Essential Music Academy

My name is Todd Blackmon, and I’m a music teacher, specializing in drums, piano, and guitar. I offer professional, affordable music instruction. My rate is $60/hour for live, online, one-on-one lessons in: •Drums — beginner, intermediate, advanced •Piano — beginner, intermediate, Advanced •Guitar — beginner Intermediate As a former homeschool student, I understand how important it is for an individual to learn at their own pace and how each person engages with material in a slightly different way. I also understand how important it is to make learning fun! As a music teacher, I believe in building upon a strong musical foundation. I have a broad knowledge of styles, and work with each student to find what will bring them the most joy as they learn new skills and hone their craft. I started drumming when I was 12. I have an A.A. with honors in General Music from San Jacinto Community College where I received an excellent grounding in Drum Set, Classical Percussion, Music Theory, and Piano. In 2019, I graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Music Performance (Jazz Concentration) from Texas State University. There I studied Advanced Drumming, Jazz Theory, Jazz Pedagogy, Jazz Piano, and was a member of ten ensembles on and off campus. My primary drum teacher at Texas State was drum legend, Butch Miles. I also performed in masterclasses for John Riley, "Tootie" Heath, Eddie Gomez, and José Aponte. During the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, 2019, I debuted an original song, “Dancing in the Dark,” at Shiner’s Saloon. I’m currently performing and recording with rock, jazz, and country bands around Houston. My main goal as a teacher is to encourage my students to listen and trust their own musical intuition; this is a vital component to evolving as an artist and developing self-confidence.