Drum & Strum Music Center, located in the heart of historic Old Town Warrenton, VA, has been enriching lives through music since opening our doors in 1990. Known for our friendly, knowledgeable, professional staff—Drum & Strum has helped make great music with private music lessons, instrument sales, repairs and tuning, school instrument rentals, clinics and camps, and concerts. We’re so much more than your typical music store!
An integral, iconic part of the small-town business community, Drum & Strum has been providing myriad of students and music lovers of all ages with the joy of music.
Drum & Strum has become a household name that is associated with a friendly, highly qualified staff and exceptional music instruction. We are honored to serve as a launching pad for many careers in the music industry that span the globe and provide a musical heritage for generations to come.
When you visit Drum & Strum, you will take a step back in time to the days when independent music stores were a place where you felt at home and dealt with people you could trust. Take a step away from over-produced and mass marketed items and visit Drum & Strum.
You will find service you can depend on, the finest music instructors available today, help and direction for all of your musical needs, friendly, knowledgeable staff, and the guarantee you’ll always be greeted with a smile every time you walk through our door.
We look forward to seeing you at Drum & Strum Music Center soon!
Lauren teaches violin and viola and brings nearly two decades of experience as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer. She began studying viola through the Suzuki Method at the age of seven after first discovering her love for the instrument in kindergarten. Lauren studied under Tsuna Sakamoto of the National Symphony Orchestra and continued her training through the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute, the prestigious Meadowmount School of Music in New York, and the Karen Tuttle Viola Workshops at both NYU and Oberlin Conservatory, where she performed in masterclasses with many of the country’s leading viola educators. A former member of the American Youth Philharmonic, Lauren also participated in the organization’s Music Buddies Mentorship Program, teaching violin and viola to underserved children throughout Northern Virginia. She served as principal violist for Osbourn Park High School’s Chamber Orchestra, All-County, and All-Regional Orchestras, and performed at the Kennedy Center as part of the World Projects Washington, D.C. International Music Festival. Lauren is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Masao Kawasaki of The Juilliard School. She enjoys helping students of all ages and abilities develop strong technique, confidence, and musical expression while fostering a lifelong love of music.
Caren holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, cum laude, from George Mason University. With over 14 years of teaching experience, she works with students of all ages and skill levels, encouraging a well-rounded appreciation for music across a variety of genres. In her lessons, Caren emphasizes strong practice techniques, vocal health, and a clear understanding of new material and music theory. In addition to teaching, she performs as a soloist and sings with the Sam Bonds Chorale in Washington, D.C. and Maryland.
Dustin has created and performed original music with a wide range of bands and artists, such as The Green Room, Coma Ghost, Capita, KSSH!, Sister Ancestor, The Red Room, Spookey Ruben, Joe Harvard, Jack “Jacko” Monahan, ELO II, and Graphene. Beyond his work with bands, he also performs solo as an instrumentalist and singer-songwriter.
Steve has been studying, playing, and performing guitar for the last 22 years. He has been teaching all ages, beginner through advanced, for the last nine. Steve has played with numerous bands over the years including being one of the founding members of the local nationally signed rock outfit, the Daycare Swindlers. His main influences range the full scope from The Clash to Dick Dale. He covers many styles ranging from country, blues, rock, and ska to reggae, rockabilly, surf, metal, flamenco, and punk rock.In addition to his many musical skills, Steve has studied recording at Northern Virginia Community College, and recording engineering with Shannon Walton, former Fleetwood Mac Sound Engineer of Walton Recording. His diverse musical ability, combined with his friendly personality and long-time tenure with Drum & Strum, have made Steve a favorite to many students.
Loren plays folk songs, bluegrass, and fiddle tunes using flat picking, fingerstyle, and rhythm techniques. He is a natural teacher with plenty of patience and encouragement for students of all ages, interests, and abilities.
Paul was the teenage son of a Peace Corps director growing up in Chile and Colombia in the late ’60’s. He began his musical career taking classical guitar lessons while simultaneously playing in garage bands and learning folk, blues, and ukulele from the Peace Corps volunteers. Paul later studied music theory at NOVA and then attended Berkley College of Music from 1978-79. His professional career has included touring with Nils Lofgren throughout the U.S. and Europe from 1986-2003, with sit-ins from Bruce Springsteen and Joe Walsh, where he was part of the full electric band as well as acoustic duo and trio formats, appearing on 2 live albums and a DVD. Paul then toured nationally and internationally with the Nighthawks from 2004-2018, recording 7 albums, and playing live shows backing up blues legends such as Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton and Bob Margolin from the Muddy Waters’ band, Hubert Sumlin from Howling Wolf’s band, Muddy Water’s son, Kid Ramos, and others. Paul has 27 years of studio experience including the recording of many albums by top D.C. area artists, several TV/film scores from Animal Planet to America’s Most Wanted, and many documentaries. Paul’s decades of experience includes performing in local bands which have included the Tommy Lepson Band, the Soul Crackers (including three appearances at the White House), The Newkeys, Jr. Cline and the Recliners, Mike Cotter, Mary Ann Redmond Band, Catfish Hodge, Billy Hancock, and many others. in addition to freelance work including rock, R&B, folk, and big band gigs. With 52 years of performing Paul has decided to take a break from the road and offer his years of experience here at Drum & Strum so that students don’t have to learn the hard way. Paul’s ability to transcend multiple styles, his years of experience and his easy-going personality make him a wealth of knowledge for those eager to learn and a perfect fit to the Drum & Strum team.
John has been playing banjo and multiple other instruments for more than 40 years. His keen sense of musicianship along with his multi-instrumental ability gives John an understanding of music from several different perspectives. Students love his vast knowledge, capacity to play various styles, and his easy going personality.John has numerous years of teaching experience with both Drum & Strum and Fauquier County Public Schools, as well as many years involved in special education. John is a tremendous asset to Drum & Strum and to his students regardless of their age or ability.
