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216 West Federal Street, Youngstown, OH 44503Monday to Thursday: 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. · Friday: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. · Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. · Sunday: ClosedMonday to Thursday: 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.(330) 555-0104
FlamYoungstown, OH
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Drums and percussion school

Learn the beat, then play it with a line

Flam teaches drum kit, hand percussion, mallets and marching drumline in Youngstown. Four teachers, a small drum room and a line that rehearses by season, for students from eight years old to adults.

Book a trial lessonSee the drum year
  • Ages 8 and up
  • Kit, hand drums and drumline
  • Lessons in English and Spanish
A boy grinning behind a drum kit in a lesson room

What we teach

Three ways to learn the drums

Pick the one you are curious about. Many students take two.

  • A teacher and a student, seen from behind, side by side at a drum kit holding sticks

    Drum kit

    Sticks, a snare, a bass drum and cymbals: the instrument most people picture. Grooves, fills and playing with a song.

    • Private lessons

    • A practice kit to use in the drum room

    Kit lessons
  • Hands counting out a rhythm on the lid of a hand drum

    Hand percussion

    Congas, bongos, shakers and the rhythms that go with them, taught from the clave out. Taught in English and Spanish.

    • Private lessons and a Saturday circle

    • Latin rhythms

    Hand percussion
  • Hands holding drumsticks over a practice pad

    Marching drumline

    Snare, tenors, bass drums and a front ensemble, rehearsed by season for students in school bands and for those who aren't.

    • Tuesday and Thursday evenings in season

    • Ages 12 and up

    The drumline

The path

Six levels, from the pad to the line

Every student starts on a practice pad and moves up when the next step is ready, on any instrument we teach.

  1. Pad and pulse

    Ages 8 and up, no drums needed
    Skills

    • Hold the sticks and play a steady beat on a pad

    • Count aloud in fours and in threes

    • Read a line of quarter and eighth notes

    Moving up

    When your teacher hears a steady pulse. Every student moves at their own pace.

  2. Rudiments

    Skills

    • Single and double strokes, slowly and evenly

    • The flam, the drag and the roll

    • Bring a pattern up to tempo with a metronome

    Moving up

    When the rudiments are even at a slow and a medium tempo.

  3. Groove

    Skills

    • A few grooves on the kit, or a clave pattern on the congas

    • Play a fill and land on the one

    • Keep time while someone else plays a melody

    Moving up

    When you can hold a groove for a whole song.

  4. Ensemble

    Skills

    • Play your part in a section and listen to your neighbor

    • Follow a leader or a conductor

    • Match dynamics, loud to soft, as a group

    Moving up

    When your section leader asks you to carry a part.

  5. The line

    Ages 12 and up
    Skills

    • Marching sticking and a short cadence

    • Play standing, and then while moving

    • Rehearse with a snare, tenor and bass line

    Moving up

    When your teacher and your line agree you are ready to play out.

  6. Lead and solo

    Skills

    • Arrange or write a part for your line

    • Lead a sectional for newer players

    • Play a solo at the showcase

    Moving up

    These players mentor the next ones. Ask us how a spot opens.

Where to startBook a trial lesson

Sample levels.

Every student moves at their own pace.

Drumline rehearsal by season

The line rehearses in the evening. Marching season is shown here; winter and summer have their own pages.

Every season
Marching season, August to November

Showing 10 of 10

Monday

  • 3:30 pm – 8:00 pm

    Drum kit lessons

    Aiman Khamis · Drum room

    Ages 8 and upAll levelsOpenRegister

Tuesday

  • 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

    Hand percussion lessons

    Hermes Burgos · Round room

    Ages 8 and upAll levelsOpenRegister

  • 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

    Drumline rehearsal

    Aiman Khamis · The hall

    Ages 12 and upThe lineOpenRegister

Wednesday

  • 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm

    Mallets and steel pan lessons

    Grover Beaty · Mallet room

    Ages 8 and upAll levelsWaitlistRegister

  • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

    Rhythm reading for adults

    Sookhee Chiang · Round room

    AdultsBeginnerOpenRegister

Thursday

  • 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm

    Snare and tenor sectional

    Drumline · Aiman Khamis · The hall

    Ages 12 and upThe lineOpenRegister

  • 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

    Drumline rehearsal

    Aiman Khamis · The hall

    Ages 12 and upThe lineOpenRegister

Friday

  • 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

    Pad and rudiments class

    Drum kit · Aiman Khamis · Drum room

    Ages 8 and upPad and pulseOpenRegister

Saturday

  • 9:00 am – 10:30 am

    Hand percussion circle

    Hermes Burgos · Round room

    Ages 8 and upAll levelsOpenRegister

  • 10:45 am – 1:45 pm

    Drum kit lessons

    Aiman Khamis · Drum room

    Ages 8 and upAll levelsWaitlistRegister

Sample classes.

Group classes hold up to 8 students. Times change a little each season.

Our teachers

Four teachers, one drum room

  • Hermes Burgos, director and hand-percussion teacher, seated behind a conga

    Hermes Burgos

    Director, hand percussion

    Hermes teaches congas, bongos and hand percussion, and leads the Saturday circle. He teaches in English and Spanish, and starts every new student on the clave.

  • Aiman Khamis, drumline and drum kit teacher, with sticks at a practice kit

    Aiman Khamis

    Drumline and drum kit

    Aiman marched in a high school drumline and now teaches snare, tenors and the kit. He runs the Tuesday and Thursday line and its sectionals.

  • Grover Beaty, mallets and steel pan teacher, in a flat cap, standing behind a steel pan with mallets

    Grover Beaty

    Mallets and steel pan

    Grover has taught marimba, vibraphone and steel pan for many years and leads the front ensemble, the players who sit in front of the line.

  • Sookhee Chiang, rhythm-reading teacher, seated at a piano

    Sookhee Chiang

    Rhythm reading, adult beginners

    Sookhee teaches students to read a drum part and count it aloud, and she teaches the Wednesday class for adults who are starting out.

The marching-band year

The drum year, by month

Marching season sets the calendar, and the showcases come after it.

The drum year

  • Summer line camp

    Late July · A week of sectionals for the line, before school band camp starts.

  • Marching season begins

    Early August · The line meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

  • Friday-night games

    Late September · Students play with their school bands. We keep Thursday for rehearsal.

  • Fall showcase

    Mid November · Every student plays something short in the hall, with the line to close.

  • Winter percussion begins

    January · A smaller indoor line, with a front ensemble of mallets and steel pan.

  • Spring showcase

    May · Hand percussion circle and kit students play, with the line.

Sample dates.

Questions we hear most

What age can my child start?

Eight is the usual start, once a child can hold two sticks and count along. If your child is a little younger or older, ask us at the trial lesson.

Do we need a drum kit at home?

No. A practice pad and a pair of sticks are enough for the first months. Ask your teacher before you buy or rent anything.

Can I take lessons if I am not in a school band?

Yes. The line takes students from school bands and students from no band at all.

I am in a school marching band. Can you help?

Yes. Bring your school's part, and your teacher will work through it with you. We support your band, and we don't replace it.

Who speaks Spanish?

Hermes teaches in English and Spanish, and can talk with families in either language.

Come and play a pad

Book a trial lesson, or call and we will find a time. Bring your questions and a pair of sticks, if you have them.

Book a trial lessonCall (330) 555-0104