Jordan Dotson
About
Hello, and welcome! My name is Jordan Dotson, and I am a drummer and music educator based in the Atlanta area with over 20 years of drumming experience. My musical background includes church music, percussion ensembles, marching band, symphonic band, live performance, and ongoing independent study. Throughout my development, I have studied under band directors, percussion instructors, and music directors while building a strong foundation in groove, timing, coordination, ensemble playing, and musical responsibility.
My goal is to help students become confident musicians through structured, encouraging, and practical drum instruction. Whether you are a beginner or a developing player, I strive to create lessons that are enjoyable, challenging, and focused on long-term musical growth.
Teaching Style
My teaching style is structured, supportive, and focused on helping students develop real musical skills. I believe students learn best when they understand why they are practicing something and how it connects to actual music. Lessons are designed to build confidence through small, achievable goals while maintaining a strong emphasis on time feel, groove, listening, and consistency.
I encourage students to ask questions, think critically about what they are learning, and develop habits that will support long-term musical growth. My goal is to create an environment where students feel challenged, encouraged, and motivated to improve.
Curriculum
My lessons combine technical development with practical musical application. Students work on areas such as stick control, rudiments, timing, coordination, groove development, and reading fundamentals. I often begin by strengthening core skills on a practice pad or snare drum before applying those concepts to the full drumset.
Lessons also incorporate play-alongs, listening exercises, song analysis, and real-world musical situations so students learn how to apply their skills in performance settings. Each lesson is tailored to the student's goals, experience level, and learning pace.
Recommended materials may vary based on the student's age, experience level, and goals. Common resources include practice pad exercises, rudiment studies, groove and coordination exercises, play-along materials, and selected drum method books.
Students may also work with:
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Alfred's Drum Method
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Stick Control for the Snare Drummer
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Beginner rhythm-reading materials
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Customized lesson sheets and practice assignments
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Song transcriptions and listening exercises
Materials are selected to support practical musicianship, timing, coordination, and musical growth.
Credentials & Affiliations
My musical background spans more than 20 years of drumming and percussion experience across church music, percussion ensembles, marching band, symphonic band, live performance, and music education. Throughout my development as a musician, I have studied under and been mentored by music educators and instructors including Band Directors Mevonnie Biggins and Tarik Rowland, Assistant Band Instructor Aaron Johnson, Percussion Instructors James Riles III and Tim Greene, and Music Director James Cockerham. Their instruction helped shape my understanding of timing, groove, ensemble playing, musical responsibility, listening skills, and performance preparation.
From December 2003 through September 2009, I served as a drummer for services and off-site events with Spread The Word Church Ministries in College Park, Georgia. This experience helped establish my understanding of timekeeping, musical support, live performance etiquette, and playing in service-oriented musical settings.
From January 2012 through September 2012, I performed as a percussionist with the C.R.E.A.M. Percussion Ensemble, developing ensemble awareness, rhythmic precision, and group performance skills. From August 2012 through November 2013, I was a member of the percussion section of the Banneker High School Marching Band, participating in rehearsals, football games, and performance events while strengthening my timing, discipline, and ensemble coordination.
From January 2015 through May 2016, I performed as a percussionist in the Tri-Cities High School Symphonic Band, performing on instruments including snare drum and marimba. This experience emphasized dynamics, musical interpretation, reading skills, and ensemble musicianship.
My educational background includes attendance at Atlanta Metropolitan State College from August 2016 through December 2018, where I completed music coursework toward an Associate Degree before the program was discontinued. In August 2016, I was selected for membership in the National Society of High School Scholars. From August 2019 through December 2019, I participated in the Year Up Program in partnership with Atlanta Technical College.
In January 2019, I performed as the drummer for The Allen Cook Trio, further developing live performance, ensemble communication, and musical responsiveness. From December 2019 through June 2020, I served as the weekly drummer for Christian Outreach Evangelistic Church, supporting worship services through consistent timekeeping, dynamic control, musical listening, and collaboration with fellow musicians.
In addition to performance experience, I volunteered with Atlanta Drum Academy in 2014, assisting students ages 8–14 with percussion and drumline fundamentals. This experience included helping reinforce rhythm concepts, basic technique, ensemble skills, and foundational musicianship in a group instructional setting.
I continue to develop my musicianship and teaching practice through independent study, performance preparation, rhythm-reading development, and drum instruction. My teaching philosophy is centered on two core principles: “Lock It In The Pocket,” which emphasizes timing, feel, and consistency, and “Do What The Record Says,” which emphasizes listening, accuracy, and serving the music. These principles reflect both my own musical training and the lessons passed on to me by the educators, instructors, and mentors who contributed to my development as a musician.