Jake is the best drum teacher I ever had! He is all I look for in a music teacher. His passionate, knowledgeable, patient and always with a smile! read more

Jake is an amazing teacher. We are so lucky to have found him. We have had a couple other instructors and I come from a musical family so it was important that we find just the right fit. He is knowledgeable, patient, and flexible. He is prepared and puts a great deal of thought into teaching his student. He is both a good piano teacher and a drumming teacher. His musical knowledge is diverse and he puts the student first and foremost in his approach to instruction - there is no cookie cutter one method for all approach in his teaching. He is highly recommended! read more

I've been taking piano lessons with Jake for just over a year now, and I have nothing but good things to say! I went from a complete beginner to now being able to sight-read, play new pieces weekly and even improvise a little bit! I also feel like I have a much better understanding of music than when I joined, and it's fun to analyze songs now with some of this knowledge I've gained. Jake makes the lessons fun by occasionally playing drums along with the piece I'm learning, which is also a cool way to keep track of timing and tempo. It's only been a year but I've grown so much thanks to Jake's help and I am so eager to see what I learn next! read more

As an adult learning the drums for the first time, it is so nice to have an instructor like Jake who has been so kind, patient, and knowledgable! Jake does an excellent job of catering our lesson plans to my skill level and interests. I started our lessons hoping to work more on my technique and rock drumming and he has done an excellent job of providing me with relevant instruction and resources that have made me a much cleaner, more confident drummer. Whether I'm learning rock, hip hop, or classic country, Jake always has lesson plans that cater towards my style of music. With his instruction I have practiced drumkit dictation and notation, jamming with other musicians, and traditional rudiments. And if I ever have questions between lessons, he is accessible and accommodating. Jake has alway seemed genuinely invested and excited by my accomplishments on the drums, even encouraging me to join a band! He might just be flattering me because that's what I pay him to do, but I'll take it either way! I love praise almost as much as I love my lessons with Jake!! read more

I received a few drumming lessons from Jake and found him to be a very supportive, knowledgeable, and patient teacher. His rates were the best in the area (as far as my research revealed) and he kindly offered me a two-sessions-for-the-price-of-one deal when I first started to make sure I was happy with the first lesson and wanted to continue. I enjoyed the classes but had to stop because I didn't have a drum kit at home to practice with and was living in a small apartment that prevented me from getting one. I told him that my husband and I were looking for a bigger place and that once we found one, I would buy a kit (I had one all picked out and everything!) and give him a call to start up lessons again. He followed up with me several months later to check in and make sure that, as his practice continued to grow, I would still have a spot with him. Awesome guy all around. read more

My daughter has been taking drum lessons with Jake for over half a year now, and it's been a wonderful experience. Jake has led my daughter from being a total beginner to a drummer who is growing in her knowledge, skill, and confidence with the instrument. Each week my daughter looks forward to her lessons with Jake, and he has taught her with instruction which is geared best to her learning style. I appreciate how Jake obviously cares about and thoughtfully guides his students. My daughter plans to continue her drum lessons with Jake for a long time! read more

I found Jake's number on yelp a few months ago looking for drum lessons with no prior recommendations and he has wildly exceeded my expectations. Jake is a great, patient teacher, easy to get along with, and clearly thinks through lesson plans and assignments. I am a beginner with not a ton of time to practice and he has been able to work with me to efficiently use lesson time (while carving out a little time to jam at the end of lessons) and give me assignments and goals that are achievable. I have improved dramatically since I began working with Jake, both technically and in my understanding of music and drumming. He's super talented, very trustworthy, reasonably priced and flexible with scheduling. I'd recommend him to anyone looking for drum lessons. read more

My son has been taking piano lessons from Jake for about a year and has really enjoyed his lessons with him. He individualizes the lessons to fit the needs and interests of my son while helping him to learn to play. Each lesson there is not only practice playing the piano but also a discussion where my son is challenged to see beyond just the piano but music in general. It is a wonderful balance of critical thinking and piano playing. Also, Jake is very good at communicating with me by email or text and has even been known to wait for me when I am running late! Recently my son asked if the lesson could be extended from 30 minutes to 1 hour so that they could get through more material in a lesson. I am still thinking about that idea but have been overwhelmingly impressed with Jake's professionalism, knowledge, and passion for music. read more

I've taken four lessons with Jake so far, starting as an absolute beginner. Jake very quickly assessed my abilities and created an intro lesson that helped me make noticeable progress right away. Subsequent lessons have been great, I'm noticing substantial gains, to the point where I feel I can practice with a guitarist friend without much embarrassment. I can do simple exercises and beats at 90bpm without much trouble. Lessons started simple and each week we add beats, increase complexity and increase the BPM. Jake creates a fun and supportive environment for learning and if you're lucky, he'll jam out with you at the end of the session. I'd recommend Jake to anyone interested in learning how to drum. read more

I cannot say enough about jake as a drumming instructor. I was always a fan of the drums but it was never something I thought I could play. Jake totally turned that around for me. He taught me the fundamentals and gave me pieces to practice to help me train my hands and feet. In class we would go over new drumming patterns and different variations. When there was a song with a drumming part I loved, we would break down the different parts, teach me each one, and help me bring them all together. For really complicated arrangements we would make a video of each part and everything together that I could use to practice on my own. We would also just jam together and when he noticed I was trying something new, he would point it out, show me what I was doing, and give me new variations to try and practice. After taking classes with Jake, I'm so much farther than I thought I could be. And he's given me knowledge to know where, and how, I can keep growing. Aka. Jake is the best! read more

Can not recommend Jake Shandling more highly as a music instructor for you or your child. My 11 year old son had him as a substitute teacher for 6 weeks whilst his regular drum instructor was on holiday. . Every time he came out of his lesson with Jake , he was beaming , enthused and more inspired to rock out on his drums. My son was so sad when the sub teaching was over because he had really connected to Jake. He does love his regular drum teacher Shaun, but my son asked if he could add Jake as an additional drum teacher. If you are looking for an amazing musician/teacher get in touch with Jake soon! Jo read more