Beginner Drum & Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Learn to Play the Music You Love
Interested in learning drums or acoustic guitar but not sure where to start?
Ray offers private beginner drum and acoustic guitar lessons in Plano, Texas, designed to help new musicians build a strong foundation while learning to play real music.
No previous musical experience is necessary. Lessons are practical, encouraging, and tailored to each student’s interests and ability.
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Begin with the fundamentals and start making music right away.
Students can learn:
- Basic chords and chord progressions
- Strumming patterns
- Rhythm and timing
- Smooth chord changes
- How to play complete songs
- Basic music theory and song structure
- Playing guitar while singing, when desired
Rather than spending months only practicing exercises, lessons incorporate songs and styles the student actually enjoys.
Drum Lessons
Learn the fundamentals of drumming while developing the coordination and timing needed to play along with real music.
Students can learn:
- Proper stick technique
- Basic drum beats and grooves
- Rhythm and timing
- Hand and foot coordination
- Drum fills and transitions
- Song structure
- Playing along with recordings
- Basic rhythmic notation
The goal is to build solid fundamentals while helping students experience what makes playing drums fun in the first place.
Lesson Options
30-Minute Private Lesson — $35
A great option for younger students and beginners who benefit from shorter, focused instruction.
60-Minute Private Lesson — $60
More time for technique, songs, practice guidance, and individualized instruction. Especially well suited for teens and adults.
Lessons are available for children, teens, and adults, and no previous experience is required.
Meet Your Instructor
Ray is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and currently lives with his family in Plano, Texas.
His musical journey began at age 12 with drums and percussion. At 19, he expanded into guitar and vocals.
Ray graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in Music Performance. After college, he moved to Dallas and continued his music studies through Dick Grove’s School Without Walls program.
In 2005, Ray formed the band Diversion, performing rock and pop music from the ’80s, ’90s, and today. The band went on to perform at venues and events throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth area, including the Plano Balloon Festival.
From 2018–2024, Ray served as Worship Team Leader at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Carrollton, Texas.
As a guitarist and vocalist, Ray’s musical style draws from pop, rock, country, and folk. His repertoire includes music from artists such as Zac Brown Band, John Mayer, Blues Traveler, Keith Urban, Hootie & The Blowfish, Counting Crows, Toad the Wet Sprocket, U2, and more.
That range of musical experience shapes his approach to teaching: build the fundamentals, but use them to make music.
You Don’t Have to Be a Musician to Start
Every musician was a beginner once.
You don’t need to know how to read music. You don’t need previous lessons. And you don’t need to wait until you have everything figured out.
If you’ve wanted to learn acoustic guitar or drums, we’ll start where you are and build from there.
Ready to Start Playing?
Beginner Drum & Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Plano, Texas
30 Minutes — $35
60 Minutes — $60
Contact Ray to schedule your first lesson: 214-422-9746