Category Archives: percussion lessons

Gift Certificates for Music Lessons

Holiday Gift Certificates for Music Lessons

This time of year is a bright spot that happens every year when people purchase gift certificates from Nashville Music Academy for a spouse, grandchild, friend, parent… There’s always a story about why they are making the purchase. There is also never a shortage of excitement to present the gift certificate. We truly love these acts of giving a skill or experience versus something material. While both are important, there’s something beautiful about a gift that keeps on giving and music lessons are definitely that gift.

If you would like to purchase a gift certificate, they are available at this link. Once purchased, please email us at info@nashvillemusicacademy.org with the personalized information and you will receive your gift certificate for music lessons (any instrument, any age) within 24 hours.

Summer Music Lessons in Nashville

Summer Music Lessons 

Summer Music Lessons in Nashville

School may be out, but the learning continues!

We have summer online and in-person music programs for students of any age or experience level. Music lessons are a great way to reinforce reading and math skills during a break. In home lessons are also available.

Pricing for all lessons and discount packages can be viewed here.

If you would like more information, or to schedule an appointment please email info@nashvillemusicacademy.org or call/text 615-521-1937. 

Drum teacher Ben Hans

Teacher Spotlight on Ben Hans, Drum Instructor

Ben Hans is a Nashville based musician and drum teacher. He has performed with many artists such as singer/composer and Grammy nominated artist Kip Winger, Eric Martin the voice of Mr. Big, Steve Brown, Todd Kerns (of Slash), in addition to Blues artists Altered Five, Jonny T-Bird and the MPs as well as Tallan Latz. Hans has also worked with Legendary Rudimentalists John S. Pratt, Dominick Cuccia and Mitch Markovich, as well as Percussionists Jim Sewrey, Jeff Salisbury, and Kaili Francisco.

As an author, Ben has released the amazon bestselling book “How to Play Drums in 14 Days” from Troy Nelson Music (https://a.co/d/d1s2cPj).  Ben is also a contributor, proofreader, freelance editor and session performer for Hal Leonard Publishing, with published works including: “Workin’ Drums – 50 Solos for Drum set,” “40 Intermediate Snare Drum Solos,” “Rudimental Solos for the Marching Snare Drummer,” “Modern School for Mallet Keyboard Instruments,” “Hal Leonard School for Snare Drum,” transcriptions of Ray Luzier’s “Double Bass Drum Techniques”, the compilation book “First 50 Solos You Should Play on Snare Drum,” as well as performing on and writing for the Hal Leonard DVD “Traditional Rudimental Drumming” by John S. Pratt.

Previous music instructor positions include the Milwaukee Area Technical College, the Wisconsin Lutheran College, the Wisconsin Academy of Music, SAE Institute – Nashville and Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Ben is a Yamaha Performing Artist who also endorses Aquarian Drumheads, Mike Balter Mallets, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Tycoon Percussion and Impression Cymbals.  Ben is a member of ASCAP and John S. Pratt’s ‘International Association of Traditional Drummers’. Learn more about Ben at http://nashvillemusicacademy.org/instructors

 

 

Drum Lessons for Beginners

Portrait of small girl indoors at home, playing drums.

Drum lessons are a great option for the young beginner student. There are many benefits to music lessons for your child; it builds language skills, makes them academically stronger, teaches them discipline, and supports the healthy development of motor skills and muscle development! Learn more about the benefits of music lessons for your little one HERE.

Call us at 615-521-1937 to get your little musician started on their journey.

Gift Certificates

Nashville Music Academy gift certificates are the perfect way to give the gift that keeps on giving: music. NMA offers Skype lessons for long distance students, so those not located in Nashville are still able to receive lessons.

Our highly accomplished staff of instructors are among Nashville’s best. The staff consists of 17 skilled musicians, with lessons ranging from voice to strings, piano, drums, brass and more. With award winning drummers Phil Yochum and Ben Andrew, your student is guaranteed the best. Piano instructor Elliot McClain has a Master of Music degree, and is blind, with his lessons focusing on aural and improvisational skills. Shelly Blair, violin instructor, is a creative teacher who also works with our Valor after school music program. Our diverse staff will teach both music and life lessons.

Give the gift of music today with a Nashville Music Academy Gift Certificate.

latin music

Cinco De Mayo Spotlight: Latin Music

Latin music is a large part of our American society. No more do we realize this than on Cinco De Mayo when our senses are flooded with the rhythms and instruments of our Latin American friends. Latin music combines the “musical traditions of Mexico, Central America, and the portions of South America and the Caribbean colonized by the Spanish and the Portuguese. These traditions reflect the distinctive mixtures of Native American, African, and European influences that have shifted throughout the region over time.”

Instruments indigenous to Latin American music are mostly stringed and woodwind instruments as well as percussion. These stringed instruments include guitar and guitar-like instruments, lute, mandolin, harp, and violin. As for the woodwind instruments, many of them are flutes. Most are single-pipe vertical flutes with “either whistle-type (e.g., the pincollos of the Inca) or end-notched (e.g., the Andean quena) mouthpieces. Whistles and ocarinas are also found throughout Latin America.” The percussion instruments are the prominent sound of Latin Music and include a rich history of use. These include “slit-drums, single-headed small drums, cup-shaped ceramic drums, double-headed drums (e.g., bombos), and a great variety of shaken rattles (maracas), scrapers, and stamping tubes.”

At Nashville Music Academy, we offer music lessons for genres, styles, and instruments specific to Latin American music. We have two instructors at NMA that have experience to help you reach your latin music performance goals. They are Chris Leidecher (percussion) and Michael Gutierrez (woodwinds). Guitar instructor Adam Korsvik is also available for Acoustic and Spanish Guitar instruction. Call today! 615-521-1937 to make an appointment.

 

References from Britannica.