I didn't choose to be a teacher and then happen to be a drummer; my profession is a result of my passion for drumming. My part-time drumming enhances my full-time living. The journey from beginner to expert in any discipline involves many learning stages. When caught up in a desire for expertise, learners often overlook their present stage to look forward to the future. Yet, a patient reflection on each learning stage of one's life can make those stages meaningful in the learning process. In this book, the author unpacks his learning process as a drummer moving through different stages in life, from an aimless kid to a college professor. Ultimately, the author discusses his five primary learning stages that highlight the values of quality, repetition, humility, service, and community. These five stages carry him from youth to adulthood, developing contentment and perseverance along each stage. Part-Time Drummer is a memoir that shows how embracing a hobby and paying attention to relationships and experiences can enhance one's ability to learn in this complicated life.