Private Lessons

Professional musician for 26 years and experienced teacher for 24 years! I have performed in 5 countries as well as all over the Caribbean and have taught in 4 countries and in 3 different languages! I specialize in Drum set for RnB, Funk, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Latin American, west African and fusion styles, Marching Percussion, Hand Percussion of North Africa, West Africa, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Puerto Rico and Cuba! I can help you with basic, intermediate and advanced techniques from learning to play and reading basic rhythms all the way to being able to make good music while playing polyrhythmic ideas with all 4 limbs with ease! My philosophy is to love what you do and do what you love. Music is a discipline so the student gets out of it what they put into it. Let's have fun learning to find your groove!

I offer 1 hour & 30 minute lessons starting from the beginner level to an advanced pro level.
I cover a large range of percussion instruments which encompasses many genres and styles of music.
The lessons focus on building the fundamentals of technique, building knowledge on general music theory and building musicianship by reading through music (playing), by listening to get the details and better understand the phrasing and then transcribing music to learn new ideas and eventually gain our own voice through improvisation. 

Concert Percussion                

  • Snare Drum                          
  • Auxiliary Percussion

​​Marching Percussion

  • Rudimental Snare Drum
  • Tenors
  • Bass Drum
  • Cymbals

Drum Set Styles and/or Hand Percussion Styles and Rhythms

  • Pop, Jazz, Rock, Funk, Soul, R & B, New Orleans 2nd Line, West African Folkloric/dance such as Soli, Kuku, Dunungbe, Mendiani, Kakilambe, Marakadon,  as well as Afro-Pop such as Nigerian Afro-Beat, Mangambe, Doudoumba, Mbalax and Bikutsi; Brazilian Samba & MPB such as Bossa Nova, Baiaó, Afoxé, Partido Alto, Coco, Xaxado, and Maracatú; Egyptian Classical and Folkloric bellydance rhythms such as Maqsoum, Saidi, Masmoudi, Baladi, Sombati, Fallahi, Chiftiteli, Ayoub, Samai and Malfuf; North African Gnawa, Rai & Chaabi; Merengue, Bomba, General Cuban "Salsa" such as Mambo, Cha-Cha, Rumba Guaguancó, Songo, Son, Son-Montuno, Timba and Mozambique, but also Cuban 6/8 such as Guiro & Bembé, Rumba Yambú, Rumba Columbia, Abakuá and Cha Cha Lokua Fun.

Hand Percussion

  • Frame drum
  • Riq
  • Doumbek / Darbuka
  • Zils
  • Karkabou
  • Djembe
  • Clave
  • Congas
  • Guiro
  • Shekere
  • Pandeiro
  • Surdo
  • Tamborim
  • Caxixi

Lessons are generally 1 day a week.
The rate for a 1 hour lesson is $50
The rate for a 1/2 hour lesson is $30


For an in depth look at my performance and education background, please check here. Full Resume
For more info please message me at info@michaelwashingtonae.com or feel free to call me at 1- (803) - 318 - 4064

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