I started playing drums at age 5 and learning from my father (Don Worth) and by the time I was 7, I was playing in The Hawk Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, later to be The Imperial Cadets, and competed in my first Rudimental contest and took 3rd against guys that were 21. I played in Drum Corps till 16 and in the process won all the Rudimental Contests in the NW and also beat Rob Carson, the defending Rudimental Champion at a PAS contest in 74. I went on to win many contests and decided that I was going to be a musician and started playing gigs at the age of 15 with the local Big Bands while Mom and Dad drove me to the gigs. Went on the road at 17 and did the Lake Tahoe, Vegas circuit. Played with Montuno, Solstice and many other local bands before I was able to have a drink in a bar.

Met Buddy Rich around the time I was 10 and and along the way have met Louie Bellson, Roy Burns, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Airto, Vinnie Colaiuta, Joe Morello, Ed Shaughnessy, David Garibaldi and many more great drummers and musicians. Have played with Gary Burton, Bobby King and Terry Evans, Ry Cooder, Lloyd Jones, Robert Cray, Steve Miller, Curtis Salgado, The Coasters, Hutch Hutchinson, Dan Akroyd, Jim Belushi, Tom Arnold, Kiefer Sutherland, Jimmie Vaughan, Sonny Landreth, John Koonce, Walter Wolfman Washington, Anthony Gomes, and Derek Trucks to name a few.

Currently teaching full time out of my drum studio and Freelancing. Have played all styles from Rock , Jazz, Latin Jazz, Symphony, Blues, Polkas and even a Gypsy Funeral.....oh and a Halloween Costume Party at a Nudist Colony.....figure that one out..... I teach drum lessons and have been doing that for most of my life and have many award winning students over the years and many that have gone on to be professional drummers. I I am also an Endorser for Aquarian Heads, and in The Vic Firth Educational Program. I am considered one of the top drum teachers, according to Aquarian Drum Heads, as featured in Oct & Dec 2008 Modern Drummer Magazine.

Been playing for 48 years and teaching for 40 of those years and work with Beginners to Advanced Will work on Technique, Reading, Moeller Method and just over all learn how to play drums. Have taught students as young as 6 and up to 80. Have the books you will need or will pick them up for you. Need help buying a set, No problem, will help you look for drums that fit your budget.

Comments from students:

Comment during election: “How has the word Elitist become a bad word since I would want the most Elite Surgeon to operate on me and that is why I contacted you. You seem to be the Elite Drum Teacher that I was looking for”

"WOW, this is so much easier than my last teacher made reading out to be" "Wish I did not waste the last year taking lessons with that other guy"

"Why did my last teacher not show me how to hold my sticks, All he did was play a beat and I copied it sort of"

"Hey Don, You guys sounded great Thursday night... You are amazing! My bass player really enjoyed hearing you too. He noticed you doing some of the things I've been working on (he said, "so that's how it's supposed to sound"...smart ass!) I feel very fortunate to have you helping me, you are a great teacher."

“My son aced the audition at school and everything you had taught him was exactly what the teacher wanted to hear and was so glad my son was studying with you.”

"Carl, in my opinion, Don Worth Jr. is one of the best drum instructors in America. Period. For both youth and adults. I encourage you to review his resume -- you will be blown away. Don is a technical perfectionist: he demands the best, and I have been amazed at what he has done for Noah."

From Band Director:

"I have so appreciated the work you did with many of my kids at Grant and would love to get more of our Barlow kids hooked up with you. I think a couple of these Freshman kids are seeing you now."

Have sent students to: U of O University of Florida PSU Berklee School Of Music North Texas State Julliard School of Music Oberlein Music School I currently teach for the following Colleges: Reed College MHCC PCC CCC

Have had lessons with:Don R. Worth, Louis Bellson, Ed Shaughnessy, Alan Dawson, David Garibaldi, Luis Conte, Joe Morello, Joe Porcaro, Roy Burns and the list goes on.

My teaching encompasses Beginners through Advanced in: Drum Set: Rock, Jazz, Funk, Latin, and Electric Jazz(Fusion) Rudimental Snare Drum Orchestral Snare Drum Mallets Timpani & Congas.

Have my own studio in The Hollywood area of Portland fully stocked with : 2- Drum sets 4-Timpani Marimba Vibes Congas Timbales and probably anything else you want to learn that has to do with Percussion and Drumming.

Most of my focus is on technique, school band, and drum set playing and how to get a gig. I teach Monday-Saturday. I charge $120 for 4 half hour lesson a month or $55 per hour lesson.  

NOTE: if you receive no reply in 2 weeks, email me again since my spam filter sometimes gets a little carried away. Actually, it gets a lot carried away, so don’t be afraid to reach out more than once. I have had students travel from Seattle, Eugene, Medford, White Salmon, Bend and from Camas to take lessons. So, if you are serious about learning drums and want to be able to play more than one style, give me a call.