Drum Lessons & Coaching:
In-person, Online & Asynchronous

Maybe you're just starting out, looking to improve specific aspects of your playing, preparing for music school or a career in music, or simply looking for fresh input and inspiration — I offer private drum lessons in Kawasaki and online, tailored to your goals, experience, and musical interests. 

I teach at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music (Jazz Course / JAM) and have been playing and teaching professionally for more than 25 years. My lessons combine practical experience with a strong focus on strengthening fundamentals, musicality, and finding your own voice as a drummer.

In-person lessons are held at my private studio near Motosumiyoshi station in Kawasaki, about a 6-minute walk from the station, and conveniently accessible from Tokyo and Yokohama. I also offer live video-call lessons and asynchronous drum coaching, so you can choose the format that works best for you — or combine them. Whether you want to take lessons regularly or just occasionally, it's up to you.

If you're new to asynchronous coaching, it means you send me questions and videos of your playing and receive detailed feedback, exercises, and guidance by video or text — without having to schedule a live lesson. It's ongoing support whenever you need it, making it a flexible way to get regular, personalized feedback, even if your schedule is busy or unpredictable.

What makes my approach special is that each student has their own personal coaching space with me, while other students can be added as viewers, allowing them to see what the student is working on, learn from their questions and experiences, and share ideas — and vice versa. This way, the coaching remains personal while also creating a sense of community and giving everyone the opportunity to learn from each other and discover ideas and approaches they might not have encountered on their own. 

What to Expect

Jazz and improvisation are my passion and my area of expertise, but I really just love music as a whole. I'm a versatile and open-minded musician, and I enjoy working across styles. Whether you are interested in jazz drums, rock, pop, funk, Brazilian, or something else — good music is good music, and I'm happy to work with you on whatever you want to explore or improve.

Alongside exploring different music styles, an important part of my teaching is also building a strong overall foundation. That includes developing proper technique and control, a good touch and sound, rhythm and feel, understanding the characteristics of different styles, reading music, and listening skills. Combine this with creativity and an overall musical understanding, and you'll develop the skills to play with more depth and confidence, giving you the freedom to express yourself fully in the music and in an ensemble. 

Ultimately, it's about you and what you want to learn and explore. I'm always happy to follow your interests and curiosity, while helping you build a strong foundation and grow as an overall musician. Bring your questions, ideas, or whatever you're curious about to our lessons — I'm always happy to discover new things together or help you deepen your understanding. Curiosity is key to success (^o^) 

Get in touch

Do you want to find out more or book a lesson?

Get in touch! We can also set up a free video call to talk directly. That's usually the best way to get to know each other a bit and discuss the possibilities before deciding whether to start lessons.

frehsedrums@gmail.com

About Me

I'm from Hannover, Germany, and have been living in Japan since 2009. I studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and have been playing and teaching professionally for over 25 years — privately, at music schools, and leading workshops and ensemble classes on jazz and improvisation at middle and high schools in both Germany and Japan.

Music has taken me across Europe, the USA, and Asia — from small jazz clubs to concert halls, arenas, and recording studios, with occasional TV appearances along the way, including a feature on NHK's 旅するためのドイツ語.

I've had the chance to work with many wonderful artists, including Makoto Ozone, Sadao Watanabe, Seiko Matsuda, Lisa Ono, Roman & Julian Wasserfuhr, and many others.

What keeps me going as a teacher is seeing my students move forward. Every small step counts, and it always fascinates me how much impact the right information at the right moment can have. Sharing my experience to help others grow is very fulfilling and it's my chance to give back to the music and the drums, who have given me so much. Drumming and making music is fun, it's deep, it's healing, and inspiring.

Jill F.
Dennis is the best drum teacher you can ever ask for! Both my kids are learning with him at the moment and in such a short time, he got them reading notes and playing beats. He helped them progress very quickly. Dennis is incredibly kind and he makes the lessons fun for my kids, one is a teen! He’s always available to answer any questions. If you are looking for a drum teacher, Dennis I can say is the number 1 choice!
via google maps

Ting Y.
I studied jazz drumming with Dennis for about six months, and it was truly a pleasure to learn from him. Beyond his solid technique and deep musical understanding, he is also an incredibly patient and kind teacher. Learning about the way he approaches music inspired me to reflect on and rethink my own approach to playing my primary instrument.

In addition, he has a spacious studio where students can interact and play together with him in real time, which is quite rare to find in a city like Tokyo.

I would highly recommend Dennis to anyone interested in learning the drums. Studying with him has been a rewarding experience and is definitely worth it.
via google maps

Natsumi O.
(...) I've taken both in-person lessons and online lessons via video conferencing (not real-time) with Dennis, and both are fantastic.

You might think video conferencing would be slow or difficult, but even though he's in France and Germany, he replies within a day. He explains detailed techniques slowly in videos, shows close-ups of his hands, and I think video lessons are easier for those who aren't fluent in English. He also sends explanations in text. Since it's conducted via Google Chat, you can share and see sheet music and training exercises that other students are using, so I feel like I gain more from it than from in-person lessons. If you're looking for drum lessons, I highly recommend trying it! All the students love Dennis so much that many online students make the effort to attend his live performances.  (...)
via google maps

Yuki O.
“I highly recommend Dennis as a drumset private instructor, I’ve been taking drum lessons from him for about 3 years now and I’m very happy with the progress i’ve made with him! Currently preparing to study jazz performance at a college level and Dennis has really helped me with that.”
via Forte Lessons

Chris M.
“I’ve been studying with Dennis both in person and online since 2019. He is patient but persistent, always pushing me forward while encouraging and guiding me in my efforts to be a better musician. He has also helped me work on any type of music I have wished to. Taking online lessons with Dennis on forte has been quite smooth; he understands and uses the technology effectively. I recommend Dennis without hesitation.”
via Forte Lessons

Sebastian S.
“Our son started drums lessons with Dennis about 6 years ago, at the beginning face to face lessons and later due to pandemic situation online. So we know Dennis very well and we strongly recommend Dennis not only as a very good teacher, but also as a very nice person. Our son enjoys a lot the lessons and he plays with fun and confidence because Dennis finds a good balance between challenging drums theory, relaxed communication and playing together drums. Dennis writes personalized music notes for the level and music interests of our son. Even if we live know in Germany, Dennis is very flexible in providing us a proper and reliable lesson schedule: he never forgets appointments, he is always punctually and in a good mood! We are very grateful for his engagement in teaching our son in a high quality and fun drum experience!”
via Forte Lessons

Collaboration with Sibe Music School in Karuizawa, Nagano. (シベミュージックスクール、軽井沢)

I’m collaborating with my dear friend and exceptional drummer colleague, Kungo Sadanari, in Karuizawa, Nagano. Kungo runs his own music school there, and I’ll be available for in-person drum lessons once a month. For more details, visit his website: www.sibemusic.net, or feel free to contact me directly with any questions.