Dan’s Biography

My name is Daniel Grummett. I have been playing drums for about fifty years, and I am excited to be offering these online drum lessons through Panda Music School.

I grew up in Orange County where I received around four years of drum lessons through a popular drum teacher and jazz drummer named Glenn Young. My first gig was drumming for a female jazz vocal trio called The Satin Dolls. 

I played drums for the Jazz Band in my high school for over two years until I moved to Riverside County. 

During Junior year, my new school did not have a jazz band, so I played in the marching band and in the concert band.

While attending college, I performed as a drummer and percussionist for a professional musical production of the off-Broadway show The Fantasticks at a local dinner theater in Murrieta Hot Springs. I continued to perform with numerous rock bands through my college years and taught drum classes through The Saddleback Valley Recreational Department in Orange County.

I eventually moved to the Imperial Valley. I played drums with a local rock and roll band called Capital 64. I also performed harmonica, vocals and drums for a local folk group called The Jugless Jug Band. I went on to join an electric blues band called Misery Whistle and helped form a folk and rock band called The I.V. Ramblers. 

I play drums, harmonica and sing with the band. Both Misery Whistle and The I.V. Ramblers continue to perform locally in many popular venues and for many local events. I also continue to fill in on the drums with Capital 64 when needed and conduct drum and harmonica workshops for the Folk and Heritage Festival in Glendale, Arizona.

I have played in bands from classic rock, hard rock, blues, folk, country and even with accordion groups. But this will be my first time teaching drums online. I am looking forward to engaging in this new adventure with you.

I conduct both private lessons and classes. My lessons are designed for beginners but if you “stick” with it, practice, and become proficient in the lessons I teach, you will have all the tools needed to jam with other musicians or to join a band.

My lessons will take you from learning technique, some rudiments, and basic sight reading to learning many drum beats for playing rock, blues, country, pop, jazz and many other genres of music.

My primary experience is in rock and blues drumming and this will be my main focus as we move through the lessons, but I will introduce you to many other genres as well. I will encourage you to develop your own style and to be creative. 

I am a “feel” drummer and I like to improvise and will encourage you to do the same. But I also believe in a solid foundation and teaching in a systematic way. Learning essential rudiments, proper technique, counting, timing, and basic sight-reading skills are very important.

As with any musical instrument, becoming a proficient drummer requires practice and patience. But first, and foremost, have fun! There is nothing more enjoyable and exciting as jamming with other musicians, performing on stage, or just playing along to a recording of your favorite bands. So, let me teach you some “chops” and let’s hit those drums!