Ryan Curless

Teaches: Drums

Pronouns: He/him

Teaching Philosophy: Music is magic. It should be enjoyed and not forced.

Music Influences: Stevie Wonder, John Bonham (of Led Zeppelin), Ray Charles, The Meters, ZZ Top, Tom Petty, Tower of Power, my family.

When I’m not making music: I'm usually trying to get outside with my two dogs Stevie and Twix, or doing projects around the house.

Favorite Place in Maine: Anywhere on a lake, pond, or hiking trail.

Ryan grew up in a household filled with music, surrounded by generations of professional musicians. He picked up the drums at age 11, and since then, music has been at the center of his life. For the past 20 years, he has been playing in bands, recording in studios, and more recently, teaching drum lessons. He has primarily performed with local bands across New England while occasionally embarking on national tours. Currently, Ryan is on and off the road with rap artist Spose, Grammy Award-winning songwriter Dave Gutter, and Boston-based folk-rock band The Wolff Sisters.

While Ryan enjoys playing live, he finds deep satisfaction in the creative process that unfolds in the studio. He loves discussing arrangements and refining ideas to bring out the best in a song. Over the past decade, he has recorded multiple full-length albums with Spose, Armies, Chris Ross and the North, and The Wolff Sisters. His work extends beyond the music scene, as he has also contributed to projects with major brands like Apple, Nikon, LowePro, and Nature Valley, as well as collaborated on a documentary film score with John Stirratt of Wilco.

As a drum instructor, Ryan focuses on working with beginner students, aiming to make music fun while teaching them to play one of the coolest instruments—the drums.