Joe Styppa is a key figure behind Germany’s pop and hip-hop elite, working as a drummer, producer and show director. Whether playing the drums, working as a musical director or producing, he consistently finds the perfect sound. Based in his studios in the Allgäu region, he has developed a highly personal and distinctive musical style. He embodies class and individuality. Through his solo project and his work as a drummer and producer, he transcends genre boundaries, blending musical creativity with technical expertise. The result is an impressively diverse range of high-quality tracks and a uniquely individual approach to drumming. Urban pop meets rap and indie to create authentic, moving music that’s right on the pulse of the moment.

He is widely respected for his extraordinary cross-genre skills as a producer, drummer and songwriter. Many artists today place great trust in his creative work. Over the past few years, he has collaborated with artists such as Bausa, Azet, Zuna, Cro and Cassandra Steen, to name just a few.

With his solo project, Jaime, he delivers urban sounds of the highest quality: technically polished yet completely authentic and always organic. Music powered by pure energy!

Stephan Emig combines classic drum kit playing with percussion and electronic sounds to create his own distinctive style. As a drummer, percussionist and Ableton Live specialist, he is in high demand as a session musician for concerts, TV productions and studio sessions.

He has performed and recorded worldwide with artists such as Cairo Steps, Chris de Burgh, De-Phazz, Florian Künstler, Fresh Music Live, Gregor Meyle, Hamid Baroudi, Jazzkantine, Klaus Lage, Luke Mockridge, Marquess, Mario Novembre, Mohammed Mounir, Nico Santos, NuHussel Orchestra, Quadro Nuevo, Sara Gazarek, Spotlight Musicals, Stefanie Heinzmann, The Voice of Germany in Concert, triosence and Zoe Wees.

As part of the TV band “Sprengstoff”, the “Pop Meets Classic” band, and the “All Hands On Deck” band, he has supported artists including Afrob, Alvaro Soler, Alligatoah, Chefket, Conchita Wurst, Die Happy, Eko Fresh, Joris, Kelvin Jones, Laith Al-Deen, Leony, Lina, Luke Mockridge, Max Giesinger, Nina Chuba, Revolverheld, Sarah Connor, Stoppok, Tim Bendzko, Tom Gaebel, and Wilhelmine.

As an Ableton operator, he has worked on productions for The Voice of Germany in Concert, Andrea Berg, Vanessa Mai, Beatrice Egli, and Fresh Music Live.

Since 2024, he has been the resident drummer and producer at Bighouse Studio Hannover. Having studied at the Los Angeles College of Music, he is highly sought after as a teacher and workshop leader. He currently teaches at the Popakademie Mannheim and the Institute of Music at Osnabrück University.

In 2019, he published his book 5 Wege zu mehr Musikalität (“5 Ways to More Musicality”), which received significant attention in the professional press. In 2021, the English edition 5 Habits of a Musical Drummer followed. The insights from these books feed into his work as a personal coach, in adult education, university masterclasses, and workshops at trade fairs.

Thomas Heinz is a well-known figure in the German drumming scene and a highly sought-after live and studio drummer. He has collaborated with a wide range of national and international artists, including Rüdiger Baldauf, Ben Zucker, the Heavytones, Fresh Music Live, Randy Brecker, Tarja Turunen (Nightwish), Joo Kraus, Max Mutzke, Laith Al-Deen, Edo Zanki, Marc Marshall, Mousse T. and Jennifer Rush, just to name a few.

Groove, energy, and musical versatility define his playing. In his drum-tec workshops, he teaches technical skills such as rudiments, timing and movement techniques, and also shares insights from his experience as a professional musician. His sessions are designed for beginners, semi-professionals and experienced drummers who are looking for inspiration to develop their own drumming style.

Kerim 'Krimh' Lechner was born in Austria in 1989 and discovered his passion for drumming at an early age. By the age of 13, he was practising intensively, and his exceptional talent was swiftly recognised.

His career took off in 2007 when he started posting drum cover videos on YouTube. These videos gained him a steadily growing fanbase and caught the attention of international bands. Soon afterwards, he embarked on a professional career with the Polish death metal band Decapitated. At the same time, he released solo projects, including four studio albums and an acoustic EP.

