The teacher will probably want to assess where you're at by looking at your technique and ability.  May see a few things that you can correct but will help give a starting point.  Since you're not exactly a beginner I bet the teacher may ask you what YOU want to learn and strive for.

just my 2 cents.

It really depends upon whom you chose as your instructor. I went in to start back up about two years ago with a teacher based on personal reference. I thought we'd whip out a book and start training like drumming was an Olympic sport. Instead we spent two hours trying to define what it is I wanted from him. I thought I was being pretty specific when I said I wanted to improve my independence and develop more of a personal language. I expected him to say, "Oh, well this is what I use to teach independence and this is what I use to teach construction, etc." Instead I got, "And what does that mean to you?"

I understand now he was wanting me to say something like, "I want to play double bass like X drummer" or "I want to play triple whamadiddles over a South American/Caribbean ostinato." He just didn't understand what I was trying to say, which was I wanted a qualified instructor to assess my ability and introduce me to new things he thinks are hip. I know now you have to interview these guys before hand if you're not going for something specific.

congrats on going for it, smitty. there are some advantages to learning as an adult. occasionally there are disadvantages, too, but overall you can process ideas a little easier and your life experience can help you put things in perspective.

i just started up with a new teacher, too. first lesson was like 3 hours and a lot of talking. he wanted to know what my musical interests were and what my schedule was like [to gauge how much time i had available to practice]. then we talked about technique and ergonomics. he assessed my hands and my playing overall, and gave me some ideas to gain dimension and fluidity. he's very into fluidity. his other big thing is goal-setting and developing a solid practice routine.

it's cool coz we're both very much on the same musical plane. but the biggest reason i like him is that he's a good communicator and an awesome player. very developed, lots of finesse, great jazzer. you can tell he spent a huge amount of time shedding.

the whole thing is changing my music experience. this is the first time i don't feel pressure about playing/learning. i used to stress lessons a lot. now i just feel motivated. however, he has definite expectations and is not into hand-holding, so i do feel a responsibilty toward practice, coz i don't want to look like a shmoe when i go to the lesson. but i enjoy practicing now more than ever. [probably because my job sucks up my life...so shedding is a great release/escape].

but back to YOU--i think it's great you're approaching it as a beginner. keep an open mind. i do think it helps if they can hip you to rudiments and grooves early on, otherwise it can get dull. also think about what you want to learn. imho, a good, well-rounded teacher should be pretty fluent in various styles, teach you notation and help you build a solid foundation--in other words, develop you as a musician, not just a drummer. but you want someone who can be responsive to what you want to do, too. also, they should be able to articulate what they are teaching. some people are good at showing, but not telling. some people might prefer learning that way, but i think it's helpful to get the whole picture. really depends what kind of learner you are.

aight, enough blabble. good luck with your venture and let us know how it goes!

Hi Smitty.

What are you working on now?  Rudiments and grooves?

My only sincere advice is practice the mundane; perfect your one, two, three and 4 part counting- work with a metronome and first and smoothly make your transitions within the different subdivisions.

Practice as much as you can, it is normal to get "worse" if not down right handicapped when learning new techniques.  Hang in there.  Play your gigs your own way until the new stuff takes hold; which can take much longer than anticipated.

Good luck.