“Mr. Rast, known to our students as "Willie," has been an invaluable part of our program for over 15 years. He builds strong, meaningful connections with students- who absolutely love working with him -while maintaining a high level of professionalism and organization. Willie communicates consistently and clearly, keeping me informed of his availability each week.

His deep knowledge of the state's solo and ensemble repertoire allows him to thoughtfully select music that both challenges students and encourages meaningful collaboration in small ensembles. I highly recommend Willie as a private lesson instructor and percussion clinician- his expertise, reliability, and rapport with students make him an exceptional educator. "

“He keeps us motivated and doesn't let us get away with the minimum effort. He expects us to give our full potential. He helped me learn to play drum set, snare and mallets in one summer following 5th grade, to be as good as other students who have already played for 3 years. "

“He is very patient with me even if I mess up multiple times or may be in a bad mood. He taught me how to play 4 mallets which I struggled a lot with and could not have done it alone. Now I'm starting acoustic guitar.”

"Willie is awesome! He lets me choose music that I like to work on. He shows the best techniques to use and I really appreciate all of our discussions about music genres, both old and new. He's helped me come a long way in my drumming and I really enjoy our lessons."

“Willie has been an exceptional drum teacher for my son. We were referred to him by a longtime student, and from the very first lesson it was clear we had found the right fit. My son immediately connected with Willie's teaching style and finally felt confident, motivated and inspired.

Willie has the ability to balance the fundamentals while encouraging my son's fun...He shares his genuine love of music with his students, and I highly recommend Willie to anyone looking to excel in percussion.”

“Willie was a role model for me during formative years of my life. A large part of my decision to pursue music in college in the future was my time as Willie's student.

​

He is certainly a master of his craft and an excellent teacher, but I remember him as a friend, who I could talk to about favorite artists, who encouraged me to take risks, and who cared about me as a person and not just his student."

“I cannot say enough wonderful things about Mr. Willie. He has been working with my son since the seventh grade, and now, as a freshman in college, the impact of that guidance is clear. 

Over the years, he has been far more than just a music instructor. He has been a consistent mentor who truly cares about his students-not only as musicians, but as individuals. His patience, depth of knowledge and ability to meet my son where he was at each stage of his development made all the difference. He challenged him to grow while always providing encouragement and support.

What stands out most is his integrity and genuine investment in his students' success. He has helped shape not only my son's musical abilities, but also his confidence, discipline and character. 

I am incredibly grateful for the role he has played in my son's journey and would highly recommend him to any student or family looking for an exceptional teacher and mentor. "

“When I first started drums, I didn't understand the different aspects and genres but after some time, Mr. Willie taught me how to follow the groove. Percussion in general is very versatile and it can show emotions. With Mr. Willie, I was able to enjoy music in a way I never thought possible.”

“I have taken lessons with Willie for almost 4 years now and can confidently say that he truly cares about his students and will go above and beyond to help them in any musical situation they find themselves in. He is an amazing musician and has inspired me to strive to be one too.”

"As a parent, I could not have asked for a more patient percussion instructor for my two kids, that are polar opposites. Each kid learns a different way and he always seems to find a way for them to understand and excel at the percussion instrument from drum set, various mallets and guitar.

Their self confidence has improved every year and seeing them look forward to lessons is a blessing. Both of my children have received Superiors at Solo and Ensemble. They excel and receive many accolades for their musical skills."

“Mr. Willie is the best drum teacher that I could've asked for. He makes lessons both a learning experience and an enjoyable experience.”

“I asked my son his favorite thing about lessons, he responded, 'He helps me understand the music much better, plus he's funny and makes learning percussion enjoyable!' As his mom, I can tell he loves lessons because he wants to work harder and practice more now, than he did when he was learning on his own!"