Welcome to my studio!


Since 2015, I've been instructing group and private lessons, witnessing numerous students successfully reach their aspirations, whether long-term performance objectives or short-term audition targets. My teaching approach centers on individual needs, focusing on the music students bring for learning. I draw from a structured lesson plan, honed through my experience with Pat Pfiffner, to systematically enhance your percussion skills.

Please scroll this page to find the schedules for an introduction lesson, my studio policies, and recommended materials for our lessons.

Book your first lesson!


I give a free 30-minute starter lesson to learn about your percussion experience and goals. After that, we'll plan our regular sessions – whether it's 30 minutes every week or 2 hours every 3 weeks. The aim is to set it up so you or your student can reach your unique goals.

Studio Policy

Payment Options:

I accept the following:
- Cash
- Check (made out to Emily Mahumed)
- Zelle Payments (phone number provided after introduction lesson)
- Venmo (@Emily-Mahumed)

Invoicing:

-I will send an invoice out at the top of each month for the total lessons scheduled.
-Please pay the full invoice before your first lesson of the month.

Cancellations:

- To reschedule or cancel a lesson, please provide a minimum of 24 hours’ notice before your scheduled time slot.
-In the event of a no-call/no-show, the full amount of the scheduled lesson will be charged.
-Lessons canceled within 24 hours of the scheduled time will be charged the equivalent of half your lesson fee.
- In the case of emergencies, we will address each situation individually to find a suitable resolution.
- If your lesson is canceled, your prepaid balance will be credited towards the following month of lessons.

Lessons:

- Please arrive on time. While I will do my best to accommodate you, I cannot guarantee your full lesson time if you are late.
- Please let me know as soon as you can if you are running late.
- Your lesson time will be maximized by arriving with specific goals or previously assigned work in mind.
- For no-call/no-shows, the full lesson amount will be charged. Thank you for your understanding.

Recommended
Materials

This is an incomplete list of many resources I utilize in lessons when developing skills with students. I do not recommend buying everything here at one time, but expect to slowly collect this as well as other materials as you grow in percussion. During our introduction lesson bring anything you have so we can discuss what you can use and what we should start with for new materials.

  • Snare Drum Method:
    - Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer by George Lawrence Stone
    - Accents and Rebounds: For the Snare Drummer by George Lawrence Stone
    - Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer by Ted Reed
    - Podemski’s Standard Snare Drum Method by Benjamin Podemski
    - Elementary/Intermediate Snare Drum Studies by Mitchell Peters
    - Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone

    Mallets:
    - Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg
    - Well-Tempered mallet Studies by Dale Anderson

    Timpani:
    - Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman
    - Intermediate Timpani Studies by Mitchell Peters

    Other:
    - 4-Way Coordination: A Method Book for the Development of Complete Independence on the Drum Set by Marvin Dahlgren and Elliot Fine

  • Concert Snare Drum:
    Concert snare sticks. Medium thickness, maple or other softwood, and a spherical bead.
    My favorite to start with is the Vic Firth SD1 General - https://vicfirth.com/products/american-customr-sd1-general.

    Concert Mallets: You will want a set (2 pairs) of a medium keyboard yarn mallet. I like the Robert Van Sice series from VicFirth.com.
    You will also need a pair of medium plastic or PVC bells/xylophone mallets. Here is an example: https://vicfirth.com/collections/articulate-series/products/articulate-series-keyboard-mallet-1-poly-round.

    Marching Mallets: You will want a set (2 pairs) of a slightly heavy but articulate medium yarn mallet. My suggestion is the M171: https://vicfirth.com/products/corpsmasterr-multi-application-series-medium-rubber-core.

    Concert Timpani: You will want to start with a medium pair of timpani mallets. I like the Mike Balter Mallets - https://vicfirth.com/products/bamboo-timpani-mallets-medium-general.

    Drumset Sticks: Aim for a thinner and lighter stick made of hickory or another hardwood. Bead shape is less important, but typically, we aim for a teardrop tip. My favorite to start with is the Vic Firth 5B - https://vicfirth.com/products/american-classicr-5b.

  • Percussion is tricky because we have so many different instruments to play, and many of them are pretty expensive. Workarounds exist for many instruments, from renting them to creating a way to practice on cardboard keyboards and pillows.

    At a minimum, aim to have access to a piano/synthesizer and a drum pad. My favorite pads are the Remo tunable practice pads because they feel most like a real drum - https://remo.com/product/practice-pad