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Patient Teaching

Because everyone learns differently, and Allan Hawkins understands this.

Flexible Schedule

Allan can make his schedule work with yours.

Get to Know Allan

A lot of drummers know how to play, but can they teach? Allan Hawkins can do both. He is known for his patient, consistent teaching style.

About Me

Learn about Allan Hawkins, one of the premier drum instructors in Middle Tennessee

Why Drums?

Drums are vital to almost every music group, regardless of the genere. Start learning today.

Get Started

Ready to begin your career as a drummer? Contact Me today to set up your first lesson!

Hear From My Clients

Because they know me better than anyone

I definitely recommend Mr. Hawkins to anyone looking to begin learning.

I have been taking drum lessons from Mr. Hawkins since I was seven and he has helped me tremendously both with drumset and marching percussion. Because of his patience and knowledge, he helped me make the high school drumline as a freshman and has taught me to play many different styles of music on drumset. I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking to begin learning to play drums or an advanced player wanting to expand their abilities.

Amanda – Cookeville, TN

Allan is always patient, professional, and the lessons are affordable

My son has been taking drum lessons with Allan for 5 years. He started in 3rd grade when he thought it would be fun to bang on things. Allan has taken this initial interest and turned into a life-long learning activity. Allan has taught my son how to read percussion music as well as how to play by ear. Now when we are driving in the car and my son hears a song he likes, he begins to “play” the drums on his legs, mapping out all of the intricate parts. Allan is always patient, professional, and the lessons are affordable. We feel blessed that Allan is in our lives.
Melissa GeistBuffalo Valley, TN

Taught Me More…

Allan has taught me more in one month of drum lessons than I have had with the two previous drum teachers.
Shane Hankins – Cookeville, TN

Very Good Drum Teacher

I have really enjoyed having you as a drum teacher. Your better than the other drum teachers that I have had before. Keep up the good work.
Andy  – Cookeville, TN

About Allan
Learn a little about my experience

I began my drumming career as a self-taught drummer. It is highly possible that if I had taken drum lessons in growing up, I would have become more proficient at a faster pace. You can do a lot by yourself as an individual, but with the proper help you can excel even quicker. Over the years many students have come to me with no teaching at all, and as a result they had found themselves in a drummer’s rut. Some of them had even gone as far as they could by learning on their own and wanted me to help them to progress further.

I enjoy playing the drums and have done this for over 30 years. My memories go back to the exact moment when I first wanted to play the drums.

When I was in the second grade, my mom, sister and I went to a PTA meeting at Auburndale Elementary School (in Louisville, KY). We were running late for the meeting, and as we entered, everyone began to stand for the National Anthem. So we went to stand over on the left side of the cafeteria wall. My shortness at that age prohibited me from seeing all that was going on, but the song started off with the snare drumroll. As soon as I heard that, I asked my mom, “What is that?” and she said, “A drum.” I replied saying that I wanted to play that and she said, “Shhh, be quiet.” Of course I was not paying attention to the fact that the song was playing and my talking could interrupt the people around us. This memory started it all. As soon as I heard that drumroll, something rose up inside me and I knew I wanted to play the drums.

After waiting for approximately three years (now going into the 5th grade), I finally had the chance to join the band for a drummer’s position. The band director had made many attempts at getting me to play the trumpet, saxophone, and pretty much so any instrument they had need of for the band each year. However, with my desire to really play the drums, I waited it out for a few years until the opportunity came. I have been playing the drums ever since.

I started teaching drum lessons back in the late 80′s to students at Evangel Christian Life Center, for the kids praise band. My clientele base extended to other students as well. That lasted for a solid time period, until I moved. I began teaching again right here in Cookeville, TN in about 2003 and have had many students over the years, from all ages. Teaching drums is a gift I have really enjoyed. For some reason, I can relate simple to complex beats to any drummer who is willing to learn.

The two mentors that really impacted my career and advanced my skills are Zoro the Drummer and Troy Hatcher, both renowned drummers of the modern day. Some other drummers I enjoy listening to are Steve Gadd, Steve Smith from Journey, Jeff Proacco, and Buddy Rich.

