Teaching
As a teacher and drum coach, Carrie Jahde strongly believes in student-centered learning in a positive and fun environment. She teaches one-on-one lessons to all ages and abilities, and helps students to start making music right away with play-alongs to songs of their choice. Her goal is to make each lesson meaningful and motivating, with personalized content and encouragement to allow every student to thrive. She incorporates all of the essential elements of drumming into the lessons: hand technique; hand/foot coordination; learning different music styles such as rock, funk, jazz, blues, and Latin; playing drum fills and solos; reading music; and creating original musical ideas.
Drum Lessons with Carrie
Carrie has managed her own private instruction studio for more than a decade, and has served as faculty at Music Maker School in Acton, MA and Red House Studios in Walnut Creek, CA. Among her hundreds of students, many have earned college music degrees, become professional touring musicians, and found a lifelong love for drumming. She has also taught large groups and workshops at the Impact Arts Alternative School, the United South End Settlements Children’s Art Camp, the Brookline Adult and Community Education Program, and the SFJazz "Jazz in the Middle" youth educational outreach program. Through her teaching, Carrie is particularly committed to empowering other women and girls in their drumming. Her experience, dedication, and supportive approach has earned her a reputation as one of the top in-demand drum teachers today.
Carrie is a Berklee College of Music honors graduate, where she studied with drumming legends including Terri Lyne Carrington and Kenwood Dennard. Her passion for teaching comes from her direct experiences of more than a decade of professional drumming at venues and festivals throughout the world, in styles ranging from jazz to Latin to funk to rock. Through her extensive performing she has earned official artist endorsements from Canopus Drums and Bosphorus Cymbals. She encourages all of her students to also pursue playing and performance opportunities whenever possible, and helps to facilitate these through her deep network of music industry colleagues.
Carrie teaches in the Oakland/Berkeley, CA area, and worldwide via live online video call lessons, where you can learn conveniently from the comfort of your own home. In addition to private lessons, Carrie is available to give clinics, master classes and workshops at high schools, colleges, and camps.
"I took lessons once a week from Carrie for a year and a half, and I cannot say enough good things about her. Carrie taught me how to read drum music, and play about a zillion different rudiments and a variety of different beats. She also gave me a good introduction to musical theory and some great historical and cultural lessons on drumming. If you want to learn how to play the drums, you should take lessons with Carrie. Plain and simple."
--Jenn T. (adult student)
"Carrie has been an incredible teacher for my son—enthusiastic, patient, and knowledgeable! With Carrie’s help he has learned to read drum music, play beats and songs, and is now playing drums in his middle school band and loving it. She has made drumming fun for him and something he looks forward to with confidence. If you are looking for a drum teacher I cannot recommend Carrie highly enough!"
--Julie P. (parent)
"In addition to being a truly gifted teacher who has inspired my daughter's enthusiasm for drumming and music, as a female drum teacher, Carrie is a wonderful role model for girls and women. Carrie is a genuinely exceptional human being with many admirable qualities and values that any parent should be grateful to see modeled for their child. I feel very blessed that my daughter looks up to Carrie and has learned much more than drumming from her."
--Michal D. (parent)
"It has been a great pleasure to watch my son mature musically, and to see his love for drumming grow as Carrie continues to expose him to new songs and ideas. I feel very fortunate to have found a teacher who has taken such a sincere interest in his musical aspirations, and who has treated him with such deep respect."
--Deborah S. (parent)
