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Please note: Nozomi will be taking family leave in the 2025-26 academic year. Students can expect long term subs and/or changes to a new weekly instructor.

Nozomi (she/her) has been fortunate to meet great people across the globe through playing drums. She earned diplomas for drums in popular music at Hammersmith West London College and at Tech Music School, and is a current member of the Recording Academy (Grammys). Nozomi relocated to Seattle to study jazz drums at Cornish College of the Arts. Playing for musicals, live shows, and recording sessions has helped Nozomi feel comfortable in a diverse range of genres and playing styles. Nozomi teaches drums to kids and adults at Meter.

Cutts (he/him) is a drummer and percussionist with over 30 years of experience performing and recording in a wide range of styles. 

Growing up in New York City, Cutts had the good fortune as a teenager and young adult to hear and be inspired by many of his drumming heroes - artists like Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Billy Higgins, Steve Gadd, Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette and others. 

Cutts studied jazz drumming with several excellent teachers who imparted a deep appreciation for rudimental expertise and thoughtful musicality. Cutts also studied at Berklee College of Music, and played in big bands throughout his high school and college years. 

In Seattle, Cutts has played with numerous groups, including jazz with the Walking Hat Trio, roots rock with Randy Weeks, and Louisiana zydeco and funk with Jockomo and Captain Leroy. While living in New Orleans prior to Seattle, he performed and toured with the jazz-rock group Blood and Grits and cajun band Mamou.

As a teacher, Cutts aims to share with students his lifelong love of music and drumming in particular. He emphasizes musicality and technical rigor while encouraging freedom of personal expression. A former software engineer of 20+ years, Cutts can also speak to the challenges as well as benefits of balancing music with a non-musical career day job. 

Derek (he/him) pursued music from an early age and earned a Louis Armstrong Jazz Award while in high school. He attended the University of Washington where he played drums for many musical theater and dance performances. He makes solo electronic music, has played drums and synthesizer in various rock and experimental groups, and loves to improvise. Derek teaches drums and electronic music production to kids and adults at Meter Music School. 

Please note: Aaron does not teach piano lessons on Tuesdays.

Aaron (he/him) is a doctoral percussion student at the University of Washington, and holds degrees in percussion performance from Ohio University (MM) and Centenary College of Louisiana (BM). He regularly presents concerts of contemporary solo and chamber music, and performance highlights include the 2013 Athens International Film Festival and the 2016 Nelsonville Music Festival. As a composer, he frequently collaborates with artists from other disciplines including choreographers Ani Janian and Travis Gatling, filmmaker Chris Lange, and Bristol-based potter Steve Carter. Aaron teaches drums, guitar, bass, ukulele, and piano at Meter. 

Scott (he/him) is a multi-instrumentalist and educator with over 20 years of experience. A native of Bremerton, Washington, he taught himself to read music at age 7 and began exploring the family piano with his parents and siblings. He began studying percussion in the public schools at age 11 and continued throughout his academic career, all the while pursuing music projects outside of school.

Scott earned his Bachelor of Music at Washington State University in 2011, performing in projects including symphonic orchestra, percussion ensembles, big band jazz, and solo marimba. Since college, Scott has worked with Seattle bands Trick Candles, Purple Mane, Nowsterday, Pampa, Halley Greg, and King Sheim. He also played for 5th Avenue Theatre's production of the musical Afterwords. Scott loves sharing the joy of music with students of all ages and backgrounds. 

Sam (he/him) is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts in Jazz Performance and Composition. He has been an active member of the Seattle music scene since 2018 as a performing and recording artist, and has been featured in Earshot Magazine. As an educator, Sam works with all ages on styles from rock and pop to jazz and latin music. He is a patient and empathetic teacher, and works to foster a lifelong journey with music for his students.