The journey I’m about to share is one of the most exciting chapters of my life, marked by perseverance and innovation. It all began in 2020 when COVID-19 hit. Facing a pay cut from my full-time job, I realized I needed to find an additional source of income. That’s when I decided to explore my passion for music and drums, although I wasn’t sure where it would lead me.

The answer came unexpectedly when a friend reached out, inquiring if I could teach him to play drums virtually. With the world moving towards remote work and virtual interactions, it made perfect sense. Encouraged by this opportunity, I set up a makeshift studio in my dining room, balancing a tablet stand on a wheelie table. Despite the humble setup, the first lesson was a success, and my friend was eager to continue.

I quickly transformed a part of our storage room into a more permanent teaching space. Soon after, I advertised drum lessons on Craigslist and gained more students, including a friend’s daughter and a colleague’s child. Before I knew it, I was teaching five or six students, and the income was enough to compensate for my salary reduction.

Simultaneously, I delved deeper into writing music. For each lesson, I created personalized sheets of music for my students, allowing me to steer their learning in a direction that suited both their interests and my teaching goals. As my skills in transcribing and composing grew, I began incorporating lessons from my grandfather’s book, “Fast Hands for Drummers in 30 Minutes a Day,” which became the inspiration for my studio’s name.

I decided to digitize and potentially republish my grandfather’s work to reach more drummers. After completing 80% of the transcription, I contacted a music publishing company. The president, impressed by my work, advised me on how to self-publish the book. Following her guidance, I acquired an ISBN and used Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing to release the modern version of my grandfather’s book, now titled “Mastering Your Drumsticks Bounce.” This milestone coincidentally occurred the same month I got married.

Emboldened by this achievement, I embarked on writing my own book, “Commanding Rhythmic Coordination,” inspired by my teaching experiences. This ambitious project grew into a massive volume, with over 100 pages and nearly 1,000 lessons, pushing the limits of Amazon’s printing services.

As my confidence grew, I continued to publish more books: my third book, “My Drum Manuscript,” became a bestseller despite its modest profit margin. The fourth, “Professional Percussion Manuscript,” aimed at drummers’ significant others, has yet to find its audience. My fifth book, “Finding Your Beat,” combines elements from previous works and encourages creative drumming.

In addition to teaching and publishing, I launched an online store featuring approximately 200 products, ranging from apparel to drum gear. Although not highly profitable, the store represents a significant achievement for me.

My latest venture involves a video series, “30 Days to Play the Drums,” which aims to teach beginners. With 110 YouTube subscribers and over 33,000 views, this project shows promise, though balancing it with family responsibilities is challenging.

Looking ahead, I have ambitious goals for Fast Hands Drum Studio. In the next five years, I aim to publish at least 10 books, reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers, and secure sponsorships. I dream of hosting in-person classes at a dedicated location and performing at public events. Ultimately, I hope Fast Hands can sustain its expenses and evolve into my primary source of income.

My vision includes an automated online drum school, branded drum gear, and a unique facility featuring immersive, educational percussion experiences. This space would not only teach about drums and music but also offer a therapeutic environment, especially for individuals on the spectrum. Imagine a Disney World-like experience centered around rhythm and percussion—this is where I see Fast Hands Drum Studio heading.

This journey, from humble beginnings to an ambitious vision, has taught me the power of persistence and innovation in pursuit of one’s passion.