Round Rock Drums

We provide a caring and encouraging atmosphere where confident drummers improve their skills and where beginners are encouraged to take their first steps toward a lifelong love of music.

Our Master Drum Coach, Ed Francis (students call him Mr. Ed), graduated from the Austin Graduate School of Theology, Austin, Texas, USA. After years of marching in high school bands, competing in the Jr. Drum Corps, touring with the USAF World Wide Talent Contests and performing in local bands, Mr. Ed decided to bring his passion for percussion into the heart of his community where he began teaching as a drum coach at Round Rock Drums and also co-founded Rhythm Workshops. The latter being a non-profit dedicated to bringing musical experiences into the community, at no cost to the children – focusing on groups of people who have little access to making music. He also devoted 8 years in the USAF, Mr. Ed worked for the Center for Health Care Services MH/MR where he served adults with special needs. Mr. Ed never forgot how music and drumming helped him to work through the pain of growing up in an abusive and dysfunctional home environment. It’s worth mentioning that Mr. Ed is featured in the London produced film, “The Rhythm Session,” interviewed live with his students on Drum Talk TV, and part of his life’s story is included in the book, “From Bullied to Brilliant.” The students and parents at Round Rock Drums appreciate what Mr. Ed brings to our program.

I am the founder and drum coach at Round Rock Drums as well as the Producing Artistic Director for the non-profit, Rhythm Workshops.

When speaking to groups of kids about following their dreams I often ask, “Who are you? What do you want to do with your life?” These children hear me tell stories about older people who believed the lie that they were not good enough, talented enough or smart enough to do the thing they so very much wanted to do with their life. I end the talk by encouraging the kids to discover what they love to do and to follow it, even if their parents, teachers or even their friends tell them otherwise. And I’m always amazed at all the wide eyes and smiles I get to experience as they soak up this not-heard-enough encouragement.

So - what do you do?

No matter what we do for a living we all have opportunities to help make the world a better place. We all have a gift, we all posses a talent that can open the eyes of young people who need to witness another human being excellent and encouraging. And we have an obligation (at some level) to follow our dream(s) so that our life can inspire both kids and other adults to recognize and act upon their own potential.

I often bring my students with me when speaking to groups of kids. When a young person watches me playing on the drums and talking about following dreams they may think, “Okay, he’s good. But I’m just a kid.” However, when a young person experiences another kid do well it helps to inspire the young person to consider, “Hey, if that kid can do it maybe I can do it, too.”

These are the kind of moments I look forward to being a part of - the realization of real possibility.

We are the one’s who grant permission to the young people coming after us to be the excellent people they can be.

We all make a difference - the question is: What kind of difference are we making?

Ed Francis