Lessons & Instructors
We offer private lessons and have five studios with over one hundred students each week!
LESSON PROGRAM
We offer private, individual lessons on-site and are taught on individual drum sets, one for the student and one for the instructor for the most hands-on learning experience.
All lessons are available on a weekly basis at the following rates:
30 Minutes for $30.00
Payment Procedure
The instructor is paid directly on a monthly basis in advance. Payment is made at the first lesson of the month. Either a check (made out to the instructor), cash, Zelle, Venmo, CashApp or PayPal are acceptable with most of our instructors. We cannot take credit cards for lessons. Instructors are independent contractors.
Cancellations / Make-Ups
Cancellations should be made as far in advance as possible. Cancellations will be allowed only when a call, email or SMS text message is received 24-hours in advance.
You can email us for a lesson cancellation at gobentleys1@sbcglobal.net
In the event of an acceptable cancellation, the instructor will provide a make-up lesson. If the instructor cannot provide a make-up lesson, credit will be applied the following month. If the instructor cancels a lesson, credit will automatically be applied to the following month. Students who drop out are not entitled to a refund.
Missed Lessons Policy
Due to the event of taking time off for lessons because of Vacations etc. A hold payment would need to be made in order to keep your desired spot. Our lesson program is growing on the daily and each instructor has a waiting list of students eager to take lessons with them. This ensures that our students get a time slot and keep it for the best education possible.
The hold payment would be $15 per lesson missed and would happen if you need to miss 2 or more lessons consecutively.
Details
The system of advance, monthly payments is designed to guarantee the instructors a steady, fair wage, and to ensure that the students are taught by qualified professionals on a consistent basis.
FAQ's
Can we do every other week or every 2-weeks for lessons?
Our instructors are independent contractors, and this program allows them a steady schedule for steady income. Every other week or every few weeks will NOT be accepted or accommodated.
What is Your Age Limit for Lessons?
Our instructors request no younger than the age of 6-year. They cannot accommodate any younger per curriculum.
What is Your Age Limit for Lessons?
Lessons are scheduled back-to-back for the designated 30-minutes so 1-hour lessons are not available.
Feel free to stop by and we'll give you a tour!
For more information, give us a call at 559-222-5011.
Instructors
Darrell 'DJ' Jones |
Drum Set & Marching InstructorDJ is an experienced percussionist and educator with deep roots in the Central Valley percussion community. A product of Clovis Unified, he excelled in both tenors and snare during his school years, eventually becoming a drumline section leader. DJ went on to perform with the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band and has since taught and directed percussion ensembles both locally and out of state, most recently earning a high percussion award at Wyoming’s state championships in 2023. In addition to his teaching, DJ is a talented professional drummer, having performed internationally and recorded with numerous bands. His passion for percussion and dedication to his student's success makes him the perfect person to continue our Saturday Drumline. |
Joey Delgado |
Drum Set InstructorFrom Led Zeppelin and Porcupine Tree, to Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, Joey is influenced by and plays many styles of music, primarily rock, punk, and jazz. Joey started playing drums through Rockband, a video game that simulates playing instruments. He was already in jazz band by 7th grade on alto sax, but he heard a song called The Beast and the Harlot by heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold, and his musical path on drums was set from then on. |
Jeron Schapansky |
Drum Set InstructorJeron started playing drums in 2007, and joined We Got the Beat in 2008. He performed with the group for three years, and went on to perform in school band and jazz band.
After high school, Jeron began playing in covers bands, playing lots of different events nearly every weekend.
In 2017, Jeron joined California progressive metal outfit Artificial Language. Artificial Language continues to write and record their own music, as well as play live shows in the US and
internationally.
Jeron started teaching private drum lessons at Bentley’s Drum Shop in
2019.
He proudly plays DW Drums & Hardware, Evans Drumheads, Meinl Cymbals & Sticks, and Snareweight Accessories. |
Michael Faeth |
Drum Set InstructorMichael lives in Fresno, CA, where he was raised and first began playing the drums over three decades ago. He has had the pleasure of playing with many different bands and appearing on several full length albums, as well as a 7” single released on Sub Pop. He has performed on stages across the USA and in Canada and England, including the CMJ Music Festival in New York, NY, the Bumbershoots Arts Festival in Seattle, WA, and All Tomorrow’s Parties in East Sussex, England. |
Stan Schaffer |
Drum Set InstructorStan is a 40-year veteran of the Fresno music scene. He received his music performance degree from Fresno State, and studied drum set with local legend Brian Hamada. He has played orchestrally with the Fresno Philharmonic and for touring acts passing through such as Ice Capades, Eartha Kitt, Phyllis Diller. |
Roman Rivera |
Drum Set / Marching / Percussion InstructorRoman, inspired by his Father and Uncle who play drums, started playing at the age of 8. He found his passion for marching percussion in 6th grade, which he has been focusing on for 8 years now. He played percussion in the Buchanan High wind ensemble, Drum set in the jazz band, and was section leader of the Buchanan High drum line. He went further by taking two Drum Corps International tours playing snare drum with Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets. He graduated from Buchanan High in 2016, and was hired back after to teach the drum line. He has also taught Valley Thunder Youth Drum line along side Donny Marvin for 3 years, and has composed many pieces of battery percussion music of all skill levels. He uses Pearl and Yamaha Marching drums, Remo Heads, and Innovative Percussion Drumsticks. |
Jim Chaffin |
Drum Set Instructor / Minnesota Vikings FanBorn in Madera, Jim began playing at the age of 12. In high school, he joined with some friends and formed the influential Christian punk/thrash group The Crucified. Jim has extensive recording and live performance experience since the early 90's with groups such as The Blamed, Left Out, Final Threat, Uthanda, Fasedown, Deliverance, Once Dead, Living Sacrifice, Mortal, The Prayer Chain, Grave Robber, and Michael Knott. He currently plays with local cover groups Sarge Loda and Hired Gun; as well as in his church's worship band. Punk, Metal, Thrash, Rock, Worship or Country, Jim has played it and lived it. Jim proudly plays DW Drums & Hardware, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads & Vic Firth Drumsticks |
Ethan Foster |
Drum Set Instructor / Recording EnthusiastEthan has been drumming since the age of 9. He loves all kinds of percussion from various cultures, including marching drums, but is truly himself when he's on a set grooving to some Stevie Wonder or Modest Mouse. You can see Ethan perform locally in various musical theater productions, with several of Fresno City College's ensembles, or in his other musical projects, ranging from groups Zoo Pigeons, Old Dogs/Young Children, and several other projects. Ethan runs a home studio where he writes and records music as often as he can. He proudly plays Gretsch Drums equipped with DW Hardware, Borba Cymbals, Remo Drumheads and Vic Firth Drumsticks. His favorite drummers are JP Bouvet and Jason McGerr. |
Aaron Wall |
Drum Set & Percussion Instructor / Gentleman / The One And Only MC AwallAaron has been playing drums and latin percussion for over 15 years and has been teaching for 12 years. He played percussion in the Warner-Brothers movie "Torque" (2004). In 2003 he co-wrote the main title song for the Warner Brothers film "The Adventures of Pluto Nash", starring Eddie Murphy. He also composed / performed an original score for the film "The Next Grand Scheme" (2004). Aaron has played in jazz / salsa groups at Fresno State and Fresno City College. He is currently the band leader of the group 40 Watt Hype. |