Chicago Area Drum Teachers

Peder Simon

Peder Simon is a classically trained percussionist, drummer, and composer who recently moved to Chicago. He has been playing drum set for ten years, experimenting with everything from traditional jazz to heavy metal. Peder graduated in 2016 with a bachelors degree in music composition from William Jewell College. Shortly after, he turned to teaching private lessons and discovered the joy in helping others find their own rhythm and groove. 

Peder also dabbles in guitar, bass, piano, hammered dulcimer, and whatever else strikes his fancy. He has written and performed two solo albums under the moniker Nirensimt, and he performed several times as a member of the William Jewell Jazz Combo when he was living in Kansas City. Peder continually seeks other artists for collaborations, hoping to have fun while expanding his musical horizons.

Tommy Veronesi

Tommy is a drummer, producer and educator from Chicago, IL. As a recent graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder, Tommy moved back to Chicago to pursue his music and teaching career in the summer of 2018. He has been playing music and taking lessons since he was 5 years old and picked up the drums (his true passion) when he was 10. Tommy has been producing, writing songs and session drumming since his early teens, recorded and collaborated with dozens of artists and has an extensive performance and touring background in various concert settings such as theaters, weddings, music festivals, dive bars, private events and jam hosting (averaging 100+ shows per year from 2015-2018). This past year, Tommy has had the honor of playing sold out theaters and has shared the stage with legendary and blossoming musicians from projects such as The Motet, Lettuce, Vulfpeck, Snarky Puppy, The Floozies, Melvin Seals & JGB, Zach Deputy, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Werks, Tauk, The Magic Beans, and the Jaden Carlson Band among many others. In addition to teaching, Tommy plays in a number of Chicago bands, regularly sessions as a studio drummer at Fort Knox Studios and leads his own rock n roll inspired solo project. Tommy specializes in performing and improvising in a variety of styles including: Rock, jazz, blues, country, hard rock, R&B, hip-hop, funk, jam-band, bluegrass, singer/songwriter, Cajun, zydeco, New Orleans based music and several Latin styles. 

Tommy has been teaching private drum lessons for 5 years and enjoys sharing personal experiences. He has taught lessons to students of various ages and levels and has helped them learn how to read music, obtain good hand posture, develop their techniques and build their free command and independence on the drums. In addition, he can include standard repertoire, sight reading and critical listening.  Tommy finds that a combination of classic fundamentals and modern music can go a long way in helping students enjoy their instrument and motivate them to practice and continue to learn. He also likes to facilitate a stress-free and organized music practice that is enjoyable for his students. Tommy is very patient with students and parents and enjoys helping them comprehend exercises and musical concepts that they might be struggling with. Finally, Tommy hopes to help teach students what it takes to become a great musician as well as how to steer past some common roadblocks. 

With all his students, Tommy first assesses their skill level, ability and goals to then create a custom lesson program to best suit their needs. His teaching style has helped his students achieve their personal goals, succeed at playing with other musicians, acquire disciplines for recording and most importantly, experience the joy of playing the drums with confidence and passion! Tommy will encourage practicing and finding ways to enjoy it as much as possible. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing his students develop their passion for music.

Tommy Moore

Tommy Moore is a fresh Chicago transplant from Asheville, North Carolina. He has been playing drums since he can remember, but formally since he was 9 years old. Taking a strong interest in music at a young age, Tommy also plays guitar, piano, mandolin, trumpet and sings. Although drumset is his primary instrument and passion, he is constantly exploring ways in which rhythm can guide all other instruments. He is extremely passionate about teaching, loves to have fun with music and believes everyone has the capabilities to be a drummer.

Tommy graduated from University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2015 and began playing professionally in Asheville immediately after, joining a successful touring band, Hustle Souls. He then began teaching music at Experience Music Asheville, where he taught up to 12 students at a time, as well as 4 full bands of youth. Simultaneously, Tommy was playing in a popular jazz trio every week as well as pursuing his own creative recording projects when he had free time. Enjoying every type of music to some extent is important to him and is comfortable teaching rock, pop, jazz, blues, hip-hop and world beats! 

Teaching private lessons can be very personal and Tommy appreciates how teacher-student relationships can shape the education. Here are two testimonials from parents of students that worked with Tommy for years. "Tommy's patience and care for Atticus' drumming success was unlike any other we have experienced (and we try A LOT of new things!)"; "Tommy's musical talents made him a very competent teacher for all ages. His patience and positive attitude made learning music fun for my son and his band mates."