Midcoast School Of Music offers personalized lesson plans and one-on-one instruction with some of the finest musicians in New England, focusing on mechanics, theory, and performance. Below, you’ll see the instructors available for brass lessons and have a chance to learn more about them. For more information regarding available lesson times at our Portland campus, please fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Drums
Midcoast School Of Music offers personalized lesson plans and one-on-one instruction with some of the finest musicians in New England, focusing on mechanics, theory, and performance. Below, you’ll see the instructors available for drum lessons and have a chance to learn more about them. For more information regarding available lesson times at our Portland campus, please click on the "Contact" button.
Chris Marro
Chris is the co-founder and owner of Midcoast School of Music. He is currently the Director of Percussion Cape Elizabeth school department in addition he maintains a sizable roster of private students. He plays in and manages a much in-demand nine piece band (Retrospecticus) as well as working with other artists and bands as a sought-after drummer and sideman. Chris holds a B.A. from the University of Southern Maine and has been a music educator for over twenty years. Chris has worked with thousands of students, becoming one of the most in-demand private drumset instructors in Maine. Chris’ teaching philosophy centers on connecting with students in a way that makes music fun and enjoyable. At the same time strong emphasis is placed on the importance of fundamentals for all students whether they aspire to play professionally or for personal enjoyment and recreation. Students become proficient in music literacy, rudimental drumming, musical form, improvisation as well as multi stylistic approaches including rock, jazz, latin, funk, hip hop, R&B, popular music and more.
Andrew Hodgkins has been playing and studying drums for more than three decades. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance and Classical Percussion from the University of Southern Maine and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Hunter College in New York City, and is a certified special education teacher. Andrew studied under noted instructors Nancy Smith, Les Haris Jr., and Phill Verrill, and most recently taught percussion at South Portland High School. He has also been teaching private drum lessons for more than two decades, bringing a wealth of experience and a deep passion for the instrument to students of all ages and skill levels.
Andrew has enjoyed a long and diverse professional music career. As a member of the band As Fast As, he recorded multiple albums — including Open Letter to the Damned, released nationally on Octone/A&M Records — and toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada. During that time, he shared the stage with artists such as Maroon 5, INXS, Gavin DeGraw, John Fogerty, O.A.R., Josh Kelley, Dashboard Confessional, and Butch Walker. His drumming can also be heard on recordings by Elijah Ocean, Zach Jones, and Jon Nolan.
Today, Andrew is a founding member of the function band Big Magic and the Beatles tribute band The Walrus, and plays frequently with a number of local and regional acts, including The Ghost of Paul Revere, The Awesome, and The Pete Kilpatrick Band.