Once a student can hold a groove without thinking about it, drum lessons turn toward coordination, which means getting each hand and foot doing something different at the same time and keeping it steady while the music moves around you. That work takes exercises and consistent practice, and your teacher will build those into lessons alongside the songs you are working on so the two support each other rather than competing for your time. From there students will work on dynamics, ghost notes, deliberate sticking choices, comfort playing to a click, and the ability to read a chart by recognizing patterns rather than counting through every measure. Double bass is available to any student whose music calls for it.

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Many of our intermediate and advanced students are preparing for something specific, and lessons are built around whatever that is, whether it is a school audition, marching band or concert percussion, jazz band, a worship team, or a recording project. Our drum teacher, James Chiodo studied percussion at Belmont University under Derico Watson, Chester Thompson, and Zoro and grew up around drum corps through his father, so students headed toward marching band are working with someone who knows that world firsthand. Drummers who want to play alongside other musicians can join our Rock-Ready Program or the percussion ensemble in our music programs, and recitals are open to every student and always optional.