Ryan Hayden received a Bachelor of Arts from Berklee College of Music in 2002, and a Master of Music from The Juilliard School in 2009. He has had the privilege to study drums under Carl Allen, Kenny Washington, Billy Drummond, John Ramsay, and Paul Romaine. While in school he had the opportunity to study with Christian McBride, Benny Golson, Mulgrew Miller, James Moody, Terell Stafford, Eric Reed, David Baker, Ben Wolfe, Ron Blake, and Benny Green.

Ryan’s private instruction is tailored toward each individual student but has a core philosophy of developing technique and fundamentals. He believes that the history and soul of the music must be understood to fully develop your instrument. His vast experience in teaching small groups, big bands, workshops, and private instruction provides a well-rounded experience for guiding musicians of all ages. 

While attending The Juilliard School in New York City from 2007-2009, Ryan was able to take full advantage of the thriving jazz scene. “My growth as a musician has been impacted the most by seeing great musicians in person. To experience the sound and mastery of an instrument in person is inspiring. Seeing a live band working together to create something special on a nightly basis is priceless.” Upon graduation, he cultivated a professional career performing at some of NYC’s top jazz clubs such as Smalls, Dizzy’s, Cleopatra’s Needle, & Smoke. In 2017, Ryan relocated to Denver, CO where he built a private lesson studio, worked with local schools, and was hired to coach independent jazz programs. He currently performs around the greater Denver/Boulder area. 

Ryan’s playing style is rooted in swing and hard bop although he maintains steady work within rock, pop, and latin genres. He credits his classical training as the reason he developed a light touch that allows him to express himself musically in any situation. Kenny Washington’s private instruction is the key factor in Ryan’s playing and knowledge of the history of jazz music. 

In recent years, while still performing, Ryan founded the company Hayden Custom Cymbals LLC. In this new career and passion, he hand-hammers Turkish blanks into modern jazz cymbals. “I started creating my own cymbals because I had trouble finding the sound I was hearing from my favorite jazz drummers on recordings and live performances. I had spent countless hours studying the sound of famous drummers and their cymbal beats. I knew that if I could master making cymbals, I could recreate the sound I had stuck in my ears into a musical instrument that I created.” Ryan currently plays his own cymbals on his live performances and sells cymbals to professional drummers. Some notable drummers that have Hayden Custom Cymbals are Jonathan Blake, Marcus Gilmore, Carl Allen, & Joe Dyson. 

Ryan continues to grow as a performer, educator, and cymbalsmith everyday as he appreciates the never-ending pursuit of creating art.