Drum Lessons With Scott Rouse

I have been taking drumming lessons with Scott for the past year and would highly recommend him to anyone wanting to learn how to play the drums. I had zero experience playing the drums prior to working with Scott and I was quickly able to feel really comfortable on the drum kit and make way more progress than I expected over the course of my lessons. Scott is really fun to work with. He has a really great positive energy, teaching style and a wide range of music knowledge. If you’re looking for a drum teacher in the Bay Area I would definitely recommend Scott!

Scott is a phenomenal teacher. I have been playing drums recreationally for 1 ½ years or so and with 3 teachers in 3 different cities and after 3 months with Scott I have noticed a dramatic improvement. I love Scott’s lesson plan and clearly seems to have a path in mind for each student. I had some bad habits and Scott is taking the time to break me down to build me back up as a more proficient musician which has only furthered my progress. Thankfully Scott is very patient and encouraging while I work through some of the more difficult techniques with limb independence while creating 4 layer grooves. We clearly seem to be following a path with our lessons and each week builds from the last which I very much appreciate. Scott is happy to discuss all genre’s of music and will tailor your lesson to your interests while mainting good form with stick control and rudiments which are then easily translated to the kit. I look forward to continuing my lessons with Scott and would highly recommend him as a teacher for any level of drummer.

I highly recommend Scott to be your next drumming instructor, especially if you’re someone who is starting from scratch. I’m an instrument and drumming newbie who finally decided to give lessons a go.
Scott has been extremely patient and encouraging at each lesson. Each session builds on itself and strikes the right balance between focusing on the fundamentals and actually getting behind the kit. I love that I’m learning to read music, about how drumming styles vary by genre and the techniques behind each music type.
Scott challenges me each week, adding just the right amount of new material without piling on too much. He also has some great techniques for strengthening individual weaknesses (hello left hand), and I’m increasingly more confident about actually making beautiful music someday.
Plus, he’s just a cool dude with a fun vibe.
Also, the space is in a safe neighborhood and conveniently located to downtown and Soma so it’s a breeze to get to after work.

Scott’s a great teacher, drummer and epic dude.
I look forward to my lesson each week. I’ve never played drums and decided to start taking lessons to see what was possible. It’s a great break from work and each lesson I learn new techniques that cater to my pace and learning style. I’d recommend lessons with Scott for drummers of all skill levels. He’s awesome.

What an amazing teacher!
Well organized, focused, passionate, patient. A complete professional.
After years of wanting to learn and two disappointing teachers I finally found someone I can learn from. Scott creates a weekly lesson plan, which he actually tracks! Each week you can easily discern (AND ACHIEVE) the goal he has set.
He gives great advice about certain questions and takes the extra step to make sure you have full comprehension. Even more, it’s not like grade school where you have to master one piece before moving on. Rather, it’s master as you go, which is pretty awesome. You have the opportunity to surprise yourself with how far you have come.
He is well versed in a variety of music styles and acknowledges and supports your goals as a drummer.
I cannot say enough about Scott’s teaching style. Third time is the charm. Even my neighbors say I’m doing better!
I cannot recommend Scott enough.

I’ve been studying with Scott for over a year, and it’s been a great experience.
I’ve been playing drums for decades, but had plateaued as a drummer, so I chose Scott to help me advance. He is a very broad instructor, and has helped me with technique and fixing long-​standing bad habits, with groove and feel, with weak-​side strengthening, and limb independence that have advanced my latin and jazz playing. He has even introduced me to electronic programming approaches I can use in accompaniment.
He can go deep in any of these areas, but it’s wonderful to know he can cover this full spectrum. Anyone looking to learn can have the confidence of knowing they can grow with Scott and go very far.
Importantly, he’s patient and a good communicator, so I enjoy my lessons and look forward to them. And he’s persistent, so he won’t let me off the hook when I need to breakthrough in a hard area (sight reading, for example…), yet he keeps it fun.
Last, Scott is encyclopedic about drumming. He knows and stays current with all the teaching approaches and methods, goes to clinics frequently to keep his knowledge up, has a library of the great books and teachers. I always learn about the craft and discipline of drumming from Scott, in addition to improving my playing.
I highly recommend meeting Scott if you’re looking for a great instructor, no matter your level.
Mark

I’ve been taking lessons for about a year with Scott and I’m extremely pleased with the progress made so far. Scott has trained with some of the greats and he helps share that experience in a very accessible teaching method.
I’m a self taught kit drummer that developed some poor habits over the years and found myself in a creative rut after locating to SF. I tried online video courses and a few other drum teachers but none of these options came close to the teaching offered by Scott. He has proven talent, is patient and even keeled, attentive and very informed.
On our first lesson, we established some measurable goals (play Jazz and Latin grooves, improving left hand and left foot strength, learn how to read music) and we’ve been moving towards these goals ever since. Each lesson is a smart, controlled step towards my goals of improvement. He even keeps notes on my progress so there is no loss in the continuity of our lessons. You can tell that thought goes into how he structures his lessons, which are specifically tailored to you.
I’ve always wanted to learn to read music. Scott started me off at the very beginning and coached me to where I had the basics, could speak the language, and then we built off of that foundation and continued to learn more complicated notation. Using that layered approach, I can now transcribe my drum notes. I can also read quite quickly now. I’m still not expert level yet but I’m very impressed and pleased at how far I’ve come.
as far as improving my weaker side, Scott has helped me understand the mechanics of the limbs and how they move effectively to prevent long term fatigue and injury. He makes precise observations on my playing style and helps my form. I’ve already noticed a huge difference in how I’m able to play more loosely and my ability to play with my weaker hand and foot.
In short, if you’re looking to take your drumming to the next level, Scott’s lessons are the best option!

