Fred Katz is a drummer, vocalist, recording engineer, and music educator. Fred grew up in and around New York City, and attended Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he received an Artist’s Diploma in jazz drumming and music production and engineering. He also holds masters degrees in mathematics, history of science and technology, and library science. He has worked at NPR and Omega Recording Studios, and has taught at American University, University of Maryland, Omega Recording Studios, Mars Music, and several retreat centers.  

Fred’s approach to teaching is centered on creating a fun and nurturing environment that supports students in finding the joy in making music while maintaining a commitment to excellence and gaining mastery over their instruments. Beyond addressing technical issues of performance - control over tone, time, pitch, and dynamics - he focuses on developing a strong sense of musicality, by working on phrasing, melody, groove, improvisation, and intention. Finally, he is a proponent of developing mindfulness skills to increase body awareness, enhance listening skills and creativity, and building confidence as a performer. 

Fred lives in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, DC, with his pup, Juno, a blue heeler mix, and several sets of drums.