Nicolas Gachot teaches drumset, piano and music history in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, Los Angeles and online. He taught at the Zurich and Paris Conservatory and has years of experience working with students of all ages and levels in both the classical and jazz realms. His teaching emphasizes strong technical foundations, intentional listening, and creative expression. Whether working with beginners or advanced students, his lessons are tailored to each individual’s musical goals, interests, and background. His approach is performance-informed and collaborative. He encourages students to explore the history of musical traditions to build a sense of context, originality, and confidence. His lessons are designed not only to improve technique but also to deepen musical awareness, imagination, and purpose. Nicolas Gachot has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Jazz Drums from the California Institute of the Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. He also studied at the Zurich Conservatory and completed a semester at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Nicolas began playing piano at age 5 and drums at age 8.He specializes in drums, composition, improvisation, and jazz history. As a performer, Nicolas has toured extensively throughout Europe and appeared at festivals such as JazzFest Budapest. He has performed at renowned venues including Duc des Lombards and Sunset Sunside in Paris, Moods in Zurich, and continues to maintain an active presence in Los Angeles, playing at venues like Sam First. In addition to his jazz work, Nicolas has valuable classical orchestral experience from his time performing with the Swiss and French Youth Orchestra across Europe. Today, he performs regularly as a bandleader and sideman. Outside of music, Nicolas enjoys exploring his passion for movies and science, as well as going on walks in nature to recharge and find inspiration.
