
Introduction to Drumming at Lane Drum Studio
Now Booking – May 2025 and Beyond
Lesson times are available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays.
Contact Stephen directly for lesson times and availability: stixlane@hotmail.com,
479-459-4259
His studio is located at Ben Jones Music School, 220 Towson Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901, 479-755-6100
Private Zoom lessons are available!
Available lesson slots: 30 minutes once a week ($80 per month), or 1 hour once a week ($120 per month). Individual lessons by request.
*Accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Venmo
Steve's mission is to teach you the skills that matter, that really get you results. He is taking all that he has learned in his professional career to give you the key information to accelerate your progress on the drums.
Focus on the joy of drumming first, then set goals for yourself. Work hard to develop the skills and attitude to achieve those goals. Learn to play musically with a band using dynamics while understanding song structure and melody. Become a member of one of the greatest community of musicians on the planet - DRUMMERS.
Over time you will increase your level of playing, but it takes patience, consistency and dedication with focused daily PRACTICE. Small improvements over time will yield BIG results. You just have to be willing to put in the work. If you have a desire and passion for playing the drums, then join Steve on this fun filled exciting journey!
Work on hand and foot technique, developing your coordination and independence, reading grooves, rudiments and recording at home or in a studio, setting In-Ear levels for a Worship performance and playing live with a click.
Lessons will also cover: tuning your drums, developing your speed, control and endurance. Playing in different styles of music, odd times, and what it means to play in the pocket, and how to properly care for your gear!
STUDY
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Stick Control (developing your accuracy, speed, control and endurance)
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Reading and playing grooves
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Transitions - fills with fluidity and flow
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Rudiments
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Playing different music styles
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Playing in, and understanding Odd time signatures
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4 - Way Independence
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Hand and Foot technique
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Recording yourself and listening back
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How to develop your pocket
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Time Keeping (playing with a metronome)
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Playing with a click live or in a Worship setting
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How to properly set your In-Ear levels
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Tuning your drums
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Gear maintenance

STEPHEN LANE
ABOUT
Steve has been drumming professionally for 49 years, and has been teaching and advising since 2008. He has played in many different settings and music styles through the years including performances at some of the largest music festivals in the Midwest and Southeast United States. He's had the opening slot for many iconic bands and artists and played John Lee Hooker's club in San Francisco, and Antone's in Austin TX, plus many more. For years he has established himself as a solid local player and businessman, but in recent years teaching and mentoring is where he's been most at home.
Over his decades of playing, Steve has seen many of the world's best drummers perform live, attended numerous drum clinics and worked as a drum tech at the Riverfront Blues Festival for the drummers of Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor, and continues to study and analyze many of the greatest players in drumming. It is with this same dedication to his craft that he has emerged as a true ambassador for our drumming community.
He also had the privilege to meet many of his drumming heroes - Dave Weckl, Liberty DeVitto, Ed Shaughnessy, Roy Burns, Todd Sucherman, Scott Rockenfield, Marco Minnemann, Terry Bozzio, Frank Beard, Roger Earl, Chris Layton, Fran Christina, Dom Famularo and Tommy Igoe just to name a few, and holds each experience as a true honor and inspiration.
Steve is a constant student of drumming and continues to teach this knowledge back to his students with a relentless passion, drive and motivation. His warm character, energy and desire to help others is what makes him one of the most respected players in the area.
nEWS/GIGS
Friday May 28th - Joe Hardin Trio - 906 Cocktail and Cigar Lounge
Friday May 14th - After 5 Jazz - R. Landry's New Orleans Cafe
Saturday April 10th - Joe Hardin Trio - 906 Cocktail and Cigar Lounge


Stay tuned for more news and gigs!

RECORDING
Steve has a fully equipped recording studio for tracking drums and has recorded for many projects over the years. It doesn't matter where you're located, if you would like to have Steve on your next project get in contact with him.
Recording setup:
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Kick: Audix D6
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Snares: Audix I5 on tops and Shure SM57 on the bottom
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Toms: Audix D2 on racks, D4 on the floors
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Overheads: Audix SCX-One
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Hi-Hats: Audix SCX-One
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Monitors: KRK Rokit6, ATH-M50X, 64Audio
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Interfaces: Presonus RML-16AI, MIO, Firestudio, DigiMax FS
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DAW: Presonus Studio One 5.1 Professional
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MISC: Roland SPD-X, All Cables and Accessories
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Keys: Yamaha MM6
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Drums, Cymbals and Heads: A wide collection of modern and vintage offerings
GEAR




















