Zak St. John: Drum Lessons, Sessions, and More!

I started taking lessons with Zak about 3 months ago and it was and continues to be one of the best decisions I could have made.
Zak has been extremely flexible every step of the way. As a consultant, my work schedule is often unpredictable and fluctuating and Zak has continuously made time in his schedule to be available for the varying times that I am free each week.
Additionally I have found his method of teaching to be very understandable and focused on the fundamentals. I always describe it as the «wax on/​wax off» approach. We begin lessons working on drumming fundamentals (fulcrum, drum roll, etc) on the snare and then we switch over to the full kit (he has two so that we can play at the same time) and I am surprised at how much I learned and know from understanding the drumming fundamentals first.
Most recently, we did a drum cover of Sorry by Justin Bieber :) and he arranged it, taught it to me, and recorded me (he has studio recording equipment), then did some EQ and sent it back to me so that I could have an mp3 of myself playing to show my family. — If you are looking for a flexible, knowledgeable, funny, cool instructor to learn drums with, then Zak St. John is definitely your guy!

Zak is great — professional, respectful, and always looking to get the best out of everyone he works with. He goes above and beyond

Zak is an –Amazing Drummer– and also one of the best people I’ve had the pleasure to ever know, or work with in the studio.
He is on time, in time and well prepared for every session. He reacts to changes with little notice and is able to «ramp up» a track up to new levels through his fantastic playing and artistic vision.
Vibe is really and over used term in music, but I think that’s the precise thing Zak provides that changes my recordings for the better.
This guy has that innate greatness that few drummers I’ve known have ever displayed. He is a world class studio player for all recording scenarios.
Your tracks will never of sounded so good.

I’ve hired Zak a number of times as a session player.
The results are always nothing less than stellar.
My clients love his playing and attitude.
Zak also has a great variety of excellent sounding drums, so he can always come up with an awesome sound no matter the style.
If you want someone who is professional, talented, and a cool all around guy Zak is the one to call!

Zak is the one drummer I have used that I look forward to working with again and again. He is the most prepared, professional drummer/​percussionist I’ve worked with and I look forward to getting him out to Nashville to work with me again. I would strongly recommend him to anyone who needs sessions to go seamlessly.

Professional, creative, dedicated and extremely talented embodies this LA drummer. When deciding upon a foundation, I’d look no further than to Zak St. John and his ability to deliver, whether in a recording session or as a trusted touring pro.

Awesome Awesome Awesome drum teacher. Zak has been giving me lesson for over a year, I don’t plan to stop going. He is always very well prepared for each lesson, great attitude, fantastic musician, every lesson is filled with laughter but still very professional. His studio is a great place to learn and play music, great set up with all different kinds of drums and symbols to play. Zak is great at understanding how to teach each of his individual students. Highly recommend!

Zack knows his stuff. Playing and teaching different styles of music is a challenging job. He nails it right on the head! An extremely all around talented musician and a thorough teacher! 5 stars for sure!

I’ve been taking drum lessons with Zak for about 10 months now and he has been amazing! Knows every style of music and really works with you to help you in any way. He has been able to fit in theory (which is my weakest point), technique and different styles of drumming. Very patient and Definitely feel much better as a drummer after just a couple lessons and will continue to take lessons for a long time! If you want your guy… This is your guy!

One of the best drummers I have ever worked with. He works great with all types of music. Professional, always prepared, and willing to go the extra mile. He is always my first call

Zak is a first call drummer. He is always prepared, professional, on time, incredibly easy to work with, and just an all around great person. We have done countless gigs together since 2009 and every time around Zak has exceeded my expectations. No matter what comes up I never hesitate to make Zak my first call. I would recommend him for any style or situation. He never disappoints.

I have known Zak for years, and in multiple capacities. I have received lessons from him, recorded with him and performed with him. I cannot say enough about his knowledge of music and professionalism. He is always prepared, reliable and a joy to be around! He is absolutely my first call for drummers and drum teachers!

I’ve had the distinct pleasure of playing in many, many bands with Zak since 2012. As a bass player it’s very important to me to know that I’m on the same page as the drummer in the band. With Zak, I always know that we’ll be an air tight rhythm section. We’ve worked together in the studio and in live environments and Zak understands not only vibe, but playing what’s appropriate for the song.
Zak is very professional, always on time, and always prepared. He’s a musical drummer and often shows up with knowledge of the song, or songs, as a whole, meaning he is listening to all the parts, not just learning the drums and song structure. He is often very aware of what the other musicians in the band are playing.
Additionally, Zak St. John is a great guy, great hang, great sense of humor. Zak is also a very patient guy.