Ben Masters

Ben Masters — Drummer, Producer & Touring Musician

Hi, I’m Ben! I’m a Los Angeles–based drummer, songwriter, music producer, and playback specialist with over a decade of professional touring and studio experience. I’ve performed or recorded at some of the world’s most iconic venues — Carnegie Hall, Red Rocks, Madison Square Garden, The Forum, and Capitol Records — and appeared on national TV including The Late Late Show with James Corden, MTV’s TRL, and The Today Show.

I’ve toured across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia as a drummer, playback tech, music director, and tour manager. My approach to teaching is simple: meet you where you are, build your confidence, and give you the real-world skills that working musicians actually use.

What I Teach

• Drum Set (beginner → advanced)

• Live performance & touring skills

• Playing to tracks / Playback / Ableton Live

• Studio drumming, recording, and engineering

• Music production (pop, indie, alt, singer-songwriter, electronic)

• Songwriting & arranging

• Rhythm fundamentals for multi-instrumentalists

• Career mentoring for musicians and producers

Who I’ve Worked With

Drums / Playback / MD / Touring:

• LÉON – Drums, playback, assistant tour manager (USA + EU/Asia)

• Rachel Platten – Drums, playback, support for shows and private events

• Noah Cyrus – Drums (Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, festivals, headline shows)

• Natasha Bedingfield – Drums, playback (festivals + private events)

• Grace VanderWaal – Drums, playback (Imagine Dragons + Florence & The Machine support, TV, MSG, The Forum)

• Mondo Cozmo – Touring drummer (“road dog”)

• Lime Cordiale – Drums + driver (USA tours)

• Maggie Lindemann – Drums, playback, music director

• Spencer Barnett – MD, playback, tour logistics

• NIKI – Playback engineer

• Leon Thomas – Advance logistics

From club tours to arenas, I’ve seen every side of the music industry — and I love helping students build the skills they need to thrive in it.

Teaching Style

My lessons are:

• Patient and encouraging

• Customized to the student (goals, skill level, and learning style)

• Hands-on and practical — not just exercises, but real music

• Focused on feel, groove, timing, and musicality, not just speed

• Built around the kinds of modern workflows drummers actually use today (tracks, click, hybrid kits, Ableton, etc.)

Whether you’re picking up sticks for the first time, preparing for auditions, or looking to level up your drumming or production skills, I’ll help you get there.

Education

• Music Performance – Los Angeles College of Music

• Jazz Studies – Roosevelt University (Chicago)

• International Business – Illinois State University

Gear (for gear heads 😎)

Q Drum Co • Zildjian Cymbals
DW Hardware & Pedals • Vater Sticks
JH Audio IEMs • SKB & Beato Cases
Roland Electronics • Ableton Live • iConnectivity Interfaces

Fun Facts

Tokyo and Stockholm are my two favorite cities.
I love ramen.
I have a twin brother named Bill.
And a dog named Waldorf who thinks he’s my manager.

Teaching Style
My teaching style is patient, encouraging, and highly personalized. I focus on meeting students exactly where they are and helping them grow with clear, achievable steps. I’m big on developing groove, timing, musicality, and confidence — not just chops.

Lessons with me often include:

• Real-world techniques used by touring drummers

• Playing with tracks, clicks, and hybrid setups

• Building strong fundamentals that translate to any genre

• Simple, repeatable practice routines

• Learning songs you’re actually excited about

• Mindset + performance coaching from years on the road

My goal is for every student to feel comfortable, supported, challenged, and inspired, whether they’re total beginners or working professionals.