Live with Joy. Move with Rhythm.

Joy Rhythm Academy is a community-centered percussion academy designed to help youth and adults grow through rhythm, discipline, creativity, and joy. We believe drumming is more than music , t’s confidence, movement, expression, and connection.

Whether you’re picking up sticks for the first time or returning to rhythm after years away, Joy Rhythm Academy meets you where you are, and helps you grow together.

Joy Rhythm Academy serves both youth and adults, because rhythm belongs to every season of life.

• Youth Group (Sparks)
  Designed for children and teens, Sparks focuses on foundational skills, musical literacy, teamwork, and confidence-building. Students are grouped by age and experience to ensure proper pacing, safety, and support.
• Adult Group (Pulse)
  Pulse is for adults who want to learn percussion, reconnect with music, or be part of a creative and energizing community. No prior experience is required, just consistency and curiosity.

Each division follows a structured path while honoring individual growth.

Joy Rhythm Academy uses structured, book-based lessons to give students a strong musical foundation. This ensures consistency, measurable progress, and clear skill development over time.

Students learn:

• Rhythm reading and counting
• Technique and stick control
• Timing, tempo, and dynamics
• Musical structure and ensemble awareness

Lessons are thoughtfully designed so students understand how music works, not just how to play notes.

Students are introduced to multiple percussive instruments, allowing them to develop versatility and a deeper understanding of rhythm.

Instruments may include:

• Snare drum
• Bass drum
• Tenors
• Cymbals
• Djembe
• Hand percussion and auxiliary instruments

This approach helps students discover their strengths, build confidence across instruments, and develop well-rounded musicianship.

As students’ skills progress, they are introduced to drumline-style ensemble playing.

This includes:

• Playing as a unified group
• Learning parts and responsibilities
• Understanding musical roles within a line
• Developing discipline, focus, and leadership

The drumline is not rushed, it is earned. Students grow into it with confidence, preparation, and pride.

Joy Rhythm Academy believes growth should be seen and celebrated.

Students participate in regular performances and showcases designed to:

• Highlight musical progress
• Build confidence and stage presence
• Provide real-world performance experience
• Give exposure to growing musicians
• Celebrate discipline, commitment, and creativity

Performances are supportive, uplifting, and focused on growth, not pressure.

Students meet in person four times per month, supported by online practice resources including guided videos and exercises. This hybrid model allows students to continue learning at home while maintaining consistency and momentum.

At its core, Joy Rhythm Academy is about community.

We intentionally create a space where:

• Students feel seen, encouraged, and supported
• Growth is celebrated at every level
• Discipline and joy exist together
• Music becomes a tool for confidence, healing, and connection

This is not just a program.
It’s a rhythm-filled journey.

Dr. Kierra Smith is the founder and director of Joy Rhythm Academy, a percussion-based community program rooted in legacy, discipline, and joy. Her relationship with rhythm began early, long before formal lessons, shaped by faith, family, and generations of encouragement.

Dr. Kierra has been playing drums since the age of nine, but her love for percussion was sparked even earlier. As a toddler, she sat on her Aunt Rita’s lap while she played the drum, surrounded by the sound of her late Grandma Linda singing songs of zion in church. In those moments, rhythm became more than music, it became memory, connection, and calling.

A defining moment in her journey came when her late mother, Leticia, purchased her very first drum set. Unlike most beginners, Dr. Kierra didn’t start on a traditional acoustic kit, her mother chose an electric drum set, an uncommon and innovative choice at the time. That decision shaped Dr. Kierra’s creativity, adaptability, and ear for rhythm in a way that set her apart. More than the instrument itself, it was the belief behind it that mattered most. Her mother saw her potential early, invested in it wholeheartedly, and encouraged her to keep going, always. Dr. Kierra carries her mother’s belief with her to this day and deeply misses her presence and unwavering support.

Surrounded by the encouragement of her mother, her late grandmother, and a family that consistently pushed her to grow, Dr. Kierra began her formal musical journey at St. Peter’s Baptist Church  and later at Lovejoy Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as a youth and backup drummer. Her dedication led her to perform on a national level at the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, learning from some of the country’s most respected band directors and musicians.

She marched in band throughout middle school and high school, performing in honor bands and All-State ensembles, constantly challenging herself musically and personally. Her passion for teaching emerged early, while still in high school, she began teaching her first students, working with children as young as two years old. She went on to establish her first youth drumline at Lovejoy Missionary Baptist Church, laying the groundwork for what would become Joy Rhythm Academy.

Dr. Kierra continued her musical path at Bethune-Cookman University, marching in the band for all four years while earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. During her time at Bethune-Cookman, she pledged Tau Beta Sigma, the national honorary band sorority, reflecting her lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and excellence in music.

Beyond marching and church music, Dr. Kierra has immersed herself in a wide range of musical environments. She has participated in jazz bands, Latin ensembles, and collaborative bands with friends and fellow musicians, continually expanding her musical language. She has traveled and sought out open jam sessions across the country, stepping into unfamiliar spaces simply for the love of playing drums and growing as a musician. In addition to performing, Dr. Kierra has hosted musician jam sessions, intentionally creating spaces where artists could connect, experiment, and learn from one another. These experiences shaped her belief that music thrives in community, through shared creativity, mutual respect, and a commitment to growth.

After graduation, she returned home and continued serving through church music while pursuing healthcare. She earned her Doctorate of Chiropractic from Life University, practiced in Rome, Georgia, and later moved to Seattle, Washington, to pursue her dream of living in the evergreen state.

In Washington, Dr. Kierra has continued to serve as the drummer at Faith Tabernacle Fellowship Church, sharing rhythm with joy, gratitude, and purpose. Alongside her chiropractic practice, she offers private drum instruction and mentorship, always holding a vision to rebuild and expand youth percussion programs.

Joy Rhythm Academy is the fulfillment of that vision, a space created to pass on legacy, build confidence, and cultivate growth through rhythm. For Dr. Kierra, drumming is not just performance; it is inheritance, education, healing, and joy. This academy exists to honor those who believed in her, especially her mother and grandmother, by giving future generations a place to be seen, supported, and strengthened through rhythm.