Learn Drums your way with a TakeLessons expert

By Chris M. - Baltimore Drums Teacher

Hi everyone! My name is Chris and I'm a drummer here in Baltimore, Maryland. I want to talk a little bit about the music and drumming scene here in Baltimore. The Baltimore drum scene is a vital and exciting one. There are many outlets to play music, great studios to record in and friendly, competent musicians to partner up with to form new groups, do sessions or just sit in. One of the reasons I love being a full time drummer here in this city is that people genuinely love to see live music. If your thing is alternative rock, punk, metal or emo, you might play clubs such as The Ottobar, Club Sonar or The Recher Theater. If you are in a cover band and like to play the latest Top 40 hits then The Barn, Padonia Station or The Ram's Head Roadhouse would love to have you play for their crowds. If you're into Prog or Fusion, the infamous Orion Studios is the perfect place for you to showcase your band. Each time I play out I always end up seeing people enjoying themselves while dancing, watching or just listening to the music. There are endless opportunities for anyone taking drum lessons in Baltimore to get out and showcase their skills.

Another plus for being a drummer in Baltimore is the location itself. Washington, DC is an hour south of us, Philadelphia is two hours north and New York City is almost 4 hours north. I've been lucky enough to gig in all of those places and it helps keep things fresh for me because I like to travel. Being a freelance musician as well as an instructor means that you have to be versatile, reliable, have good ears - and it helps if you can read music too. The drum scene here is getting bigger everyday with new players, but it's also a community that works together.

I love teaching drum lessons in Baltimore because of the great talent I see in people of all ages. Right now I teach ages ranging from 6 to 60 and the responses I get from these students are so positive. I've helped adults get their chops back and get up to speed so they can go out and gig again; I've also seen younger students of mine grow up to gig with their own groups or set themselves up to attend local schools such as Towson University, University of Maryland Baltimore County and the Community College of Baltimore County, or they move on to colleges outside of the area.

Baltimore has always had a great respect for their musicians. Some of our famous hometown drummers include Chester Thompson (Genesis, Frank Zappa), Hillary Jones (Tribal Tech, Robben Ford) and Dennis Chambers (Jazz/Fusion legend Santana). Personally, I’ve played a lot of different styles of music here - Rock, Top 40, Folk Rock, Metal, Jazz, Funk, Fusion and Prog. I have a great time playing in all forms of music and it's even put me in the spotlight with magazines like Modern Drummer & Keyboard magazine. Currently, I'm playing in two cover bands, two progressive rock bands and a jazz-funk group. Plus I'm always "on call" to fill in or play on a session. Each opportunity is unique and helps me grow as a musician. Take drum lessons in Baltimore and you too can become a part of this vibrant community!