Order: Instruction · Family: Drum Set
Lessons
Clear goals, real feedback, and a plan you can actually execute. We keep it musical and practical. We keep the joy and build the discipline — those two things are not opposites.
Online via Zoom
Phone or laptop camera — a stand is helpful but not required. Headphones recommended. Two angles is great; one still works. We get you set up fast and get to the music faster.
Available worldwide · All time zones
In-Person · New Zealand
Based in Doubtless Bay in the Far North. Local students in the Doubtless Bay, Kaeo, and Kaitaia area are welcome. Monthly visits to Whangarei; Auckland every other month.
Northland · Whangarei · Auckland
All Levels Welcome
From "I've never touched a drum" to "I gig regularly but feel stuck." Every lesson is built around your goals, not a preset curriculum. We build the next layer, not random drills.
Ages 6–80 · Beginner to advanced
Genus: What We Work On
Sound & Control
Hands and feet that do what you actually mean them to do.
Time & Feel
Subdivision, pocket, and consistency that holds up in real music.
Independence
Four-limb coordination built progressively — without the panic.
Reading
Charts, roadmaps, counting, and the confidence to navigate them.
Vocabulary
Fills and patterns that serve the music rather than derail it.
Styles
Rock, pop, progressive, singer-songwriter, and core drum set fundamentals. Bring songs you love.
Species: Educator · Performer · Bird of Undetermined Order
About Penny
I started drumming at age three and started teaching at sixteen. That's a lot of time to figure out what actually works — not just for performing, but for helping other people grow.
I'm a founding member of the instrumental progressive rock trio Hypaspace. We've recorded four studio albums and toured the United States and Canada. I've also recorded and toured with singer-songwriter Bryan McPherson, and my teaching background includes years as a staff instructor at DiCenso's Drum Shop.
In 2019, I won the Hit Like a Girl 40+ Championship and performed at PASIC as part of the contest showcase. My roots go deep — drum corps with the Sancians in the 1980s, jazz fusion, progressive rock, big band. My influences include Billy Cobham, the Dixie Dregs, and Miles Davis's electric period.
I'm now based in Doubtless Bay, Far North, New Zealand, teaching students across New Zealand, Australia, the US, the UK, and beyond. Zoom makes time zones negotiable.
My teaching style is supportive and direct. We keep the joy. We build the discipline.
I'm nearing completion of my degree at Berklee College of Music and am on track to graduate cum laude. My suitably disputed academic taxonomy includes drum set studies in jazz, funk, progressive rock, and rock, alongside music and neuroscience, orchestral percussion, traditional composition, scoring, orchestration, harmony, and arranging.
I've taught students of all ages and learning styles, including autistic students and students with learning disabilities and other learning differences. The field guide is wrong about learners, too: no two musicians develop in quite the same way, and the lesson plan shouldn't pretend otherwise.
Phylum: Gear Endorsements
Brand or artist relations? Email me for a current press folder.
Class: Pricing · Order: 45 Minutes
Rates
One lesson length, clear regional pricing. A 45-minute session is long enough to make real progress and short enough to keep focus high.
All lessons are 45 minutes. Payment details confirmed when we schedule. Questions about frequency, packages, or scheduling? Ask in your first email.
Habitat: Stage · Studio · Occasionally Snowdrift
Field Notes
Live performance, clinics, endorsement sessions, and studio life. The taxonomy may be wrong, but the photographs are real.
Appendix: Common Queries · Frequently Fielded
FAQ
Do you teach beginners?
Yes. Beginners are more than welcome. We build strong fundamentals first, then put them to work in real music. You'll never leave a lesson unsure what to practice.
How do online lessons work?
We meet on Zoom. A phone or laptop camera is fine — I'll help you find a useful angle fast. You'll leave every lesson with concrete targets and a clear plan for the week.
Do I need a full drum set?
No. A practice pad is a perfectly fine place to start. If you have a kit, great. If not, we can still make real progress — many students begin on a pad and stay on one for months.
What styles do you teach?
Rock, pop, progressive, singer-songwriter, and core drum set fundamentals. Bring songs you love — we'll use them as vehicles for technique rather than working in the abstract.
What ages do you teach?
Ages 6 to 80. Lessons adapt completely to your goals, experience, and learning style. There's no wrong time to start, and no such thing as too late.
Are in-person lessons available?
Yes — in the Doubtless Bay, Kaeo, and Kaitaia area of Northland, New Zealand. I also travel to Whangarei monthly and Auckland every other month. Get in touch and we'll work out scheduling around an upcoming visit.
How do time zones work?
Include your time zone in your first email and I'll propose options that work for both of us. I currently teach students across multiple continents — we'll find something.
What do I need for a Zoom lesson?
A device with a camera, Zoom installed, and your instrument. Headphones help with audio. Two camera angles (one for your hands, one for your kit overview) is ideal but not required — one works fine.
Field Observation: First Contact
Book a Lesson
Tell me where you're starting and where you want to go. I'll reply with next steps and scheduling options — usually within a day or two.
lessons@pennylarson.comFOR FASTEST RESPONSE, INCLUDE:
- Your time zone
- Your experience level (beginner, some experience, regular player)
- Two or three preferred days or times
- Whether you're looking for Zoom or in-person