I’m opening a limited number of online lesson packages for January–May 2026.

• 15 × 30-minute lessons — $600
• 15 × 60-minute lessons — $1200

For piano players & drummers —
Adult hobbyists
Kids & teens
Teachers strengthening a secondary instrument or style

Sessions begin January 5, 2026.
Offer closes December 31, 2025.

Got to the lessons page to reserve your spot.

If you’ve ever sat down at the drums and felt like “Why do my hands feel like they’re not cooperating with my brain?” You are not alone! I don’t know a drummer that hasn’t happened to a some point. Stay focused on your practice time and resist the urge to scroll.

For this holiday season I’ve put together a few free tools to help you out, especially if you are new to drums or recently acquired a drum set.

You can find them here: tvcmusiclessons.gumroad.com

First up: Sextuplet Combos Warm Up. Perfect for days when your hands need a wake-up call stronger than your coffee. It loosens you up, sharpens your flow, and gets you moving musically.

Then there’s The 5-Minute Drum Match Game — a quick, playful challenge designed to trick your brain into practicing. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it builds accuracy almost by accident.

Finally, Exercise Series #3: Intro to Independence gives you the coordination boost we all wish we had in middle school band. Clear, bite-sized patterns help your limbs finally work with you, not against you.

All three lessons are free for now! When you swing by be sure to join my mailing list for future lessons, books, exercises, and new music.

Happy Holiday Season!!

-TVC

As musicians, we pour our hearts into our craft, often pushing our bodies to their limits in pursuit of that perfect performance. But this dedication can come at a cost – playing-related injuries are more common than many realize.

From repetitive strain injuries in guitarists and pianists to embouchure problems in wind players, our instruments can become sources of physical stress. Drummers face unique challenges with their ankles and wrists, violinists battle neck and shoulder tension, and vocalists can develop vocal cord issues from improper technique or overuse.

The key to longevity in music lies in prevention. Physical fitness isn’t just for athletes – musicians are athletes too. Regular stretching routines, especially targeting the specific muscle groups your instrument demands, can prevent many common injuries. Good nutrition fuels both your brain and body for optimal performance, while adequate sleep allows for proper muscle recovery and mental clarity.

Perhaps most importantly, avoiding harmful addictions is crucial. While substances might seem to enhance creativity temporarily, they ultimately impair judgment, coordination, and healing. Your body is your instrument’s partner – treat it with respect.

Remember, you’re probably already addicted to music, otherwise why are you here on my website reading my blog? That’s the only addiction that should drive your musical journey. Listen to your body, take breaks when needed, and invest in proper technique and ergonomics. Your future self will thank you for taking care of the vessel that brings your musical dreams to life.

I’m excited to share some updates on what I’ve been working on and how we can make music together.

“Without Words” Now Available

My latest album, “Without Words,” is now on sale at Bandcamp! This collection represents a deeply personal musical journey that speaks through melody and rhythm rather than lyrics. Each track tells its own story, inviting listeners to create their own interpretations and emotional connections. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or discovering my music for the first time, I think you’ll find something meaningful in these instrumental compositions. Check it out at drtimothyvancleave.bandcamp.com/album/without-words.

Private Lessons Available

Are you looking to develop your musical skills? I’m currently accepting students for private drum, percussion, and piano lessons. My teaching approach focuses on building solid fundamentals while nurturing each student’s unique musical voice and interests. From complete beginners to advanced players looking to refine their technique, I work with musicians at every level. You can view my current teaching schedule and book lessons at timothy-van-cleave.square.site.

Session Work and Live Performance

I’m also available for session work and live performances on drums, vibes, or keys. Whether you’re recording in the studio or need a versatile musician for live shows, I bring professionalism and creativity to bands and ensembles of all genres and sizes. Interested in collaborating? Reach out to me on Instagram or Threads @tvc_music to discuss your project.

Let’s make music together!

The Sound of Two Tragedies

We all carried two stories through 2020 and 2021: the collective nightmare we shared and the personal hell we couldn’t talk about. As a performing artist, I watched live music die overnight while wrestling with my own crisis that words couldn’t touch. The stages went dark, the income disappeared, and suddenly making music became the only language that made sense when everything else failed.

Words try to be proof theories assertions manipulation persuasion truth lies

But sound

reveals the truth in ways

language

never could

“Without Words” emerged from that collision of universal and intimate pain. Twenty-three minutes of what it actually sounds like when your world collapses twice simultaneously. I abandoned lyrics entirely because words felt like bullshit. Inadequate tools trying to measure the unmeasurable. Instead, I let sound carry what language couldn’t: the dense, jarring reality of crisis giving way to something breathable and spacious. This isn’t background music for your commute. It’s an invitation to sit with whatever you’ve been avoiding, to let music do what words never could.

Are you ready to stop hiding behind language? Ready to face twenty-three minutes with just you and sound?

Listen to “Without Words”: https://drtimothyvancleave.bandcamp.com/album/without-words

Ever listen to a song and wish you could play it just like that? One of the most powerful ways to build your ears, technique, and memory is transcription—learning music by ear, one note at a time.

