Beginner Drum Lessons

Who we are and why we do what we do.

Our Story

A Church & Audio

Starting in a small church in Hudsonville MI, Dark River Audio was birthed out of a desire to help churches that are in serious need of professional audio training. Our humble beginnings instilled in us the ethic, understanding, and experience needed to be able train any volunteer with the desire and heart for service at their local church or music venue. Years later we now specialize not only live sound but also recording services such as mixing & mastering so every song can have it's own voice!


Dark River Audio specializes in live sound training and audio recording, mixing, and mastering services. We primarily work with churches to provide an immersive worship experience for their congregation. Our team of experts are passionate about helping each church exceed expectations by advising on the latest technology in sound production while also implementing tried-and-true techniques from generations past.

Our Mission

Meet The Teacher

Brett Cullen - Drum Instructor

Hi, I'm Brett Cullen. With more than 21 years of experience in drumming, I’ve spent over 13 years guiding drummers from church groups to rock bands. It has been my honor to train many talented drummers, and I genuinely enjoy every chance I get to help them enhance their skills.

I’m proud to offer local drum lessons for kids, teens, adults, and worship drummers right here in Grandville, Michigan. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to advance your skills, I’m here to help you grow with purpose and confidence.

The Benefits

Why Take Lessons Here?

icon of a head with a music note inside, symbolizing focused learning in private drum lessons.

Gain Enhanced Focus & Learning

With our personalized lessons, you’ll sharpen focus, memory, and multitasking, enhancing classroom performance while building real drumming skills that stick.

icon of a drummer and keyboard player performing together, representing teamwork and group readiness through drum instruction.

Learn Teamwork & Band Readiness

Learn collaboration skills through playing with a band, developing the confidence to lock in and perform smoothly alongside other musicians.

icon of a person with raised hands under a spotlight, highlighting the confidence gained from personalized drum lessons. icon of a spotlight shining on a person with their hands raised, showing confidence gained from drum instruction.

Experience Boosted Lifelong Confidence

Each lesson is designed to grow confidence, helping you lead on the drums and carry that self-assurance into everyday life.

icon of a heart with a music note beside it, reflecting emotional expression and joy through drumming.

Feel Emotional Release & Joy

Our lessons create a space for creative expression and stress relief, making drumming a joyful, uplifting experience.

icon of a metronome, symbolizing precise timing and coordination developed in drum practice. icon of a metronome, highlighting coordination skills from drum practice.

Develop Stronger Coordination & Timing

Through tailored exercises, you’ll develop precision, control, and the technical skills needed to play smoothly and powerfully.

icon of a drum, representing versatile drumming skills and a lifelong love for music.

Enjoy Versatility & Lifelong Passion

We’ll help you become a versatile, well-rounded drummer who enjoys playing across styles and stays passionate for years to come.

our mission is simply to equip the modern sound engineer or volunteer with the knowledge and experience they need to create an immersive and pleasant live sound experience.

Meet The Team

Doug Hall

Owner/Operator

As a creative director, Scott invests his soul and imagination into every product that he works on. Trained in the exclusive City Design School, he has several years of experience in the field and dozens of highly successful projects and campaigns. Scott has been named Most Promising Designer in his field of expertise for six years in a row.