Our teachers. Learn from the the pros!


Juuso Raatikainen


What's up! I’m a professional drummer and educator originating from Suolahti, Central Finland. While working actively as a freelance musician, I'm also known for being the current drummer for finnish metal act Swallow the Sun. In 2012 I received a Bachelor’s degree in music instruction from Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences and furthermore finished Master of Music program in Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in 2018. I’ve been teaching professionally for 15+ years. As an educator I’m student-centered and believe in long-term learning agendas. Diversity is the key to great musicianship. Grab a pair of sticks and open your ears!

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Arttu Kemppainen


Hey, I'm Arttu! 
I'm a professional musician and music pedagogue. I have been teaching for Up & Down Beats since 2018. 
At my lessons we will dive into different aspects of drumming with a music-centered approach. My goal is to provide tools for long learning: The ability to learn playing from sheet music and listening to music on your own. 

See you in your first free lesson!

Short history of 

Drum School Up & Down Beats


The school was founded by Christian Schäfer in 2009, while he was living in Helsinki, Finland. Chris is a German-born drummer with decades of experience playing and teaching drums. He has been playing the drums since 1994 and also studied at the L.A. Music Academy (USA) from 2002-2003. After graduating, he had a dream of starting a school, focusing only on drumming, which came true a few years later when Up and Down Beats opened its doors. The teaching style of his teachers Ralph Humphrey, Joe Porcaro and Mike Shapiro had such a positive effect on him that he had no choice but to become a teacher himself and pass on the joy of drumming and making music!