Drum Instruction by Mike Killela

I took drum lessons with Mike for about a year. I’m an adult student with a busy work and family schedule. Twenty some years had passed since I last played the drums and I wanted to get back behind the kit. My experience with Mike was fantastic. Mike made the whole process fun. He understood that my lifestyle was not conducive to daily practicing, and he adapted the curriculum accordingly. He tailored the lessons to my abilities as well as my musical interest. He has a way of pushing you beyond your comfort level without you realizing it. My playing improved significantly. Prior to meeting Mike, I lacked the confidence to play with a band. Mike changed that. Because of Mike, I am now looking to get into a performance situation. Mike is a wonderful human being. He not only cares about your drumming, he also takes an interest in your life. Whether it is working on hand technique, fills, or advice about a career change, Mike was always eager to help. I always looked forward to my lesson each week. Highly recommended.

Our son started lessons with Mike 10 months ago. In the beginning, we thought he just wanted to give it a try for a little while but he started taking very seriously and Mike has been able to keep him motivated. We are amazed at his progress. He says he has lots of fun in every class.
Mike is a very professional, kind, patient and fun instructor. We are so happy to have found him

When looking for a drum teacher for our 7 year old daughter, we tried a few different teachers before settling on Mike. A few months later and I can't even describe how happy we are that we went with Mike. He is clearly an incredible drum teacher who knows exactly what he is doing. He has a great rapport with our daughter. She enjoys going to her lesson and he knows how to push the right buttons to get her excited about drumming. And, if that weren't enough, he's very helpful and responsive during the week with our questions. We really can't say enough positive things about our experience with him.

My son has been Mike’s student for a few months now and I can’t say enough about how happy he is to have him as an instructor. My son wanted to expand his capabilities as a drummer and also needed help reading music. Mike has a way of explaining things that makes everything seem so much easier. My son has improved a great deal in this area and feels much more confident playing in school or even just practicing at home. I also noticed pretty early on in the lessons that Mike is not a clock watcher. He doesn’t mind going over a few minutes during a lesson if it means my son will better understand something or play something a bit better. He answers questions and concerns promptly and always encourages feedback. If needed Mike also sends additional resources or instructional videos throughout the week to help with practice techniques. Overall, Mike’s genuine talent, passion and energy for his art is reflected in each lesson. My son truly enjoys his lesson each week.

Mike is an incredible person and drum instructor. He has been teaching our kids for over 6 years. We love Mike so much we call him Maestro Mike. Mike genuinely cares so, so deeply about his students and their success. He has a huge heart and is full of energy. Mike is patient yet passionate about what he does and our kids respond well to that. As a result, he makes learning fun while still challenging their abilities so they continually grow as musicians. Mike is amazing and our kids love taking drum lessons with him. We highly recommend Mike to anyone interested in learning to play the drums.