Meet the teacher

Ryan Smith is a drummer, educator, and performing musician based in Austin, TX with over 10 years of experience helping students of all ages find their groove.

His teaching style is hands-on, dynamic, and built around you. Whether you're picking up sticks for the first time or looking to sharpen skills you already have, Ryan meets you exactly where you are. Ryan brings focused, pressure-free, and high energy learning to adult and younger learners alike. It’s important to Ryan that lessons remain interactive and dynamic as students make progress each week.

Beyond the teaching studio, Ryan is an active part of the Austin music scene. He performs with Texas Americana Artist of the Year Annie Davis and Austin-based pop group Painterly, and has shared the stage with notable Austin artists including Scott Strickland, Sam Johnson, and Glass Bandit.

Ryan holds an M.A. in Music from the UMKC Conservatory and a B.B.A. from the University of Iowa. He has studied under John Kizilarmut, James Dreier, Michael Tooles, and Tom Corrao, and has had the privilege of learning alongside Francisco Mora Catlett, Rufus Reid, Bobby Watson, and Brian Lynch.

He currently teaches students ages 10 and up from Austin, Lakeway, Bee Cave, and the Lake Travis area at his private studio at XSpace Austin.