Calling All Drummers

Do you have a child at home who loves to bang on objects all day long? Is he or she full of kinetic energy? If so, you just might have a budding drummer on your hands. And if you do, you have access to one of the most prestigious drumming schools in Baltimore, if not the state.

The Baltimore School for Drumming has been instructing students of all ages for more than a decade. The school was formerly housed on Harford Road but moved several years ago to the Towson area. It recently moved again to 2407 E. Joppa Rd.

The school teaches a wide range of techniques, including drums, mallets, hand drumming and percussion instruments. The school is run by Mark Jones, whose business philosophy is one of integrity of musicianship and accommodation for his clients.

All of his instructors are held to high standards, not only for their performance standards but also for their dedication to teaching—they all have a minimum of 10 years of teaching and playing experience.

Current instructors include Mike Kanter, John Coale, Bob Hill, Taso Kotsas, Jonathan Chester, Chris Pierorazio, Nathaniel Bell, Jason Cohen and Bryan Welker. Telling you about all of their musical experience would take more space than I am allotted. You can check out their annotated biographies at the online site for the school.

Jones is a lifelong musician who started on his own formal musical path at age 9. He is a graduate of Dulaney High School, where he won an outstanding musicianship award in his senior year. From there he studied performance at the illustrious Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he earned a bachelor’s degree.

Jones has studied with nationally recognized symphony musicians and has  shared the stage with renowned musicians such as Maryland’s own Nils Lofgren. He has also toured with Jimmie Van Zant, cousin of the famous Lynyrd Skynyrd Van Zants. Besides all the professional accolades, Jones is just a super-nice person who truly has his students' best interests at heart.

What is most exciting about Jones is his philosophy of running a business. He truly understands and accommodates the client in many ways. He wants to make learning drums fun. He states his philosophy on the school’s website: “After many years of teaching and working for various music schools, I became frustrated with many aspects of the business; a lack of good equipment, very strict cancellation policies with only the business in mind, and no curriculum or guidelines for the teachers. It was on the basis of improving on these aspects and achieving the highest level of education possible that Baltimore School for Drumming was founded.”

Jones addressed each of his frustrations in the creation of his school. Students play on only the finest instruments. Each teaching room has two complete drum kits so that student and instructor can easily work together. The cancellation policy accommodates real life—students commit for a quarter and are allowed two free misses during the quarter. The instructors will do their best to help students make up those lessons during that period as well. Finally, the school uses curriculum materials that encourage fun combined with arduous learning.

Jones realizes that most students' music pursuits will only be a hobby. But some of his students may become professional musicians. The educational foundation he provides gives students conservatory-level instruction at affordable rates. It’s more than just a jam session with friends. This type of education gives his well-prepared students the potential to sit in any music situation and feel comfortable.

Of the 10 students selected as All-County drummers last year, eight were students at the Baltimore School for Drumming. The school also turned out two All-State students.

So, if you have a child who shows an interest, be sure to stop in and let Jones and his team at the Baltimore School for Drumming put you on the path to making music.