His YouTube channel, “Krimh Drummer”, gained significant attention, particularly for two audition videos for Slipknot, sparking speculation about him as a potential successor to Joey Jordison. He later played with Behemoth and eventually became a full-time member of Septicflesh.

As well as performing, Krimh is active in music production. Together with the Swedish producer Jens Bogren, he developed the highly regarded digital drum software “Krimh Drums”, which is highly regarded in the global metal scene.

In 2022, after many years, he teamed up with the American progressive death metal band Dååth to write new music. Their collaborative album, The Deceivers, was released via Metal Blade Records.

Throughout his career, Krimh has collaborated with a variety of bands and artists, including Harakiri for the Sky, Vesania and Keith Merrow. This has secured his place as a leading figure in the international metal drumming scene.

As part of drum-tec days 2024, Anika Nilles and Claus Hessler conducted a two-day workshop at our venue. Our participants, who travelled from Switzerland, Poland, France and Germany to attend, gave the Drumming Kinship concept of these two exceptional drummers thunderous applause.

What made this instructor duo particularly special was their previous teacher-student relationship, which allowed participants to gain vivid and well-grounded insights from both perspectives.

Here is a brief introduction to the workshop instructors:

Anika Nilles (Tama Drums & Meinl Cymbals)

is one of Germany’s most renowned drummers. Through projects such as “Nevell” and her extensive teaching work, she has earned worldwide recognition. Her playing combines precision with creativity. In her workshops, she focuses on timing, groove and modern drumming concepts.

Claus Hessler (Mapex Drums & Sabian Cymbals)

Claus Hessler bridges the past and present of the drum kit, following in the footsteps of his mentors and friends Dom Famularo and Jim Chapin. With over 35 years' experience teaching at prestigious institutions worldwide, Claus knows exactly what it takes. His specialities include the Moeller technique, open-handed playing and rudiments, including their historical context. Whether performing as a soloist, in bands, or leading masterclasses in over 40 countries, he is widely regarded as a worthy successor to Jim Chapin, whose influence on the development of the drum set is unparalleled. His insights and international publications have helped countless students expand their skills and find their own sound. Looking for a solid foundation, coaching, or simply fresh inspiration? Then look no further!

Jost Nickel is one of the most influential drummers in Germany, known for his work with Jan Delay & Disko No.1. He presents his workshop topics on groove, dynamics and sound design in a practical and musical way that allows attendees to apply what they have learnt immediately.

Micha Fromm was born in Hannover in 1978. He completed a 10-week programme at the Drummers Institute in Düsseldorf in 2006 and attended countless workshops and masterclasses. He later studied at Drummers Focus in Cologne. Fromm has performed with various bands and artists, including Peter Maffay, Johannes Oerding, Velvet Viper (Jutta Weinhold), Kim Sanders, Torsten Goods, Jamie-Lee, Peter Thiessen (Kante), Martin Engelien-Go Music, The Dublin Legends, Wintertheater Braunschweig (Jazzkantine), Staatstheater Hannover and Pop Meets Classic. His concerts and tours have taken him across Europe and further afield to China.

Micha is also a workshop instructor, drum teacher and author for DrumHeads!! magazine. He has published two instructional books: Groove Workout and Silent Drum Practice. Since 2018, he has been the regional group leader for Hannover at Percussion Creativ e.V. He regularly posts videos in the “The World’s Fastest Drum Lesson” series on his YouTube channel and co-hosts the “Songanalyse” podcast series on Der Trommel Talk.

Micha won 1st Prize at the 1st International Drums & Percussion Seminar in 2007, and was awarded Best Drummer at the German Rock & Pop Prize in 2013.

Marthyn Jovanovic is an internationally renowned drummer, particularly well-known for his Drum Technique Academy and his innovative hand and foot techniques. At drum-tec, he led a workshop on the Ankle-Motion Technique, covering every aspect of modern bass drum playing in detail.

He excels at breaking down complex movements into understandable, practical lessons. Drummers of all levels of experience benefit from his in-depth technical knowledge, particularly with regard to speed, precision and efficient footwork on the pedal.