Level-Specific Drum Classes in Syracuse, NY
Take a look at how your current skills fit together and what comes next!
PatrickBlakley.com & SyracuseDrums.com Level-Specific Drum Classes are designed to give drummers a focused look at the skills, concepts, and techniques that are appropriate for their current level of playing.
Rather than a traditional group lesson, these classes are structured as a professional, demonstration-based educational experience. I'll demonstrate the material at the drumset, explain the concepts behind it, and show you how the individual skills you're learning fit together as you continue to develop as a drummer.
Classes are intentionally kept small, allowing for a more focused and personal experience.
Choose Your Level
Beginner
For drummers who are developing their fundamental skills and building a strong foundation at the drumset.
The Beginner class focuses on the essential skills and concepts that help newer drummers become more comfortable, confident, and musical behind the kit.
Intermediate
For drummers who have established a solid foundation and are ready to connect their individual skills into more complete and musical playing.
The Intermediate class explores the concepts that help bridge the gap between learning individual techniques and applying them more naturally in real playing situations.
Advanced
For experienced drummers who are ready to refine their playing and explore more advanced concepts.
The Advanced class focuses on higher-level technique, musicality, independence, application, and the details that can help take an experienced drummer's playing further.
Class content is level-specific and may vary from year to year.
What to Expect
Each class is approximately 90 minutes and is presented using a combination of live drumset demonstrations, visual examples, explanations, and discussion.
Students will:
Watch live demonstrations at the drumset
Learn concepts appropriate for their selected level
See how individual skills connect and work together
Have opportunities to ask questions
Take notes if desired
Receive the presentation materials after the class
Receive a follow-up email recap of the material covered
Students will NOT:
Be required to perform in front of the group
Be expected to play during the class
Need to bring a drumset or other equipment
This is intentionally not a traditional group drum lesson. The goal is to provide a concentrated educational experience where you can watch, listen, think, ask questions, and take away ideas to work on in your own practice.
Class Size
Studio space is extremely limited, so classes are intentionally kept small.
The studio can accommodate a maximum of 10 people total, including students and guests.
Each student registration transaction includes one parent or guest at no additional charge.
Because the number of guests attending can vary, the number of student registrations available for any individual session may also vary.
If registration demand exceeds the available space, additional sessions may be added.
This allows us to accommodate more students while still maintaining the small-class experience.
Class Schedule
Each level-specific class is offered on a limited basis, with the intention of offering each level approximately once per year.
For example, a student who attends the Beginner class this year may continue progressing toward the Intermediate class in a future year.
Additional sessions may be added when registration demand warrants it.
Important:
The class time you select during registration is a preference, not a guaranteed appointment.
Class times are finalized after registration has been reviewed and the total number of students and guests is known.
I will make every effort to accommodate your preferred time, but the final class date and start time will be determined based on:
Total enrollment
Number of students bringing guests
Requested time preferences
Available studio space
Overall scheduling needs
Your registration is not considered finalized until you receive a confirmation email directly from me stating your specific class date and start time.
Class Fee
$50 per student
Your registration includes:
Approximately 90 minutes of instruction and demonstration
Level-specific educational material
Live drumset demonstrations
Presentation materials sent after class
Follow-up email recap
One parent or guest at no additional charge
The goal is to provide considerably more than a typical group lesson—a focused, professionally presented educational experience built specifically around your current level of drumming.
Registration & Payment
Registration is completed through the online registration form.
Submitting the registration form does NOT reserve your seat.
To finalize your registration:
Submit the registration form.
Complete the $50 payment through PayPal.
Receive your confirmation email directly from Patrick Blakley.
Your seat is not reserved until payment has been received.
Because class sizes are extremely limited, unpaid registrations cannot be held.
Once your payment and registration have been received and reviewed, you will receive a confirmation email containing your finalized class date and specific start time.
Refund & Cancellation Policy
Because these classes have extremely limited availability, registration payments are handled differently than a typical lesson or appointment.
All class fees are non-refundable.
Once your registration has been confirmed, your payment reserves a place for you in the class and that space may no longer be offered to another student.
Class fees are therefore:
Non-refundable
Non-transferable to another student
Non-transferable to another class or future session
Please make sure you are able to attend before completing your payment.
If additional sessions are added:
If additional sessions are created because of high enrollment, your originally requested time is still considered a preference rather than a guaranteed appointment. I will do my best to place you in a session that works with your preference and the overall class schedule.
If Patrick Blakley or SyracuseDrums.com cancels a class:
If I need to cancel a class for any reason, registered students will be offered the choice of:
Transferring their registration to another available session, or
Receiving a full refund.
Guests & Parents
Each student registration includes one parent or guest at no additional charge.
The guest does count toward the studio's maximum capacity of 10 people.
When registering, please indicate whether you plan to bring a guest so that I can accurately determine how many students can be accommodated in each session.
If your plans change after registering, please let me know as soon as possible.
Additional guests beyond the included one-person allowance are not guaranteed admission and may only be accommodated if space permits.
Attendance & Arrival
Please arrive 5–10 minutes before your confirmed start time.
Because studio capacity is limited and classes may be scheduled back-to-back, please arrive on time and avoid arriving excessively early.
Your class will begin at the confirmed time.
If you arrive late, the class will continue as scheduled and the overall class end time will not be extended.
What Should I Bring?
You don't need much!
You're welcome to bring:
A notebook
Something to write with
Your level-specific questions
You do not need to bring a drumset, sticks, or other equipment.
You'll receive the presentation materials following the class, so you can refer back to the material afterward.
Questions During Class
Questions are encouraged!
Although the class follows a planned curriculum, I want students to feel comfortable asking questions and seeking clarification when something isn't clear.
Because this is a group educational experience, questions should remain generally relevant to the class material and appropriate for the selected skill level.
Individualized instruction or extended one-on-one troubleshooting may need to be addressed separately through private lessons.
Class Content
Class content is developed specifically for the selected skill level.
While each class will have a planned curriculum, the exact material may change from year to year based on:
Student experience
Current curriculum development
Common areas of difficulty
Student feedback
Questions submitted during registration
Overall educational goals for the class
Registration does not guarantee that a specific topic will be covered unless that topic is specifically listed in the current class description.
Photography & Recording
To help maintain a comfortable learning environment, students and guests should not make audio or video recordings of the class without permission.
SyracuseDrums.com or Patrick Blakley may occasionally photograph or record portions of a class for promotional or educational purposes.
For security purposes, the SyracuseDrums.com studio and property is monitored by CCTV cameras that may record video and audio.
Respectful Learning Environment
All students and guests are expected to contribute to a respectful, positive, and supportive learning environment.
Disruptive, disrespectful, or inappropriate behavior may result in removal from the class without a refund.
Parents and guests are welcome to observe and support the student, but should allow the class to remain focused and should avoid interrupting demonstrations or discussions.
Important Registration Agreement
By submitting the registration form and completing payment, you acknowledge that:
You have read and understand the class details and policies on this page.
You understand that submitting the registration form alone does not reserve a seat.
You understand that payment must be completed through PayPal before your registration is finalized.
You understand that your class time is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email directly from SyracuseDrums.com.
You understand that requested class times are preferences and are not guaranteed.
You understand that additional sessions may be added based on enrollment.
You understand that the studio has a maximum capacity of 10 people, including students and guests.
You understand that each student registration includes one parent or guest.
You understand that class fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, except when SyracuseDrums.com cancels the class.
You agree to follow the expectations outlined above.
Questions?
If you have a question about which level is appropriate, the class schedule, registration, or anything else related to the Level-Specific Drum Classes, please contact me before registering.