"I took drum lessons from Ryan Elwood for a few months before moving out of state. I started as a true beginner having never held a drumstick in my life and can now play several beats and am working on some fills. When I met Ryan, I could not tap my foot in time and had never even been able to read music. Ryan not only plays amazingly well himself, he understands and teaches proper technique and has a vast knowledge of musical history. I would recommend lessons w Ryan Elwood to anyone who wants to learn drums the right way."

- Ann Chappelle

"Why I enjoy studying with and continue to study drumming with Ryan:

* He's a working drummer with years of real world experience that he's happy to share

* He knows jazz music, drummers and technique extremely well and that's my main area of interest

* He pushes me to grow not just as a drummer, but as a musician as well

* His studio is nicely setup with 2 kits so I can clearly see him demo new material"

- Ken Hamel

"I took lessons with Ryan a few years ago and having no formal education aside from YouTube videos. He helped me tons in performance and breaking bad habits. 20/10 would recommend to anyone. He can teach all levels and is patient, easy to work with and understand. If I go back to lessons I will absolutely use Ryan."

- Seth Perna

"My son has been taking lessons with Ryan for over 2 years now and he has learned so much from him in that time. His technical skills have improved significantly, he has learned different drumming styles including jazz, and most importantly he has been inspired to keep improving by Ryan's passion for drumming. My son was comfortable with him from the start and he just thinks he's pretty cool, too, which always helps when you're working with a middle school student. Ryan has always been professional and organized, which I appreciate as a parent. I would highly recommend Ryan if you are looking for a drum instructor for your child."

- Amy Stivers

"Ryan is a thoughtful, methodical teacher. He does a great job of pulling back the curtain to demystify seemingly complex musical ideas and show a path toward competence."

- John Cox

"I started playing drums at age 52, and then began periodic lessons with Ryan about a year later. He was really able to quickly help me focus and direct my energies as a beginning jazz drummer, to the point where I was able to start playing with other musicians within the next year. I still occasionally see him when time permits and I need a tune-up, and his direction and advice is always spot-on!"

- Duane Gabel

"My daughter was unsure about learning to play drums and Ryan made the process comfortable and fun for her. I was surprised at how soon she was playing and enthusiastic. Ryan is a talented musician and a talented teacher."

- Linda Harrison

"Ryan Elwood is a phenomenal drum teacher. My son has been taking lessons for over 4 years now from Ryan. Ryan is a patient teacher and is great with students of all ages. He has a great set up for teaching drumming with the use of side-by-side drums, mirrors, etc. You truly can't go wrong with Ryan!"

- Leigh Smith

"Ryan is not only a great drum player (who actively plays gigs!), he is a true educator and excellent communicator. I'm a later-in-life drummer, taking lessons in my 30s, and I'm a teacher myself, so I had very high expectations of a music teacher. He has poured out drumming theory to help my mind learn and he is extremely patient and persistent teaching my physical movements. The combination of these two things have made all the difference. I came in knowing the basics and after only a few weeks learning from Ryan, I now have a deeper love & respect of drumming as an art form. If someone can help transform your knowledge, physical ability, and love for drumming, its Ryan!

And a total bonus - Ryan is exceptional with his communication and administrative tasks. He responds to emails within 24 hours, scheduling (or re-scheduling) has never been an issue, and he always starts and ends lessons on time! Take lessons from Ryan!"

- Allison St. John

"Ryan was my daughter's first teacher. He really helped her get the basics down while also making it fun. I highly recommend him!"

- Clayton Dewey

"Ryan is a great teacher and drummer. He has the ability to quickly connect and communicate with his students. And the fact that he's out playing live give you the opportunity to see what he teaches you in action."

- Patrick Dubois

"Great drum teacher! Our 9 year old son says "Ryan is nice, I am learning a lot and he explains things and helps me when I am doing something wrong." Ryan is patient, even keeled, on time with lessons and keeps us posted when there are local drum clinics."

- Cathy Holland

"Ryan has been teaching my son drums for 6 years. They started when my son was in 4th grade, went online through the pandemic, and have continued into high school where my son is seriously pursuing both kit and concert percussion. Ryan has been excellent with all of the technical and musical educating, has helped with practical things like setting up, tuning, and repairing the set and other equipment, and lately, has advised on music biz performance issues like recording, etc. He's incredibly proficient across all realms. He has also been an amazing support person for my son; consistently encouraging, listening, challenging, and being fun to hang with. Lastly, and not to be underestimated, Ryan has the rare gift of being as great at organization and communication as he is at his craft. Scheduling, payment, and all the nuts and bolts of working together are totally seamless. I can't recommend Ryan enough--we LOVE HIM!"

- Erin Milan

"I think Ryan is great for learning drums. I have been playing guitar for many years, and wanted to learn how to play drums...well. Ryan has helped me out. I think he is a great musician as well as a great teacher. He is very patient, and works with me to understand what I am doing right, wrong, and how to be better at it."

- Eric C.