Fremont Drum Shop, Seattle

Fremont Drum Shop's master drummer Bill Matthews is such an expert at hand drumming that he wrote the book on it—well, four books to be exact, including one that has been a fast-selling resource at drum shops for more than 20 years. And at Fremont Drum Shop, he leads hand-drum classes that teach all levels many of the techniques and rhythms laid out in the books.

Participants can grab one of Bill Matthews' handmade djembe, ashiko, or bougarabou drums and learn complex African rhythms, as well as ones from Haiti, Cuba, and Brazil. After students practice tapping out the beats on the shop's drums and on the walls of their apartments, they can join the performance class.