensemble session one week in June and another in July, so we may have to pause lessons if needed for those weeks. See the previous post for details on that terrific performance opportunity!

ATTENDANCE/VACATION/OOPS! POLICY: I get it, it's summer! I'd rather be enjoying the golf course, just like you want to beat Call of Duty for the 17th time. But we all have commitments, and I will live up to mine. I only ask you do the same. If you're going to miss a lesson, please let me know by 8am that morning so I can try to rearrange my schedule for the day to minimize wasted time. If you don't show for a lesson and fail to notify me in advance, I'll count that as a lesson. I understand things beyond our control happen, and I'll of course not count emergencies as missed lessons. Just please try to contact me as soon as possible. I will notify you in advance if I will miss a lesson, just as I ask of you!

HOW ARE LESSONS STRUCTURED?: These lessons are tailored to each individual student's goals, learning styles and ability level. If you want them to be intense, so be it. Want a more laid back approach? I'll be wearing sandals and shorts most days anyway! We go at your pace, without a grade deadline or audition date to keep up with. It's supposed to be fun!

CAN WE HAVE DIFFERENT DURATIONS OF LESSONS?: Of course! In the past, many students have taken two 30-minute lessons each week, and we usually split them up by doing drumset for one lesson, and other percussion the next. Some have even taken two 60-minute lessons each week, and for that there will be an additional discount. If you'll be gone for vacation/camp/etc. one week, we can easily make it up the following or previous week with an extra lesson. I'm flexible.

HOW DO WE GET A HOLD OF YOU DURING THE DAY?: I'm always fielding texts and emails on my phone, but will rarely answer a phone call if I'm in a lesson, unless it's my wife. I will promptly return any text or email within the hour, as soon as I'm finished with the current lesson in fairness to that student. Students can text me, as long as we have parental permission. If I feel that texting begins to be abused by a student, I'll ask that student's parents to remove my number from that student's phone.

If there are any other questions or concerns about lessons this summer, feel free to contact me.

817.917.5328
cristian.alcocer@gmail.com

Summer of Percussion with Cristian Alcocer

How does this sound to you:

• Prepare an advanced, college- or professional-level percussion ensemble.
• Four days of intense rehearsals, lessons and individual practice time.
• Dedicated partners in making difficult music happen with ease.
• Keep your chops going through summer to stay fresh for drum camp.
• Two high school ensembles, one middle school ensemble.
• A recital at the end of the week to show off your solo and ensemble to your family!
  

I'm gauging interest in a four-day, rehearsal-intensive, advanced percussion ensemble session this summer! Right now it looks like June 21-24 and/or July 12-15. I would need to limit this (these) session(s) to around 12 students, depending on the number of high school vs. middle school students interested. This will tentatively be held at Keller HS, 9am-4pm.

I think this would be a great way to play some fun and difficult literature in a different atmosphere than what we do during the school year! The format I'm thinking of for the week is as follows:

• One morning rehearsal per ensemble
• Lessons/individual practice sessions/lunch mid-day
• One afternoon rehearsal per ensemble
• End-of-Week recital to include all ensembles and solos
  

It's an immersed-in-percussion curriculum for the dedicated, advanced student that looks to be fun and challenging. Plus, your parents are dying to see you perform your solo for them! Some literature under consideration are: "Escape Velocity" by Dave Hall; "Small Box" by Josh Gottry; "Mas Fuerte" by Stephen Rush; "Ripeness" by Phillip Long; "Bicyclops" by Bela Fleck; "Memphis Stomp" by Dave Steinquest; "Fanfare for Percussion Quartet" by Jeffrey Grubbs; "Shock Factor" by Nathan Daughtrey; "Unleash the Fury" by Nathan Daughtry; "Vespertine Formations" by Christopher Deane; and "Trio per Uno" by Nebojsa Zivkovic. Hopefully we will have enough interest in this Summer of Percussion to allow both a "drum-my" and "mallet-y" ensemble to be performed for the recital.

Depending on the number of students interested, I may be able to charge each student only up to $75 for each session. This will include two 30-minute lessons with me each session, all rehearsals, equipment usage, building rental, and music purchase.

As I get more organized in my thoughts and scheduling, I will post more details in the coming days.

cristian.alcocer@gmail.com