This is KCDA.
A professional drumming program developing Kansas City's next generation of musicians — drum set and drumline for ages 8+.
You don't just learn to play drums. You build discipline, confidence and community.
Train
Technical foundation — grip, rudiments, reading, time and tone.
Develop
Confidence, discipline and musicality — on and off the kit.
Connect
Community and culture — perform alongside others at 18th & Vine.
Our training keeps students scholarship-ready, performance-sharp and positioned to be at the top of their class — on the kit and off it.
Kansas City Drum Academy (KCDA) is a Kansas City-based drumline performance and education organization, rooted in the legendary 18th & Vine Jazz District at the historic Mutual Musicians Foundation — one of America's most storied African American cultural landmarks and the birthplace of Kansas City jazz.
KCDA delivers explosive, high-energy drumline performances that fuse Kansas City's rich musical heritage with the raw power of percussive artistry, bringing world-class percussion to audiences of all ages through live performance, private instruction, and community drum education.
More than a drumline, KCDA is a cultural movement — dedicated to preserving the rhythmic soul of Kansas City, developing the next generation of percussionists, and carrying the heartbeat of this city to every stage it touches.
Founded in 2018 and relaunching in 2026 with the full backing of the Mutual Musicians Foundation, KCDA is ready to make its mark — locally, nationally, and beyond.
Music history lives here.
KCDA operates from the Mutual Musicians Foundation — 1823 Highland Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64108 — in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District.
A National Historic Landmark where legends like Count Basie and Charlie Parker built their craft — now home to the next generation of Kansas City drummers.
Help keep music education alive in Kansas City.
Every dollar goes directly toward instruments, programming and student development.
- Instruments — kits, cords, sticks and upkeep for students.
- Programming — Saturday sessions, workshops and performances.
- Student Development — scholarships and growth opportunities.