Personalized Approach

I tailor each lesson to your individual goals and skill level, ensuring you progress at your own pace.

Experienced Instructor

With over 25 years of drumming experience, I bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to every lesson.

Fun and Engaging

My lessons are designed to be enjoyable and motivating, keeping you inspired to learn and improve.

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Koji is a seasoned drummer with a diverse background in rock, jazz, and funk.

Now I join worship team of Hillcrest Church.

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I have over 25 years of drumming experience, during which I have further honed my drumming skills by receiving lessons from graduates of world-renowned drum education institutions such as Hollywood’s MI (Musicians Institute) and the New York Drummers Collective.

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My teaching method focuses on building a strong foundation in technique and music theory, tailored to each student’s individual goals.

In addition, I also have over 3000 hours of teaching Alexander Technique lessons.

“Koji is an incredible drummer. I have played with numerous excellent players and he regularly astonishes me with his skill and creativity. He is also very kind, humble and gentle – essential attributes for a teacher, especially with kids. Koji is such a master of the drums but is also able to simplify complex ideas as a teacher. I recommend him 100%!!”

-Professional Musician, Composer and Worship Pastor-
Carlo Furlan

Deliberate practice

Deliberate practice is a training method that involves setting clear goals, receiving feedback, and working to overcome weaknesses. Research by Ericsson shows that deliberate practice is essential for skill improvement and highly effective for drumming. It is particularly important to focus on specific rhythms and techniques, practice them repeatedly, and gradually increase the difficulty.

Key Points:

• Clear goal setting (Define what to improve specifically)
• Utilizing feedback (Adjust based on objective evaluation)
• Practice targeting weaknesses (Focus on difficult areas)
• Repetition and gradual difficulty increase (Repeat phrases and progressively make them harder)

Citation
Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch‐Römer, C. The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363–406.

Self-Determination Theory

Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan) is a psychological framework that explains motivation, emphasizing that intrinsic motivation (acting based on personal interest and values) leads to sustainable growth and well-being. According to this theory, fulfilling the following three fundamental needs is crucial for enhancing self-determination.

Key Points:

• Autonomy (Having control over one’s choices and actions)
• Competence (Feeling capable of improving skills through effort)
• Relatedness (Experiencing connection and empathy with others)

When these three needs are met, motivation increases, making it easier to sustain practice in drumming or any other learning activity.

Citation
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York, NY: Plenum.

Flow Experience

Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow Theory describes an optimal state of experience where a person is fully immersed in an activity, losing track of time. When in flow, focus intensifies, skill improvement accelerates, and creativity is enhanced. To achieve a flow state, the following conditions are essential:

Key Points:

• Clear goals (Knowing exactly what to achieve)
• Optimal challenge (Balancing skill level with task difficulty)
• Immediate feedback (Receiving instant results of one’s actions)
• Deep concentration (Being fully engaged in the activity)
• Loss of self-consciousness (Acting naturally without overthinking)

In drumming practice, adjusting the difficulty level appropriately and maintaining deep focus can help induce a flow state.

Citation
Csikszentmihalyi, M. Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. New York, NY: Harper & Row.

Curriculum: What You’ll Learn

Basic Techniques

Grip, posture, and fundamental strokes to build a solid foundation.

Rhythm and Timing

Developing a strong sense of rhythm and playing in time with a metronome.

Reading Music

Learning to read drum notation and understand musical structures.

Different Styles

Exploring various genres, including rock, jazz, blues, and funk.

Nobel Prize Recipient in Medicine Professor Nicholas Timbergen recommending the Alexander Technique

“We already notice, with growing amazement, very striking improvements in such diverse things as high blood pressure, breathing, depth of sleep, overall cheerfulness and mental alertness, resilience against outside pressures, and in such a refined skill as playing a musical instrument.”

– Nobel Laureate Professor Nicholas Timbergen –