Behind every drummer is an instructor, whether in book or in person. Despite my many years of drumming experience, I have also been furthering my skills with my mentor Zoro the drummer.

Get Started

TODAY

Why Drums?
They’re essential to most music.

Get Music Drum Lessons here in Cookeville, TN. Many people assume the phrase ‘music lessons’ consists onlyof lessons and instruction for the piano, acoustic or electric guitar, bass guitar, violin, or any other school band or orchestra instrument. The whole thought of taking drum lessons is usually not the first thing that comes to mind.  In fact, many people do not even consider the ‘drums’ to be a serious enough instrument to include in their definition of ‘music lessons.’ What most people don’t realize is that it actually takes rhythm and skill to be able to play the drums. There is a distinct difference between banging and drumming.

Drums are the backbone of mostly every music group. In fact, when you see music videos or listen to your favorite artist, the instruments usually include the keyboard, electric guitar, bass guitar, and you guessed it… the drums. Even larger bands still have a drum set or percussion instruments with the rest of the music group.

Large orchestras, with music written from hundreds of years ago, use drums of all sorts also known as the percussion group. The most famous music compositions consist of many different styles of drums. Any music history book will say that the oldest musical instrument known is the drum. Wikipedia has a nice article on this as well (see drum history article).

I had one college drum student tell me that he never thought that there was so much to playing the drums. He thought it would be something very easy to do. It involves a lot of coordination with the feet and hands. So if you are in need of expanding your knowledge and coordination with the drums, and you would like to have music lessons for the drum and drum sets, call me today.

Anyone Can Learn
Any age, any skill level

Do you want to learn how to play the drums? Maybe you dabble, maybe you think playing drums is cool and will make a great hobby, or maybe you don’t play at all. You may say to yourself, “I’d like to play drums, but where do I start?” Well, you have come to the right place. Allan Hawkins drum lessons | Cookeville TN is the place you need to be! With 30 years of experience under his belt, Allan is very patient, dependable, and kind and makes a great teacher to any age.
If you know absolutely nothing about drums, or you are an expert looking for some new tricks, Allan Hawkins drum lessons are perfect for you. Over the years he has had some students that began when they were barely tall enough to to sit on a drum stool to play a junior drum set. Other drum students have been from grade school, college, and adults. Any age has the capability to learn the drum kit. The real key is to have that desire to want to learn the drums.
He teaches a wide variety of students while teaching a wide variety of techniques. From assembling a drum kit – to learning how to play your favorite song on the drums, no matter how difficult, Allan has you covered. Allan’s style of teaching is relaxed, simple, understanding and concrete. If you think that you will be learning the drums in a dingy basement in the backwoods, you are sadly mistaken. Allan has a drum studio in a peaceful neighborhood in Cookeville, TN and has been established here for many years.

Great Location

Cookeville, TN

I’m affiliated with students from all over Middle TN.

Being in Cookeville, TN, close to I-40, has made it easy for a lot of drum students to be able to come here from many locations other than the local city. With close access to Hwy 111, traveling to Cookeville from just about anywhere within 30 miles makes it so much quicker and easier it ever was. That’s why Cookeville has become a city of ‘retail’ for the middle TN area. For this reason, many students like to take a visit to Cookeville to shop, eat, and even site see besides only coming to town to have a drum lesson.

Call For Pricing And Availability

(931) 529-2929
Why Choose Allan?

More Experience

Allan has been drumming for over 30 years, and teaching drum lessons for over 15. He knows his instrument, and he knows how to teach others to love it just as much as he does.

Primary Drummer

Many drum teachers play other instruments, and learn drums on the side, but not Allan. He plays drums exclusively, which means all his time with music has been devoted to mastering them.

Contact Me
Ready to start your career as a drummer? I’m available to talk or schedule a lesson anytime. Just give me a call or send an email, and you’ll be on your way to learning the art of drumming!

931.529.2929

Cookeville, TN 38506