Teach the groove. Build the musician.

Help beginner through intermediate drummers connect the excitement of a favorite song with the skills to play it well. Strong foundational teaching is central to this role; advanced jazz, collegiate-level instruction, and coaching professionals are highly valued additional strengths.

The teaching

Build relaxed technique, rudiments, hand-and-foot coordination, and limb independence. Teach drum notation, rhythm, subdivisions, steady time, groove, dynamics, fills, and song structure through demonstrations, exercises, metronomes, and play-along tracks. Help students listen and make choices that serve the music.

Give clear practice guidance and prepare students for DAMPA’s two annual recitals and student showcases, which teachers are expected to attend. Share progress and teaching needs with our team; DAMPA handles scheduling, billing, enrollment, and client communications so you can focus on teaching.

Who we’re looking for

Bring professional drumming experience, previous teaching experience, and strong drumset musicianship. The ability to read and teach notation is required. We value patient, prepared instruction that adapts to different ages, interests, and learning styles. A music degree is valued but not required.

Specialized genres are welcome, including rock, pop, jazz, funk, and Latin styles. Advanced teaching ability is valued but optional. Recording, live performance, songwriting, and other teachable instruments can enrich your lessons and help build hours when they match student demand. Drumset-only teachers are welcome.

Support for your work

Professional MuseScore, Scribd, and Musicnotes.com accounts support lesson materials. We equip your teaching room with the resources you need. Our full recording studio has a baby grand piano, Logic Pro, and vocal microphones for recording student milestones and your own work during off hours. Complimentary lessons with fellow DAMPA teachers and access to practice rooms support your continued musical development.

Optional opportunities include masterclasses, group classes, and summer camps. Our musical theatre department presents two full productions a year and smaller projects; interested faculty are a first-call resource, with that work paid separately. There is room to grow into leadership based on skills, performance, and initiative.

Pay, benefits, and schedule

This in-person W-2 position pays $30–$40 per teaching hour, based on experience and skill set, with room for increases through performance reviews. Training pays $20 per hour. Recital and showcase compensation is separate from lesson pay, with details reviewed during hiring. Earnings are based on teaching hours; semi-private and group teaching pays 20% above your regular hourly rate. At 30 hours per week, you become eligible for BCBS Gold PPO health benefits, with DAMPA covering 50% of your monthly premium.

Priority drumset teaching blocks are Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tuesday, 3-5 p.m.; Wednesday, 4:30-8 p.m.; and Thursday, 3-5:30 p.m. Saturday staffing is a high priority. We will agree a consistent schedule in a drum-equipped room around your availability and student demand; the full window is not required. Sunday teaching is coming soon; launch date and hours will be confirmed. Lessons take place at 3415 Milton Ave., Dallas, TX.

Your starting weekly teaching load will be agreed individually and will grow with enrollment, your availability, and the subjects you teach. Available windows are not a guaranteed number of paid hours. The 30-hour health-benefit threshold is an eligibility requirement, not a promised starting schedule.

Let’s meet

Send your resume and a short note about your teaching experience, genre specialties, and availability. A drumset performance sample is welcome now and should be provided before an interview; simple live recordings are fine. Tell us how you help a beginner connect reading, coordination, and steady time with a song they love.