Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Harris.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up in central Massachusetts (Northborough) I was afforded the luxury of always having access to incredible arts facilities, education, experiences and encouragement at home (thanks mom and dad) and in our public schools. I never really realized how lucky I was. I started drumming and learning percussion when I was 8. As an adult, I can look back and attribute a lot of what I do now to my experiences with music as a kid. At 15 years old, my friends and I were young entrepreneurs starting a band, writing and recording our own music and playing shows all over New England with bands that were older than us. Between my school concert/jazz bands and my personal band, I played the full spectrum of venues from lush concert halls and auditoriums to roller rinks, dingy basements and broken down community centers before even getting my driver’s license.
Fast forward 7 years later, I’m sitting at a cubicle working at an ad agency thinking how did I get here and what can I do to get out. I figured I had to go for it and give music a shot. Maybe I could be a drummer? Teaching made the most sense so in the summer of 2014 I took the leap, left my job and started hustling for students. Over the course of the next few years I would go on to start and build my own drum school, Boston Drum Lessons, and be hired as a drumset player for Blue Man Group in Boston.
Has it been a smooth road?
Going out on your own and chasing dreams means you’re accepting and embracing a path that is filled with doubt, stress and a full dose of fear. It certainly would have been easier to remain in that cube, but not even close to as fulfilling. At first it was really difficult to not compare myself to others. I didn’t go to a music conservatory and generally felt that I was playing catch up. While that was difficult it motivated me to work twice as hard. I locked myself in my practice studio and put in the work. That work ethic that I developed really paid off when I got an opportunity to audition for Blue Man Group. I was able to focus all my energy on preparing and it paid off. I’ve been playing drumset in the show for two years now. Some of those guys that I play with have been performing the show for 20 years. When you’re just starting there’s no slowing down so you can catch up, you’ve got to figure it out and just do it. That high expectation has been a huge push for me to even have success in other freelance performing I do and in my own bands, practice and business. When you’re starting your own business or pursuing success in your own art, you have to be constantly learning, adapting and reacting. You can figure out and achieve most things if you just put in the time with the right kind of focus. Learning the Blue Man language, voice and approach was a big lesson and driver for me in being able to do that.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Boston Drum Lessons – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Boston Drum Lessons is a drum school in Allston made up of local professional drummers with varying musical interests and playing backgrounds. We are the only drum school in Boston and I’m extremely proud of that. We teach all ages 5 and up, and all levels from beginner to advanced. When we first started, the biggest thing we all talked about and agreed on for our mission was to really help people find their voice on the drums and work towards personal fulfillment and joy. Whatever that might be for them.
Today, there are thousands of hours of drum education content on the internet. It’s no question that you can fill all of your time, forever, with enough material to keep you occupied. But, we’ve all run into a paradox of choice. How am I supposed to know what to practice to reach my personal goals? What are my goals even? How do I practice? These are very common questions that we work with our students to answer. More than teachers we are coaches, strategists and productivity experts and our goal as instructors is to help people create and curate a practice approach that is entirely unique to them. Complete customization is our goal. I don’t have a single student working on the same thing. Music and people are both too diverse and flexible for that. The other big thing that sets us apart from other music schools in Boston that offer drum lessons is that we really try to focus on project-based learning. It’s not enough to just practice exercises, especially when there are limited opportunities for people to play music in groups and collaborate. So we collaborate with and assist all of our students to create their own compositions, etudes, cover songs, solos, improvs, etc. to express themselves creatively. Goals matter, and when you have a project with a deadline the results are always better.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I have roots in France so I love the old European style that Boston has. Also, I really love the contrast of natural and urban worlds. Living in Boston means I can quickly be surrounded by the downtown high rises and then find myself in the woods in the same hour. You can’t do that in New York. But for all Boston’s charm the arts community is really struggling, especially music. We’ve lost a lot of music venues in the past few years and, with limited places to play and a poor public transportation system to get people to venues, being a musician in Boston trying to build any sense of community can be a pretty daunting challenge. I’m lucky to have found a community of musicians, artists, photographers, filmmakers and more who all value the importance of art and collaborate to make work for people to experience. But we’ve run into an issue of facility. What happens if one of the last remaining music rehearsal buildings closes down to build more condos? Where will all the artists go?
My hope for Boston is that the community can speak and fight for artists. Those businesses creating new living developments need to think about the cultural impact of unaffordable housing. I would encourage everybody who is a Boston resident to talk to artists and think about their value for the city and personally. Also, another great thing to do is follow the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. They are the city leaders in protecting and stimulating the arts community in Boston.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I have roots in France so I love the old European style that Boston has. Also, I really love the contrast of natural and urban worlds. Living in Boston means I can quickly be surrounded by the downtown high rises and then find myself in the woods in the same hour. You can’t do that in New York. But for all Boston’s charm the arts community is really struggling, especially music. We’ve lost a lot of music venues in the past few years and, with limited places to play and a poor public transportation system to get people to venues, being a musician in Boston trying to build any sense of community can be a pretty daunting challenge. I’m lucky to have found a community of musicians, artists, photographers, filmmakers and more who all value the importance of art and collaborate to make work for people to experience. But we’ve run into an issue of facility. What happens if one of the last remaining music rehearsal buildings closes down to build more condos? Where will all the artists go?
My hope for Boston is that the community can speak and fight for artists. Those businesses creating new living developments need to think about the cultural impact of unaffordable housing. I would encourage everybody who is a Boston resident to talk to artists and think about their value for the city and personally. Also, another great thing to do is follow the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. They are the city leaders in protecting and stimulating the arts community in Boston.
Pricing:
- First drum lesson is 50% off – A $22 value
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bostondrumlessons.com
- Phone: 857-540-5030
- Email: info@bostondrumlessons.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bostondrumlessons/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bostondrumlessons/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/boston-drum-lessons-allston
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