LESSONS

Dave Farris has been teaching at the Drum Center since the first day it opened (14 years +). Dave has traveled the globe, studying with great percussionists like Madawo Gideon Folie Alorwoyie (Ghana), Anthony Carillo (Puerto Rico), Ya Ya Diallo (Mali), Raj Pandya (India), and Jim Campbell (USA). Dave has performed with the great jazz organist Jack McDuff and Parliment Funkadelic co-founder Bernie Worrell. Dave currently performs locally with Club Dub, The Tall Boys, and Big Fresh.

Ben Davis holds a bachelor’s in Music Performance from Eastern Kentucky University and has spent time studying drumset and hand percussion in Brazil. Ben has instructed and composed for championship marching bands in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana. Ben currently performs with several Central Kentucky bands including Swing Insight and Exit Right Here. Ben also serves as the percussionist for First Baptist Church in Richmond, KY.

Jim Schade is an experienced jazz drummer who has been playing and performing for over 20 years. He is a highly respected musician and often plays with some of the biggest names in the jazz world.  Schade began his musical journey at the age of 8, when he discovered his love of drums.  Since then, he has dedicated his life to perfecting his skills as a jazz drummer and strives to bring listeners the most unique and creative sounds possible.  His style is very hard to define, as he draws inspiration from many sources, such as Latin and African rhythms.  He approaches each performance differently and puts a personal touch on every piece.  His goal is to be a part of the musical conversation and to bring something new to the table every time.  Jim’s commitment to his craft has led to him being featured on numerous albums and performances across the country.  He is a sought-after session musician for his ability to bring a unique flavor to each project.  Jim’s passion for playing rums has also led him to become an instructor, teaching students from all levels of experience.  He has a reputation for being patient and encouraging, helping his students to improve and reach their goals.  Jim Schade is an exemplary jazz drummer whose passion and dedication is evident in every performance. His commitment to the craft has earned him the respect of the industry and made him an incredible asset to any jazz band.

Drew has been playing drums/percussion since the age of 12. He bought his very first drum set at the Drum Center of Lexington. For 10 years he was a founding member of the Lexington Prog Rock group, The Past. In 2017 Drew decided to pursue a solo career and is currently working on his first solo album. Drew played drum set in the Tates Creek Indoor Ensemble from 2007-2009. He earned a degree in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky in 2012 with a focus in music history. Aside from drumming Drew also DJs, sings, plays the piano, and is the owner of Valwood Recording Studios here in Lexington.

I am twenty-four years old, originally from Mount Sterling, KY and attended Morehead State University in 2016, graduating with both a Commercial Music Performance and History degree as part of the Honors program in 2021.

While I grew up playing in professional worship teams across the country including the International Youth Convention band and US to Africa band, I am currently the drummer, songwriter and founding member of Bedford Band, voted the “Best Rock Group” at the Lexington Music Awards in 2019 and currently touring in cities as near as Lexington and as far as Cincinnati, Knoxville, Asheville, Nashville, Indianapolis, Saint Joe and many more. Through my group Bedford, my educational experiences, along with the countless jobs/fill-ins/side gigs I have taken, I have accumulated over ten years of live music experience, six years of instructional experience with students as young as seven and as old as fifty-six, and countless studio hours with tracking credits on fifty-three songs recorded in some of the best studios in Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee.

I would certainly say I am a self-proclaimed rocker, but I am very confident performing and teaching most commercially relative genres including pop, bebop, modern jazz, latin, classic rock, metal, modern rock, folk, country, blues, americana, indie/alt sounds, fusion, punk, funk, soul, r&b and many more.

Above all else, I feel as though what makes me stand out as an instructor the most is a deeply rooted love for music, and a compassion and care towards everyone involved in the beautiful process of making music. Young or old, local or national, beginner or advanced, I see the most value in the journey of learning, creating and that feeling of accomplishment. Music, and more specifically the drums changed my life, and I can not wait to share my passions, experience and enthusiasm for this art form with the next generation of musicians.