I know, I’ve posted about this on social media before, and it didn’t get much traction. But I want to say it again: students, this is for YOU. Not pros. Not virtuosos. Just people who want to get better.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s retention. You want the tune to stick in your memory like your favorite lyric or chorus. Here’s how to make that happen:

• Pick a short section. 4–8 bars is plenty. Don’t overwhelm yourself.
• Listen on repeat. Loop it until it starts living in your head.
• Sing it. If you can’t sing it, you probably can’t play it.
• Figure it out slowly. Use your instrument and your ear, not a chart.
• Play along. Once you’ve got it, try matching the original recording.
• Revisit later. The next day, try again—this helps lock it in.

Transcription isn’t magic—it’s repetition. But it builds serious skills.

Lately, my days revolve around two very different types of focus. I spend my mornings chasing a toddler and my afternoons teaching students. That leaves a small part of the day, usually about 45 to 90 minutes, for my own creative development. It is not a lot of time, especially when I am trying to maintain technique, generate new musical ideas, and stay engaged with the music community on Threads at @tvc_music. Still, within those short practice sessions, I have found meaningful growth.

One shift that has made a big difference is narrowing each session to just a few specific goals. Rather than trying to cover everything, I focus on three to five areas that I return to consistently. Right now, I am working on a 7/4 ostinato, swing time using the second and third partials on the snare drum while improvising with the bass drum, arpeggios on piano, Beethoven’s Opus 49 Number 1, and coordination exercises to strengthen the relationship between snare and bass drum. These targets are challenging, but they help me stay motivated and make better use of the limited time I have.

This more focused approach is not just improving my playing. It is also changing how I listen. I find myself picking up subtle details in phrasing, timing, and tone that I might have missed before. The work I am doing now is not about preparing for a specific performance. It is about becoming a better musician overall, both technically and creatively.

Sharing this process online has also helped. I have always struggled with what to post, mostly because I worried that people would scroll past or not care. Lately, though, I have been experimenting with sharing more about my day-to-day growth. I have received genuine encouragement from other musicians and had thoughtful conversations that helped me reflect more deeply. There have also been a few negative comments, which made me wonder what drives someone to troll. Maybe it is the reaction they hope to provoke, or maybe it is something else. Either way, I am choosing to focus on the positive connections and constructive feedback.

This season of life is busy and full, but I am learning to treat the time I do have with respect and purpose. A single exercise, a few clean repetitions, or a small breakthrough at the piano can all add up. Even thirty minutes of honest practice can move the needle forward.

So I will end with a question. How are you growing your passions and skills? Even when time feels scarce, there is still room to learn, reflect, and move forward. Sometimes, the most meaningful progress happens in the smallest windows.

I’ve got some incredibly exciting news to share with you all: I’m releasing a new book this fall, and it’s something I believe will genuinely help so many of you looking to expand your rhythmic horizons on the drum set. It’s a collection of 10 unique etudes specifically designed to help drum set players master the art of swinging in 3/4 time.

For too long, the drumming landscape has been overwhelmingly dominated by 4/4 time. And don’t get me wrong, 4/4 is the cornerstone of so much incredible music! Most method books, exercises, and even professional transcriptions are firmly rooted in that time signature. This makes perfect sense, as so many of the fundamental strategies and techniques we learn as drummers are built around the pulse of four.

However, the world of music is far richer than just 4/4. Think about the beautiful waltzes in jazz, the intricate folk tunes, or even contemporary pieces that venture beyond the standard. When you encounter a song in 3/4, the common advice often boils down to “just apply your 4/4 ideas and adapt.” While that might work for some experienced players, it’s often a murky and frustrating path for many. The feel of a swing waltz is distinctly different, and trying to force a 4/4 mindset onto it can lead to awkward phrasing and a lack of true fluidity.

That’s precisely why I dedicated myself to creating this book. I wanted to build a clear, accessible, and enjoyable learning path for drummers who might have little to no prior experience playing in 3/4. My goal was to demystify the process and provide a practical framework that sets you up for immediate success. Each of the 10 etudes in this book is carefully crafted to progressively build your understanding and comfort with the unique rhythmic language of 3/4 swing.

You won’t find a compendium of “ass-kicker” exercises or hyper-complex professional transcriptions here. This book is designed to be chill and genuinely helpful. It’s about nurturing your rhythmic intuition and building a solid foundation, not overwhelming you with insurmountable challenges. We’re focusing on establishing a confident and authentic swing feel in 3/4, step by step.

But here’s a little secret, a little challenge for you, and something that makes this book even more special: at the heart of each etude is a standard jazz melody. As you work through the drum parts, you’ll be subtly engaging with some of the most beloved tunes in the jazz repertoire. Can you identify them? It’s a fun way to connect your rhythmic practice with melodic understanding and deepen your appreciation for these timeless compositions. I’ve intentionally woven these familiar melodies into the fabric of each etude to provide a sense of musicality and context, making the learning process more engaging and less purely technical.

So, if you’ve ever felt intimidated by 3/4, or simply want to expand your rhythmic vocabulary and unlock new creative possibilities on the drum set, this book is for you. Stay tuned for more details on the official release date this fall. I can’t wait for you to get your hands on it and start swinging in a whole new dimension! Get ready to embrace the waltz and add a beautiful new groove to your drumming toolkit.