John Hargis

Q:Tell us about the Federal Way School of Music. How did you become involved?
A: I first heard about the school through its founder Steve Lynch. Steve is a graduate from the Musicians Institute in LA and was a founding member of the group "Autograph" in the mid-80's. He was a guitar instructor at Helmer's Music in Federal Way for many years. I came to know him because I had been teaching at the same store since the beginning of '06. Steve called me and explained that Helmer's would be closing its retail store in Federal Way and that he was looking to open a new music school. The plan was to hit the ground running so that none of the teachers at Helmer's would lose their existing clientele. I believe everyone who was teaching there was invited to join the fray. There is some amazing talent amongst the teachers at this school! It is truly a privilege to be here.

Q:What aspects of it are you most excited about?
A: I recently acquired a Roland V-Drum kit for the students to use during their lessons. Advancements in technology have made electronic drums much more user-friendly and realistic in the way they feel and sound. Students will get a chance to explore all kinds of world-percussion and ethnic grooves, since changing the sound of each of the drum pads is a snap. Another thing I'm excited about: because this is a collaborative effort from a variety of instructors, the school has begun to develop a character all its own. We're in close proximity to each other, so we can compare notes about effective ways of teaching and get new ideas as well. Since we take responsibility for our own calendars and scheduling, there's no boss to answer to: not a bad gig at all!

Q:What specific things will you try to bring to the school to make your drum courses unique?
A: In today's computer-based recording the need for a drummer to lay down a solid groove to a pre-recorded click-track is essential. This allows the studio to easily loop, cut and paste parts, or rearrange a song altogether. Software such as Pro Tools and Reason have pioneered a whole new approach to audio production, but it requires a drummer to stick to a constant tempo much more than before. I think most drummers would agree that learning to play smoothly with a metronome snapping away in their ears can be a difficult skill to master. So along with the regular lesson plan, I will occasionally record my students as they play along to a click-track. The student can walk out of a lesson with a CD in hand of their latest jam session and track their progress from one recording to the next. This gives me a much broader view of how the student is developing, and shows me the unique way each student connects the dots between the theory and the art of drumming.

Q:What age range are your students?
A: I've taught students as young as 5 years all the way to age 56. The drum set can be adjusted for a wide range of sizes and abilities. You're never too young or old to learn!

Q:What is your current schedule for private lessons?
A: Right now I teach on Monday and Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. I also teach on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at McLain Music in Gig Harbor. You can book lessons by calling me directly at (253) 273-3716. Calls are usually answered within the next business day.

Q:Is there anything else you'd like people to know about the Federal Way School of Music?
A: The website is at fwschoolofmusic.com. From there you can get individual instructor phone numbers, download a map and get driving directions to the school in Federal Way. Contact the teachers directly to book your time slot. The website has recently been updated and now includes bios and pictures of most of the teachers. Our general e-mail address is info@fwschoolofmusic.com but it's best to simply contact an instructor by phone, or you can call (253) 874-1004 and leave a voice mail if you would like a referral based on your own individual needs.

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