STEPHEN LANE
A COMPREHENSIVE BIO
A Career built on Music, DrumminG, and Business
Steve was introduced to the drums at the tender age of 3 when his parents bought him his first toy drum for Christmas in 1965, then a few years later a drum set from Sears & Roebuck. It was the beginning of a passion that has lasted for decades.
As a young boy, Steve's Dad, Frank Nathaniel Lane taught him the importance of having a strong work ethic. He started mowing lawns in and around his neighborhood and at age of 11 earned enough money to purchase his first drum set in 1973. It was a beautiful Slingerland Aqua Satin Flame 4-piece kit right out of the showroom window at Sigler Music on Garrison Avenue. By the age of 14 he was playing professionally on weekends at the Town Club in downtown Ft. Smith with Sigler Music alumni and keyboard/trumpet player Larry Floyd in the Pop group MOSS CREEK. In 1978, he went on to play with LEE YOUNG & THE ROTATIONS with Lee on bass guitar and vocals, Larry Reed on guitar, Don Combs on the Hammond B3 and the occasional guest appearance by Ben Jack sitting in on steel guitar.
Steve began working in the retail music industry in the late 70s at Sound Warehouse and continued to play music on the weekends through the 80s. He became a member of PAPERKID in 1982 playing regionally and recording extensively with their late producer/engineer BOB KETCHUM at CEDAR CREST STUDIO. With many record company pitches made for PAPERKID, 3 record deals fell short due to a conflict with the record executives over artist direction. Over 50 original songs were pinned and recorded. The band would later release 2 CDs on Hype Records in 1999 entitled Grow Up and Lunar World.
In 1991 he formed the trio DARR, HAMMONDS & LANE and recorded an album LANE VIOLATION with engineer/producer BOB KETCHUM at CEDAR CREST STUDIO. The music was progressive and ahead of its time! In the same year he played in FINE ART with Randy Burden, Dave Gedosh and Lance Thompson. Later the next year in 1992 Randy, Lance and Steve formed The PLOWCLEANERS playing many Rock and Country favorites. Steve then went on to play with OREO BLUE in 1995-96 with Brian Crowne, Gary Hutchison, Chris Payton and Rod Williamson. In 1999, he and John Davies from PAPERKID reunited to tour with the legendary blues guitarist MICHAEL BURKS. Steve (covering for LANCE ANDREW WOMACK) and John did a coast to coast tour stopping at JOHN LEE HOOKERS club in San Francisco (next to the Fillmore West) then playing several more festivals including the spectacular Telluride Blues Festival in Telluride Colorado opening for BUDDY MILES. Steve and John returned again in 2000 for a tour with BABY JASON & THE SPANKERS (originally based in Jason Davis' hometown of Lincoln Nebraska). It was on this tour that Steve opened up for STYX at the Nebraska State Fair. This would be the first time to meet the great TODD SUCHERMAN, but not the last.
After coming off the road Steve joined up with singer/songwriter and guitarist Joe Hamilton, the late Thomas "brother t" Totten on bass and Claye Carter on guitar to form BIG BIG FREAK in 1999-2000. The group recorded the critically acclaimed album SOUL JOURNEY, working again with producer/engineer BOB KETCHUM at CEDAR CREST STUDIO. In 2002-03 he would reunite this time with his bandmate from PAPERKID, Randy Burden in the RANDY BURDEN BAND with Steve Dufresne on bass. From 2004-05 Steve would again team up with PAPERKID members Jai Lambert and John Davies to record with singer/songwriter and guitarist BRYAN FRAZIER on his album LOVE IN THE MODERN WORLD.
After 20 years, Steve and PAPERKID would come together in September 2009 to play their first of two reunion shows, one at the Rib Room with special guests James Jones on bass, and Bill Rebsamen on keys, and the second at Landry's on New Year's Eve 2016. Later that year the trio of Jai Lambert, John Davies and Steve Lane would join with the highly revered, multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter Tom Ware to play his masterpiece album STICKS AND STONES live in its entirety at the 2016 WINFEST music festival in Winslow, AR.
Most recently in 2019-20, Steve (covering for the late LARRY MATTHEWS) played with the MARK ALBERTSON BAND on a number of shows. Also in 2019-20 he had the distinct pleasure to play with UAFS Professor piano player and vocalist JOE HARDIN and bassist Joe Craine in the JOE HARDIN TRIO. The Joe's are two of the coolest cats around!
There were also plenty of jams along the way and a few special times worth mentioning. Sitting in with BERNARD ALLISON and BUDDY GUY'S drummer the late KILLER' RAY ALLISON on guitar, this was definitely one for the books! Another was when Steve answered a random call while working at his record store one afternoon in 1999. He had been referred to touring guitarist VINCE CONVERSE as THE drummer that could cover a full show for his tour stop in Springfield Missouri while his drummer was out sick. Steve wasn't sure about this one especially driving with his gear to Springfield without a rehearsal, but it turned out to be an exceptional gig! Actually, there were many situations like this through the years and he was always ready to answer the call, and did.
Steve has shared the stage and opened many shows for such major recording artists as STYX, Collin Hay of Men at Work, Delbert McClinton, John Mayall, Marcia Ball, Bernard Allison, Jimmy Vaughn, W.C. Clark, Buddy Miles and many others. He has toured from coast to coast with BABY JASON & THE SPANKERS, and the late great ALLIGATOR blues recording artist MICHAEL BURKS.
In 1999-2000 after a few tours playing on the road then playing locally for a few more years, Steve rededicated his life to God and started playing on the Harvest Time praise team between 2004-06. Since 2008, Steve has played numerous times at the Ft. Smith, Van Buren and Greenwood Community Bible Church campuses.
The Business side
While Steve has been playing the drums for many decades, he has also had a passion for his work. Learning the tools of the retail and wholesale business trade. In the late 80s he became the store manager for Sound Warehouse working for the company many years, then in 1994 he opened his highly popular record store Warehouse Music. He has since had the opportunity to work for large corporations in management positions navigating the ins and outs of Big Box business.

GALLERY
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