Drumz

So, this review is for the beginner djembe lesson series at Drumz. I honestly have no idea how the place rates as an instrument and accessory store, as I just don’t have the comparative knowledge to assess that.
So, I’ll play the «I’m a teacher» card here to add ethos to my contention that Sherry is an excellent teacher. She’s generous with her time (one-​hour lessons rarely end at one hour, and she’ll continue to talk to you through checkout), infinitely patient with people like me who want to learn percussion despite having poor coordination and a fear of public performance, answers questions well, tells good stories, remembers names, and always finds ways to be encouraging. She understands how to scaffold from intro skills to group performances so that, before you know it, you’re playing a song with others that sounds pretty good to an untrained ear. She’s also a highly accomplished hand drummer with a nice performance resume, so, like all proper instruction, there’s a lot more showing than telling. In short, she’s good at this.
Sessions are $ 17.50 a pop for the schedule-​challenged or curious beginner or $ 100 for an entire six-​week class. (For those who are not quick studies in multiplication: it’s about the same. Check the web page for start and end dates.) Drums are provided for beginner classes. It’s entirely worth the price, as is adding on one of her instructional CD’s (written and performed by Sherry) so that you can essentially repeat the same lessons verbatim at home. You will, obviously, want to buy a djembe to do this. If you are not ready to commit to one of hers (ranging anywhere from about $ 250-​$ 1000), smaller starter versions from companies like Meinl can be found on Amazon for as cheap as $ 80.
But I digress: if you want to take up an instrument with which quick progress can be made but that still has a high ceiling, this is the place that you’ll want to come for help learning it. More advanced lessons and djun djun instruction are also available. Misc: the place is a little hard to find, behind a pilates studio on Kerbey Lane. Call if you get lost.

This great place is best described this way. I wandered into Drumz and told Sherry, the owner, I would love to play the Djembe, but I have no rhythm. She gently smiled and had me put my hand on my chest. «Feel your heart?» she asked, «you have rhythm – you were born with it!» Well, I’m now playing my own set of djuns, also from Drumz, along with my djembe! From beginners to hand drumming to pro’s on the Krin, Sherry has a class for you! Recent and exciting news, the transformation to the Studio at Drumz, to expand the goodness to include other practices and offerings from other talented instructors and spiritual leaders. Stop by soon, it’ll be good for your head and your heart…

Excellent, compassionate teacher. Well-​trained and talented instructor of AUTHENTIC African drumming. Her method is encouraging and totally without judgment. Whether you are a beginner, novist, or a professional drummer, Sherry will help you to find and achieve levels you never thought possible. Oh, did I mention that she traveled to Mali for graduate-​level training by Mamady Keita? … and that she performed a Djembe solo for an entirely West African audience – it was magnificent! Sherry is an accomplished performer of the djembe and djun-​djun drums, but her passion and greatest contributions to the legacy of West African drumming are her unmatched teaching and training skills. Drum classes are PURE FUN and ADDICTIVE!!!

I have been learning drumming from Sherry for almost 5 years now. It is really an honor to learn from Sherry and we are so gifted to have her in Austin.
She teaches because she loves drumming so much. The inner joy she gets from teaching and her genuine interest to propagate the art inspires us to learn. It’s an hour drive for me, but well worth it.
If you are into african drumming, you won’t find a better teacher.
Her shop also has a lot of character, where she hand picks the best stuff for us to buy. It is not a warehouse where everything is put up. She carefully curates what she sells so you won’t go wrong with what you buy there. I bought my drum and many things there.

This is the place to go in Austin for world percussion, in particular African. (Well, with one exception. They’ve had the same one set of mediocre tablas for ages now, so I guess it’s not the place for Indian.) Sherry stocks all sorts of weird and wild stuff and I always enjoy dropping in, occasionally picking up something that strikes my fancy. Need a djembe, rainstick, kalimba? Go get them here! Bring an extra credit card because she regularly has stuff you’ve never seen before, but which you can’t live without after you’ve touched it. Unfortunately prices are somewhat up there… Oh, check opening hours carefully, because they seem to change regularly.

Drums, Drums, Drums, Cowbells, and Drums, they sell what they advertise, if this is your bag, this is the place to go!

Stopped by this place on a whim — just to check it out — and had a lovely 15 minute conversation with the owner. She was knowledgeable, friendly, helpful without being «salesy» and down-​to-​earth. And the drums… the types and variety were staggering. Apparently they do lessons and groups and offer all kinds of instruction. Check it out!