Simon Boyar Drum School

Be sure and check out the entire class on YouTube! Hope for the best but move forward with the spirit of innovation and the attitude of adaptability. Waiting things out is not a strategy.  I think this message is important right now. If you are someone who is sitting on the fence waiting for things to "return to normal" I believe that although you are well-meaning (and I am even with you in spirit) that is a mistake. Time marches on whether we like it or not. If you make the choice to put down your instrument during this time, you will be left behind. I believe that this is true for many things in our world. We should all hope for the best but move forward with the attitude of adaptability. I'm not saying that it's going to be easy but the sooner we move forward from a position of innovation and strength, the sooner we can discover that joy and progress is just as much a state of mind as it is a function of our environment. This post is the perfect suppleme...

What does it REALLY mean to work for yourself? I thought that I had learned the answer. Now as I find my way forward through this crisis, I realize that working for yourself only works when you actually do it. Let me explain... After years of trying to forge my own path I finally made it happen !  I no longer had to say yes to every gig or remain at a job in academia.  The Simon Boyar School of Drums and Percussion was (and still is) a huge success and I mean HUGE. Prior to COVID-19 I was meeting with about 35 amazing students a week and working with 2 ensembles. Clients would purchase gear from me on a near daily basis. Things were going so well that running the business became an equal amount of time spent figuring out how to expand. Expansion was inevitable or at least I thought it was.  Let’s back up a bit. It felt really good to finally be in charge of my life. For years I had struggled. Although I was always fortunate to be working as a musician and I had ...

I think it’s time to get real and get honest about what COVID-19 means for universities and conservatories this coming fall. With many switching to and/or partially incorporating online learning AND the current state of the economy, I’m not sure that $70,000 per year will make sense anymore. This is compounded by the fact that the money is often easily borrowed leading to sky high student loans that are challenging for many to realistically pay back. Art and music degrees will be the first to go. Of course I don’t want this to happen but unfortunately, the situation has been unsustainable for quite some time. I (along with many others) have been calling it a bubble for years. When I taught at the college level, I used to be VERY concerned for my students and they ALL KNOW THIS because I was always upfront about it. The truth is that higher education and especially degrees in music and the arts will have to offer better outcomes for well-meaning students if they want to justify their hi...

Over the next week April will be coming to a close. It's been 6 weeks since everything shut down and I began teaching online full time. I've said this before and I'll say it again, I am constantly impressed by everyone's commitment to continuing our work together online. I just recently sent out an email with lesson sign ups for May and the response I received was OVERWHELMING! Thank you everyone! I realize that whether through mindset or actions many are waiting for things to return to normal. While I may want that too, I think it benefits everyone at this point to soberly recognize that things may be this way at least partially for quite some time and even if and when things return to "normal," they may never be quite the same for a variety of reasons. What this means is that it's time to think about thriving in the "here and now." This can be a very positive thing and I can assure you that beyond the numerous lessons I'm teaching, I'...