Testimonials


Glenn Herman Guitar Student Dec 15th 2005

I’ve had my guitars since 1987 and have learned more at the Creative Rhythm School in the last 2 months then in all those years I have owned my guitars. Great teaching technique! Definitely keeps you interested.

Connie is a Fast Track Drums Book 1 course graduate. Well done!

How I became a drummer at age 55
Why would a 55-year-old woman take up the drums? For me it was because I very much wanted to be part of the Praise Team at my church. Singing is not my forte, and piano lessons were a distant memory from my youth.
When I retired as a communications manager at Boeing, I had much to fill my time – volunteer work, church, golf, daily aerobics, children and grandchildren. But I was missing that element of music that I longed for. I wanted to join my husband, who sings and plays guitar with the church Praise Team. I’ve been fascinated with drums for years, so I decided to give it a shot.
Timm Gaughan of Creative Rhythm School was very supportive when I told him my goal was to play with our Praise Team. He taught in an accelerated manner which is good for me, given my “mature stature.” After a little more than a year of weekly lessons, and lots and lots of practice time, I reached my goal of playing with the church praise team. It is wonderful! Now I am the praise team fulltime drummer.
Timm Gaughan’s curriculum really gets to the heart of what drumming is about. I get a kick out of “jamming” to the rock ‘n roll oldies, hitting milestones, and being able to participate musically at church. I am incredibly blessed.

Blake Ashton

Hey my name is Blake Ashton. I am 15 years old. I am a freshmen and I play the drums. I have been playing the drums for about a year now. The reason I started playing he drums was because of my cuzin. He has been playing the drums for his whole life, and every time my family and I would go down to visit his family I would go play on his set. I have reached many goals. I remember when I first started. I was pretty bad. But Timm worked with me one-on-one and I have gotten a lot better over the past year or so. The drum set I have is a CB 5 piece.

The music I like is punk rock, metal, and classic rock. My mom and dad think I have progressed a lot. They like how it’s going.

Josh Obermeyer

My name is Josh and I have tried taking drums previously but couldn’t make it work. My favorite instrument was and always will be the drums. I have been almost completely deaf in both ears and I think the reason I’ve liked the drums was because I could actually hear them. I’m fourteen right now and since September first of 2006, I have normal hearing in both ears with the help of a very risky surgery and God. To continue my drum lessons, me and my family decided that we needed something professional and with good instruction. We looked for some drum instructors and we found Timm Gaughan and CRS.
His “school” sounded both instructional and professional, PLUS it sounded flat out FUN. I have been playing drums with Timm for almost two years now and I have come so far in my books with his instruction.
I will be going to High School next year and I will still take lessons from Timm but it will be a lot easier to play in the band.
I also plan on somehow starting my own band. With the “grooving out” we do in drums after practice, it will teach me how to become a much better player in my band. I will be able to play anything I need right then as I need it. Timm has taught me to play every part of the drum set with ease and I’m still perfecting it! All the credit goes to Timm Gaughan for my drum abilities.

Dear Timm,
Just a note to say thanks for the thorough teaching you are providing my grandson, Josh, in percussion. As a teacher, I recognize the effort you are giving to quality instruction by wonderful lesson plans and example. Your curriculum is marvelous. He is enjoying the companion CD's that allow him to play along with good music scores giving him the feel of group performance. Since Josh began taking lessons from you, I have been amazed at how quickly he has progressed and how good he sounds as he practices. He does not have to be made to practice as it is a time he enjoys and looks forward to. I know that personal drive comes from your attitude toward and love of what you are doing. So, again, thank you, and keep up the great job. We appreciate you.

Sincerely, Kaye Obermeyer

It has been a nice experience to go with Connor, our grandson, to his guitar lessons. Timm is a very kind teacher who (no matter how well the student did his homework) always gives positive reinforcement.
Having good role models is so needed for young people.
We are looking forward to furthering the lessons. Music is wonderful and needed in all our lives.
Thank you.

Respectfully, Karen Schafe

Kelsey Keagle CRS Student
'By taking lessons with Timm at CRS my ability to play any song on drum set has greatly
improved. Before, the simplest beat would take me at least two hours to learn. Being able
to tie things into what I had already learned enabled me to play better and learn faster."

