Drum Lessons in North Center. Amazing Teachers.

Hi! My name is T.J. and I am a professional drummer and educator currently living in Forest Park, IL. I received my B.A. in Jazz Studies from Elmhurst College in the Spring of 2019. I have been playing professionally in Chicago and it's surrounding suburbs for over five years now, and have played the drum set for 13 years.

I am very passionate about my craft, and absolutely love spreading that knowledge with others and inspiring them to the best of my ability. I am well versed in many styles, including Rock, Jazz,, Fusion, Funk, World Music, and Classical Percussion.

I am active in many bands, such as Instrumental Rock/Fusion band Elysian Green and Folk/Rock band Fleeting Suns (check either out on spotify!) I've been lucky enough to record and share the stage with famous Chicago musicians, such as Chris Siebold, Mark Colby, Frank Caruso, Jeremy Khan, and Marlene Rosenberg, among others. Some less-local musicians include Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Sean Jones, and Matt ...

I have been teaching beginner to professional of all ages for eighteen years. My students all have positive experiences and have given me great feedback!

Matthew has studied and taught drums for over 20 years. His specialty lies in drumset of all styles and rudimental snare drumming. You can expect a well rounded lesson covering all of the fundamentals to becoming a good drummer.

Drum Set

Whether you're just starting out, wanting to learn Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters, or even Taylor Swift repertoire, maybe you're preparing for band or college auditions, or just simply looking to broaden your playing with different styles like jazz, latin, etc., I am here to guide you and help you develop the necessary skills!

I have been teaching drumset for over 15 years. My lessons focus on applying technique and reading, with snare reading exercises and learning popular songs. Lessons will adjust according to the student's level, pace, and goals.

My goal for my students is to have an understanding on how to use their instrument, develop versatility, discover who they are as a musician, become independent learners, while having fun along the way!

I believe that each person is drawn to the drums for different reasons; some have dreams of performing in stadiums for thousands of people, others simply want to be able to play along to their favorite records in the garage on a Sunday afternoon. Whatever your goals are, my goal as a teacher is to always keep sight of your initial motivations for drumming, craft an individual plan to help you get there, and to have some fun along the way! (All styles & levels welcome)
*Please check out my Drum Lessons Introduction video below to hear more and see my lesson studio!

short bio:
I have been playing the drums for 20+years and teaching for 8+years. I studied jazz at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio, but am no stranger to playing Rock, RnB, Punk, etc..at dirty dive bars, music festivals, and other less stuffy environments :)
*Feel free to watch my performance Reel below to hear a sample of my playing!