Tom Y. — Drum Teacher — Downtown Montreal, Montreal

Hey there! I’m Tom Yanez — a passionate, music-loving French-Canadian drummer and educator currently based in Montreal. My drumming journey kicked off when I was just 6 years old, starting out with rock and pop beats. Over the years, I’ve dived into an exciting mix of styles, from classical and reggae to the fiery rhythms of Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music. I've had the incredible chance to learn from world-class musicians like Jim Doxas, Darrell Green, Joao Catalao, Rodrigo Simoes, Dayron Luis, and Lazaro Martinez. In 2021, I was honored to be selected for MusicFest's National Conn-Selmer Centerstage Jazz Band, an experience that led to multiple awards including Ludwig Canadian Drummer of the Year and Dream Cymbals Big Band Drummer of the Year. Since then, I’ve been actively performing throughout Montreal and recording in professional studios, continuously honing my craft. As a teacher, I bring my passion straight into the classroom! With over 500 hours of teaching experience, I’ve developed creative, adaptable methods that help students of all ages and skill levels find their groove. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your chops, I’m all about making every lesson fun, inspiring, musical, and perfectly tailored to you.

Each lesson starts with a warm-up to get your hands and mind ready; that might include some snare drum etudes, coordination exercises, rudiments or music listening. We’ll then dive into new concepts at a pace that fits your progress, ensuring you’re always building skills without feeling overwhelmed. Examples can range from sight-reading, learning rhythms from different parts of the world, improvising fills and solos, specific hand techniques, drum tuning, and much, much more. I make a point of teaching musically so I then dedicate about a third of each lesson to learning your favorite songs. Finally, we typically wrap up with listening games and exercises to sharpen your ear and rhythm. Every step is tailored to your interests and challenges, keeping lessons engaging while staying focused on long-term growth.