Darion Waddler is a natural teacher. He’s a rare blend of warm, easy going, and virtuosic that immediately sets students at ease, no matter their age or skill level. Originally from Portsmouth, Virginia, Darion received his first drum set at just 4 years old from his tight-knit family, who were immersed in the town’s rich music scene. He got serious about percussion as a teenager, and played the drums in church before heading off to study music at Berklee College of Music in Boston. 

At Bojangles, Darion teaches percussion, voice, and piano––and while he often shies away from discussing it because he’s as humble as he is talented, Darion was also born with perfect pitch. Comfortable playing jazz, rock, country, pop, hip-hop, R&B, calypso, heavy metal, gospel, and more, Darion performs with a variety of groups throughout the country, as well as artists and in church in the Houston area. “I love seeing things click with my students,” Darion says. “I’d like for them to simply have fun––and to be inspired to go as far as they desire!”