Percussion, Rhythm, and Drums: The Foundation of All Music
Foundations for Real-World Playing
Learning to play the drums builds a strong foundation in rhythm, timing, and musical coordination. It not only teaches students how to keep a steady beat, but also how to listen, react, and contribute musically within a band or group setting. Whether your goal is to perform live, record in a studio, or simply jam for fun, drumming develops both discipline and creativity from day one.
Our drum program can run anywhere between 6-9 months, are based on weekly lessons, and depend on the student's underlying rhythm skills and practice routine. It's designed to take absolute beginners or intermediate players from their first rhythms to confidently playing full songs with a band or backing track. Through structured weekly lessons focused on core fundamentals, students develop timing, coordination, reading skills, and musical awareness—everything they need to become solid, reliable drummers ready to play with others.
Advanced lessons are also available and are tailored specifically to each student's goals.
Students can expect to learn the following:
Weekly Structure
A basic lesson structure helps to stay on track and hit our goals. Each week we will review concepts discussed in the previous lesson, introduce new techniques, groves, and concepts, and apply those concepts/techniques to songs or pieces of the student's choice. And lastly, we'll provide worksheets or homework assignments for them to work on prior to the next lesson. It's recommended the students have a piece of music, song, or genre of music to work from or we can provide one that they agree to.
Stage 1 The Basics:
- Learn the parts of the drum kit, how to sit properly, and how to hold their sticks.
- We cover how music works from a rhythm-first perspective: quarter notes, eighth notes, and simple counting.
- Students learn their first basic beat (bass on 1 and 3, snare on 2 and 4, hi-hat on eighth notes) and how to keep time.
- Simple one-bar fills are introduced to help with transitions and movement around the kit.
- By the end of the month, students should be able to play a basic 4- or 8-bar groove at a slow tempo with simple fills.
Stage 2 Intermediate Level Concepts:
- We begin combining grooves and fills into longer patterns that mimic actual songs.
- Students work on hand-foot independence and dynamic control using kick variations and hi-hat articulation.
- Song form is introduced: intro, verse, chorus — with real examples and structured play-alongs.
- Lessons emphasize groove consistency, tempo control, and playing with backing tracks.
- With some practice, students should be able to play through a beginner-level song from start to finish using transitions.
Stage 3 Advanced Techniques:
- Students explore groove variations: shuffle, swing, triplets, and light funk concepts.
- Two-bar and syncopated fills are introduced to prepare for more advanced transitions and improvisation.
- We dive into musical communication: how to play dynamically with other musicians and how to listen actively.
- Students perform a full song including intro, multiple sections, fills, and a clean ending — demonstrating control, timekeeping, and musical awareness.
- By the end of the course, students should be ready to play confidently with others in a jam, rehearsal, or live performance setting.