Ethan Fossum
About
Hello future students!
My name is Ethan Fossum and I am a professional musician and music educator based in Los Angeles, California.
My lessons will be custom tailored to your specific level on the drum set. I assure you that with my instruction and some practice daily on your end, you can level up your drumming.
I have been playing the drums for my entire life and graduated from Cal State Northridge with a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies. I perform at venues around LA such as The Troubadour, The Mint, and Sam First. I feel at home in almost all musical genres, constantly playing gigs with a variety of ensembles ranging from hard rock bands to pit orchestras to small group jazz.
Teaching Style
As someone who has lived the jazz school experience and who works professionally in Los Angeles, I know what it takes to level up your drumming. My lessons focus on pocket development, rhythmic theory, hand technique, and ear training through a weekly curriculum that inspires you to achieve your dreams on the instrument without overwhelming you with unnecessary information.
My custom tailored curriculum meets each individual student at their level and focuses exclusively on assignments that will target each student's critical developmental area, skyrocketing results.
A drum lesson should be the highlight of any student's week. Yes, we work hard in our lessons, but I prioritize a positive and joyous musical experience during the lesson and in the practice room.
Curriculum
As far as method books go, everything we need to work on for pretty much any level can be found in "Progressive Steps to Syncopation For The Modern Drummer" by Ted Reed. I apply my own exercises to the lines found in this book to improve your understanding of rhythmic theory, rhythmic notation, and hand technique. This is critical to developing your technical ability in all regards behind the kit.
In addition to studying from Syncopation, the bulk of our lessons and your practice will involve learning how to properly play along to records. Playing along to your favorite recordings is not only a joyous way to practice, but it is the absolute best way to build your coordination, pocket, musical understanding, and musical confidence.
Credentials & Affiliations
Education:
- BM in Jazz Studies from Cal State Northridge
- AA in Music from Santa Barbara City College
- Studied directly under master musicians such Michael Carvin, Jason Harnell, Tina Raymond, and Gary Fukushima.