Seattle Drum School, Seattle

When Seattle Drum School owner and founder Steve Smith first began leading private lessons, bands such as Queen and Pink Floyd were just hitting their stride. That was nearly four decades ago, before air guitar became a legitimate art form, and well before Steve opened the doors to SDS in 1986. Since then, though, Steve has fostered the school into a thriving music institution, and one that currently boasts a faculty of more than 40 talented teachers. Such a large staff translates into an equally diverse selection of lessons for students, who can hone their skills in everything from guitar, piano, and voice to saxophone, turntables, and, of course, drums.