I am so incredibly thankful that I looked online for drum lessons in San Francisco and Scott Rouse was the first person that I called. I have been taking drum lessons from Scott since August and I literally could not imagine learning how to play the drums from ANYONE else. I took drum lessons for a few months years ago from someone else and there really is just no comparison.
Scott is completely professional, patient, and really has a mastery of his craft. While he is definitely credentialed and more than qualified to teach the drums, Scott’s passion for and understanding of rhythm and percussion is incredible and seems unparalleled. He definitely challenges me, but I honestly always feel like I have enough support and a built-​upon-​skill set to be able to try anything… often with great success!!! His teaching methods seem perfectly paced, and I know that is because he is really paying attention to where I’m at in my process. (Even when I’m hopped up on caffeine in a lesson). I still can’t believe i’m doing the things I’m doing on the drums already!
Even when I’m wondering why I’m doing rudiments and paradiddles until my arms are on fire, I completely trust Scott and his method. I’ll take those same exercises to the kit, and I’ll have this incredible wax on-​wax off moment… many of them! It seems like there’s nothing Scott can’t do on the drums and I’m super stoked to be lucky enough to train with one of the greats.
I 100% know that I would not be as far as I am in my drumming skills and understanding, had I not taken drum lessons from Scott. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND him as a drum teacher to anyone, as the experience just wouldn’t be as great or half as much fun with anyone else!!!

I had always wanted to play the drums ever since I was a kid. A friend who is an amazing key board player told me about the Best Drummer She Has Ever Worked With — this guy who was moving to SF from NM, Scott Rouse.
I have been taking drumming lessons from Scott since July. He is so talented, inspiring and patient! Even though half the time I feel like a klutz behind the kit, I also see the amazing progress I have made (working on my samba beat, double bass and of course, paradiddles…) He is great grounding me in the basics, the rudimentals of drumming, while keeping it super interesting and varied with kit work and even hand drums.
Scott is one of those generous, kind and incredibly humble souls. He really has a touch of genius when it comes to teaching drumming. He knows just when and how to mix it up.
I have seen him perform live and his drumming is TIGHT. He is a full time, professional drummer who hangs with the likes of the GREATS and has learned from Aldo Mazza, Dom Famularo, Greg Bissenette and others. At the same time, he keeps it light and fun– his lessons are sooo incredibly fun! and you will leave the lesson smiling and feeling great about yourself and life. The hour goes by soooo quickly!
If you have thought of drumming for more than a nanosecond, or find yourself tapping your foot when listening to music or tapping your hands on your desk — try ONE LESSON. Seriously, you won’t regret it!

I was free styling on Craigslist for drum accessories and came across Scott’s ad for drum lessons. From the moment I saw his resume and credentials I figured I would give him a try for lessons. In an e-​mail I explained that I had been away from drumming for about 45 years but had recently picked up playing with a few friends and had recently purchased a kit from Craigslist. He responded readily and we set up our first few lessons in his studio in SF on 4^th street. Scott was willing to travel and I thought it best to learn on my kit. I was out of practice so we started again with the basics and the book Stick Control. However it was not a dry lesson of rudimental’s, he has me incorporate all limbs to different beats as we have gone through the lessons. Besides all the rock beats, he has me learn to work on other beats to develop my skills. Scott’s goal at this stage of my re-​development is limb independence.
He is very patient and very encouraging (exactly what I needed) And I recognize I can make great progress and never out learn with his instruction, because he is also a student himself.
I would guess I have had at least 20 hours of instruction from Scott. My band mates notice my improvements each week we rehearse, and I feel Scott’s lessons have given me the confidence to jam with some pretty experienced cats and in front of a large audience.
If you are looking for a dedicated teacher who is passionate about his craft then I highly recommend Scott as your teacher.

I have had the privilege of working, playing and taking lessons from Scott over the past 5 years. His drumming ability is top notch in a variety of styles including jazz, funk, rock and blues. Though what really makes Scott the best option for drum lessons is his teaching ability. He is patient, super chill and uses teaching methods that will get you playing your favorite songs quickly. I have worked with Scott at a music camp for high school kids and witnessed drummers go from not knowing how to play anything to playing in a rock band in the course of one week. If you are a more advanced drummer you can look forward to getting techniques from the top players in the world as Scott has studied with names like Dom Famularo, Aldo Mazza and Alex Acuña. Scott is also an accomplished DJ and producer so if you enjoy electronic music and want to deepen your understanding of rhythm Scott is the perfect choice. I highly recommend drum lessons with Scott.

My name is Ciara McAllister and I am fellow musician here in San Francisco. I have had the honor of playing in several bands and teaching with Scott over the last ten years. I have also studied drums under Scott’s instruction.
I run several music workshops and programs in SF and therefore have taught alongside many different drummers, varying in style, experience, and teaching approach. Scott is by far the most patient and effective drum teacher I have had the privilege of working with.
Scott’s skills as a drummer are unparalleled… he can play any style, is beyond rhythmically precise, and is creative as a songwriter and arranger. His ideas are unique and educated.
But beyond this, Scott has the rare talent of being a great drummer with the ability to explain to aspiring drummers how it all works!
Scott has taught me a great deal about the fundamentals of drumming. Concepts are clear, precise, and inspiring. He is extremely patient and kind-hearted…Nothing but encouragement and practical advice as to how to improve.
If you want to be inspired by a truly phenomenal drummer who is clear, reliable, fun to be around, and a great educator, Scott is your guy.
I recommend Scott to beginning and advanced drummers, children and adults alike!