Drum Set Fundamentals

A Course for Beginners of All Ages

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Everyone is a rhythmic person--from the steady beat of your heart to the impact of your feet while you walk. Join Chris Teal for an interactive course that can get you drumming in a weekend, no matter your age or experience. This course is great for first-time musicians and musicians looking to gain a foundation on another instrument (while having fun!) No music reading, just learning by listening, watching, and most of all--joining in and making music.

In this course you'll learn:

- How to coordinate your hands and feet while walking and patting to develop large-muscle awareness away from the drum set

- Posture, drum setup, and grip

- How to use your feet at the drum set

- Drum beats and fills in duple and triple meter

- How to play drum beats and fills in phrases that relate to songs you know (not just counting)

This course material is taken from Chris's years of experience teaching beginners--he actually uses this tested method with his students! Join today (before 6/25/17) and receive a bonus coaching session where Chris will send you personalized video feedback to aid your progress. The price will go up after this introductory period, take advantage now!


Your Instructor


Chris Teal
Chris Teal

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Whitworth University, drummer Chris Teal is the co-Director of the Institute for Creative Music (IfCM) and a recent transplant to Denton, TX by way of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Chris has performed as a member of the IfCM Collective, Mingus Dynasty Quartet, Dave Rivello Ensemble, the Mighty High and Dry, Nick Finzer Quintet, Alexa Tarantino Quartet, John Nyerges Trio, Jake Hertzog Trio, and Matt Smith Group. Chris released his first self-titled album as the Chris Teal Trio, “Analog Dreams”, in 2019; four albums with the band Quintopus on ears&eyes Records (Voyage to Ornoc, April Showers, and Prehistoric Beach, and The Adjacent Possible); and four albums with the IfCM Collective on Outside in Music Records (“Volume 1”, “A Tribute to Prince,” “A Tribute to Björk,” and “Volume 4: A Tribute to St. Vincent”).

In addition to his active career as a performer, Teal strives to build new opportunities for students to experience jazz and creative music by teaching improvisation, aural learning, and student leadership through the Institute for Creative Music. The IfCM also runs “Creative Jazz Fundamentals,” an on-line school for learning jazz. In collaboration with the University of Arkansas Community Music School, Chris and the IfCM were awarded grant funding for their “Youth Education Initiative” for 2021-22. Chris is the founder and director of the Fayetteville Jazz Festival and has directed the IfCM summer jazz camps annually since 2013.

Along with other Teaching Artists from the Institute for Creative Music, Teal has presented workshops and performances at schools throughout the United States, and has presented workshops at the 2017 NYU Impact Conference and 2015 TEDxFlourCity conference. Raised in Spokane, WA, Chris teaches weekly jazz combos, improvisation classes, drum set and piano lessons in Denton, TX and remotely through the IfCM and U of A Community Music School.

Course Curriculum


  Welcome and Overview
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

Get started now!