Austin Wrinkle holding a snare drum

Drum Lessons
with Austin Wrinkle

Learn to play music with an experienced and patient teacher.

Private lessons in Ventura CA and Thousand Oaks CA.

Greetings prospective students!

I am currently accepting private students of all ability levels who are interested in exploring the world of drumming. Whether you're passionate about drum set or fascinated by the captivating sounds of hand drums, such as tabla, kanjira, doumbek, and frame drums, I am here to guide you on your musical journey.

In my lessons, I offer a comprehensive curriculum that covers various drumming styles, techniques, and instruments. Whether you want to focus on the drum set, or a specific hand drum, or learn universal hand drumming techniques applicable to any drum, I am committed to assisting you in your musical endeavors.

With over twenty years of teaching experience and a Bachelor's and Master's degree in music from the esteemed California Institute of the Arts, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our lessons. My teaching approach is flexible, ensuring that the learning process is relaxed, enjoyable, and tailored to your specific needs and goals.

My ultimate aim is to inspire you to find your own voice and style on the drums. Together, we will work towards unlocking your musical potential.

If you're ready to embark on this musical journey, I would be happy to have you as my student. Please feel free to reach out to me to discuss scheduling and further details. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Austin

Drum set and drum sticks

Drum Set Lessons

Whether you're a beginner or seeking to refine your skills, I offer personalized drum set lessons tailored to your specific needs. Together, we can cover essential aspects of drumming, such as reading notation, mastering rudiments, developing hand/foot technique and coordination, and more.

My approach extends beyond drumming itself. In my studio, we can listen to and play along with music, providing valuable insights into the drum set's role in different music styles. We can explore advanced concepts like creative phrasing, playing in odd time signatures, and delve into style-specific studies in rock, jazz, and world music.

Ultimately, my goal is to help you unlock your creative potential and express yourself through the instrument.

Tabla drums

Tabla Lessons

Experience the world of North Indian classical music through tabla lessons. Learn the classical repertoire, taught to me by the renowned tabla maestro, Swapan Chaudhuri. In addition to mastering tabla techniques, you will also gain insights into Indian musical concepts, the role of the tabla player in North Indian classical music, and essential aspects such as tuning and maintenance of the instrument. Each lesson is designed to provide a learning experience, where we explore compositions, rhythmic patterns, and improvisation within the traditional framework.

hands playing a frame drum

Hand Drum Lessons

Lessons are tailored to your needs and goals. Explore a variety of hand drumming styles, including universal hand techniques that can be applied to different drums, as well as specific techniques for tabla, kanjira, doumbek, frame drums, and more.

Learn about rhythm and structure while practicing specific exercises to improve your sense of time and rhythm. Develop the ability to express yourself on different hand drums and discover their distinctive sounds and creative potential.

These lessons are designed to enhance your technical skills while promoting your creativity and musicality. You'll have the opportunity to experiment with improvisation, create your own rhythmic patterns, and develop your personal style on the hand drum. We'll work together at a pace that suits your learning preferences.