Andrew Griffin

I’ve had the pleasure of taking drum lessons with Andrew for almost 3 years while he was working at Red House Studios in Walnut Creek. If you want results Andrew is the man you want as a teacher. He has an impressive list of credentials (just check out the description at the bottom of the page) and has pretty much been playing drums all his life. He also fronts his own band, Felsen, which puts on one hell of a live show.
I started taking lessons with Andrew with very little knowledge of how to play drums, I could do a basic rock beat but that was pretty much it. We tackled a lot different subjects: how to arrange a kit, proper playing posture, rudiments, fills, 3 and 4-​way limb coordination, shuffles, rolls. That was just a general list but I learned so much I could go on and on. Andrew is well-​versed in other styles besides rock; I got a chance to learn about various Latin and funk grooves as well. Andrew also has an endless list of artists and songs that best exemplify the techniques he’s trying to teach you. As I thumb through my lesson notes I’m amazed at how much material we’ve covered in such a little amount of time.
Andrew is very meticulous when it comes to technique and knows about the finer nuances that separate the good drummers from the great. When you play, Andrew is always able to perform a thorough analysis and then put together a set of exercises to help you overcome your shortcomings. Andrew has very high standards, but like any teacher, one must tread a balance between challenging a student enough to keep them motivated, but not pushing them so hard they give up in frustration. I always felt challenged, but I also felt that Andrew would set reasonable goals that were appropriate for my skill level. As a busy working professional there were times where I barely had time to practice, even then I would walk out of every lesson learning something new.
Andrew is also a very accomplished producer. He helped me produce the first song I ever wrote, which was a huge milestone for me as a musician. I learned a lot about song writing and the common song structures used in today’s music. I also learned about microphone configurations used for recording drums.
I would highly recommend Andrew to anyone interested in taking their drumming to the next level and beyond!