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Chad Smith

is the legendary rock drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and other artists. Chad is renowned for his powerful grooves, dynamic fills, and strong funk influence, which define his signature drumming style. Known for his ability to lock in with the bass and create tight rhythm sections, Smith incorporates syncopation, ghost notes, and heavy hi-hat use, often employing open-handed techniques for greater fluidity.

Chad was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. He also represented the National Association of Music Merchants in Washington DC as a lobbyist in support of music education in US Public Schools, and is a member of Bystander Revolution, which speaks out against bullying in schools. Chad is known amongst colleagues as one of the greatest rock drummers of all time.

Ralph Humphrey is a legendary drummer and educator whose career spanned over five decades. He served as Drum Department Head and partnered with Joe Porcaro to write the drum set curriculum for both Musicians Institute and Los Angeles College of Music. This is the same curriculum used by their longtime student Mike Packer in The Drum Channel Method, along with Drum Channel lessons taught by Ralph Humphrey. He mentors thousands of students, many of whom have become top touring and recording artists. Ralph also performed and recorded with icons such as Frank Zappa, Don Ellis, Al Jarreau, and Natalie Cole, and contributed to numerous film and television productions like The Simpsons, Animaniacs, and Dancing with the Stars.      

Val Sepulveda is an LA based drummer, respected as a private teacher and instructor at Musicians Institute. Her style combines rock, pop, funk, and Latin. She’s was the winner of the Hit Like a Girl contest in 2013. Her first instrument was piano. She started playing drums at the age of 14, at which point she knew she wanted to play drums for the rest of her life