

Sam profile and its contact details have been verified by our team.
Sam
- Rate $125
- Response 1h
-
Students3
Number of students Sam has accompanied since arriving at Superprof
Number of students Sam has accompanied since arriving at Superprof

$125/h
1st lesson free
- Drums
- Percussion
- Jazz Drumming
Internationally performing jazz drummer & college admissions insider with over 10 years of teaching experience guiding drum set and percussion students to master their craft and ace their auditions.
- Drums
- Percussion
- Jazz Drumming
Lesson location
Recommended
Sam is a respected tutor in our community. They are highly recommended for their commitment and the quality of their lessons. An excellent choice to progress with confidence.
About Sam
Sam McClurg is a drummer and percussionist living in La Cañada, California. He specializes in improvised music, but his global approach to drumming has resulted in him playing in a variety of disciplines ranging from small and large jazz ensembles to Indian and Middle Eastern Fusion bands to South American and Caribbean Jazz groups. He has toured on three continents, and he has a passion for cross-cultural music exchange.
Sam has shared the stage with jazz luminaries such as Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Marquis Hill, Andre Hayward, Aaron Janik, Rapper Lupe Fiasco, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Sindhu Vasudevan (recording only), and tabla virtuoso Ishaan Ghosh. He has also played at the Gnaoua and World Music Festival, the US Embassy in Beijing, in the house band at the Mad Monkfish in Boston, and at Sam First and General Lee’s jazz clubs in Los Angeles. Sam has a degree from the Berklee College of Music, where he studied at the Global Jazz Institute. He currently works out of his studio in La Canada, CA as a freelance artist, composer, and band leader. He works for the Berklee College of Music's admissions department, and he was a former jazz accompanist and arranger at MIT.
About the lesson
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- +2
levels :
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Proficient
Children
- English
All languages in which the lesson is available :
English
Anyone can become a better drummer when they find joy in their practice and progress. My goal is to help you live a more musical life and guide you toward becoming the best musician you can be.
To date, my students have gained admission to The Berklee College of Music, The Berklee Global Jazz Institute, The New England Conservatory, NYU, Rutgers, and The New School.
Together, we’ll explore:
~Audition & Performance Prep — Guidance for school, ensemble, or professional auditions informed by my experience working for Berklee's admissions department.
~Grooves & Styles — From Rock, Blues, and Jazz to Samba, Festejo, Chaâbi, and beyond.
~Technique & Precision — Through focused exercises and snare drum studies to give you control, speed, and finesse.
~Chart Reading & Writing — So you can step into your classes, rehearsals, or gigs prepared.
~Fills, Licks & Solos — Tools to express yourself and develop your own voice on the kit.
~Play-Alongs — Drumless tracks of your favorite songs so you can practice like you’re in the band.
…and much more, tailored to your goals and interests.
Whether you’re picking up sticks for the first time or preparing for a big audition, our lessons will be fun, challenging, and musical.
Recommendations
Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the tutor.
Sam McClurg. Drummer. Legend. Best Teacher I’ve ever had. I met Sam as an adult who decided to learn to drum for the first time, reeling from a recent tragedy in my life, and wanting to move forward and learn a new hobby. As an absolute beginner, Sam worked through the fundamentals with patience and kindness. I wasn’t afraid to mess up around Sam, and watching his ease in working the drum set inspired me to keep practicing the instrument.
Sam is the antithesis of J.K. Simmons from Whiplash (he’s really, really good and nice).Direct, modest, positive and guiding and inspiring people to think. He is very easy-going and makes people feel that he is a reliable and good teacher
Sam’s passion for drumming is truly contagious. I always left each lesson feeling more confident and motivated to keep learning. From day one, taking drum lessons with him has been an incredible experience. As a complete beginner, I appreciated how approachable and enjoyable he made the learning process. He explained everything clearly and always took the time to make sure I fully understood before moving on. I highly recommend Sam to anyone looking to learn drums!
Very well spoken and Kind hearted, excellent drummer across a variety of styles. Don’t hesitate to trust him as an educator!
View more recommendations
Rates
Rate
- $125
Pack rates
- 5 h: $624
- 10 h: $1247
online
- $125/h
travel fee
- + $25
free lessons
This first lesson offered with Sam will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.
- 30min
Sam's Video
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