Reese Gehring CRS Student
" I started taking drumset lessons with Timm at CRS. As time passed I became more confident with having the ability to play the drumset. This was my goal."

Kelly Coyle CRS Student
"Getting a direction for a practice regiment is important if you want to blaze ahead in music. And being with Timm Gaughan at CRS has helped me do just that!"

Chris Nutz CRS Student
'I enjoyed the first meeting with Timm, discussing many areas of music in general. Also talking "Drums" and what it takes to get a successful career going.

At this point in my musical career, I feel I need some help with direction and especially
encouragement. I 'm confident that with what Timm and CRS has lined out for helping students,
I'll be able to attain my goals for being a well-rounded drummer/musician."

Ouintyn Bolay CRS Student
With these lessons I've learned to read charts, I can now glance through them and can successfully sight-read pieces. I've also gotten a glimpse of how to do better fills and to
be free of time.

September 14, 2004 Dear Timm:

We just wanted to tell you how pleased with are with the progress that Cameron our son has made since he began taking drum lessons from you. In the few months that you've been teaching him his ability to sight read music has increased dramatically. Not only has this helped him in his lessons but it has helped him in his school marching band as well.
At the start of school all the percussionists were given a sight reading audition to determine which instrument they would be playing for the marching season. Cameron was chosen for snare which, according to his percussion teacher, is a position that is rarely afforded a freshman. There seem to be many teachers who can play drums well, but we have learned that that doesn't necessarily qualify them to teach. You possess the skills to do both.
We have also been impressed with how you incorporate organizational skills and goal setting techniques with your assigned lessons. It's so gratifying to listen to Cameron practice without having to be reminded; surely this is the best indicator that he's enjoying the learning process. He's also excited to play for friends who come over and to try out new songs that he hears.
Thank you for the enthusiasm and expertise that you bring to your teaching.

Sincerely, Jon and Karen Julian

I took my first lesson with Timm on April 7, 2004, I am SLOWLY learning how to read music, and play some of the basic rudiments. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I am learning the amount of time I must spend practicing and drilling. All of my study with Timm revolves around The Creative Rhythm School, (CRS). The CRS is a teaching system Timm has developed that is COMPLETELY different than the "old school" methods used in the past. The biggest difference between the two methods is that the CRS wraps itself around what the student wants to learn. The old school approach, as I found out when I was 10 years old, is "their way or the highway", so to speak. I have no interest in playing Broadway show tunes, jingles, or stage band music. I just want to develop some killer chops, learn to read enough to work out of practice books, and be able to have a basic understanding of how to play funk and bebop. This is what Timm and I are working towards. CRS automatically adjusts its course methodology and content around what I want to learn, not what the course wants me to learn.
Timm is an extremely focused and intense individual. His teaching style is very relaxed and low key, yet he will push me at EXACTLY the right moment that I need to be pushed. I can honestly say that I already see a difference in my playing with the band after studying with Timm since April. I have much more confidence in my playing and time keeping than before. Prior to studying with Timm, I NEVER received complements on my playing from my fellow band members. Now, it seems that at almost every rehearsal, my band mates comment on how much my playing has improved. I cannot tell you how much this means to me.
I guess the bottom line is this: no matter how young or old you are, no matter what style of music you want to play, Timm and the Creative Rhythm School can and will get you to where you want to be.

Sincerely, Mick Haugen

The Fabulous Shi*heads Dance, Show, & Revu

Timm:
Wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your style of instruction. I have always had what I consider to be a good ear and was habitually drawn to your family's piano when I was a kid. Even though I only took two piano lessons I was able teach my self quite a few tunes over the years.
When I decided to buy a set of drums and learn to play, I brought with me this same mind set; I can just start banging on them and eventually I'll get the hang of it. As a result I was not exceptionally eager to learn to read music and had no real appreciation of regular practice.
What I have gained most from your instruction is the realization that the ability to actually read the notes and count the beats is beneficial! Go figure! Further, that simple to read / easy groves (or even the rudiments) can be developed into the coolest of rhythms; and it is not always the complexity of what you play but how it is played. Your instruction has really opened my eyes with regard to creativity as I am beginning to sense the ability to go beyond just copying someone.

Thane
Now, if life will only allow me more time to practice! Thanks much!

December 20, 2006
Thane D. Rockhill