"My 10 year old son decided last summer he wanted to learn to play the drums. I am so glad we found Gus and Gus' Drum Pad right away and didn't spend time somewhere else first. Gus has been an amazing teacher for Patrick and has really engaged him in learning to play the drums. He has made tremendous progress in less than a year, and he looks forward to seeing Gus every week. Gus is very patient, and takes the time to impart his muscial knowledge to his students - he isn't just teaching drum beats. Whether you are a beginner looking for a place to start, or an experienced drummer looking for a new teacher, you will be making the right decision to take lessons at Gus' Drum Pad." - Lisa

"Gus has a great attitude and that is reflected in his teaching and the way his students connect with him. His approach is always positive- focusing on the students strengths and not on their weaknesses. There is mutual respect between teacher and student which makes for a successful and enjoyable learning experience. " - Kathy

"I have been taking lessons from Gus Since the age of 6 I believe, and am going to be a percussion performance major at The Hartt School of Music next year as a freshman. Not only is Gus an amazing musician, he is one of the best TEACHERS I have ever studied with. He is friendly and fun, however he knows when to kick your butt when it's required. His knowledge of music is humbling to say the least and he makes sure to teach his students the essential history of both percussion and music in general. Often times the greatest musician can't teach to save their lives. This is certainly not the case with Gus. If you are looking for a teacher who will improve you as a musician and not just a drummer or percussionist then Gus is your guy. Through Gus' training I have been able to become the musician I am today and for that I am eternally grateful. " - Ben

" Rich (affectionately known as "Gus") has been a great friend of mine for over 20 years. I have performed with him in a variety of music styles and always enjoy playing with him! I am also a musician and play clarinet and saxophone. I have taken a few lessons with Rich to learn how to write percussion parts for my jazz arranging class. His knowledge and understanding of my situation was superb! I got an A in my class with his help. He has the knowledge to answer any question you may bring to him. My daughter also took percussion lessons with Rich and she usually has trouble warming up to a teacher, however, in a short time span she developed a great relationship and learned a lot from him. She is talking about going back to him for more lessons. I hope she does! I highly recommend anyone, from beginner to advanced (including non-percussionists like me), to take lessons with Rich! He is the BEST around!:)" - Melinda

"Gus is THE BEST resource and teacher for percussion in Connecticut hands down. He helped me prepare for auditions for regional and college auditions that I was very successful at, and on top of it he is always positive And pushes you to do your best" - Matt

"Gus has the patience of a saint, he is very creative in teaching to different levels. Works magic!" - Sue

"Gus, of Gus's Drum Pad, is the most positive, encouraging teacher imaginable! Gus will focus on the good performance of his student, while encouraging additional practice in areas that need attention. While technique is important, Gus also invites students to be creative. I highly recommend percussion lessons with Gus!" - Kathryn

"I've been playing drums for about 7 years now, and in that time, I've had 3 drum teachers. I've been with Gus for about 5.5 years mainly because he is the best teacher. He has so much knowledge to offer about every percussion instrument, and increases your skill so much in all of them. He doesn't just teach the the basic cool beats to rock, but teaches you the foundations of each instrument, so in time, you become a VERY skillful player who doesn't just read the black and white notes off of paper. Through Gus, I have been able to train my ear to the music around me and really further my skills in Drums/percussion. THANKS GUS " - James

"I am a percussionist and have known Rich for 20 years and performed with him on several occasions. His knowledge of percussion is exemplary. I bring my son to him for lessons and he has excelled in tympany and ear training. I enjoy listening while my son takes lessons, and appreciate how Rich tailors the lessons to the individual's learning style. He teaches the student to be a well rounded musician, not just the latest rock beat. My son has taken lessons from others, but was not happy until he started with Rich. I would recommend him to everyone that is looking to become a percussionist." - Frank