Karl Arrieta was born and raised in the Philippines and then moved to California at the young age of 8.  Having learned how to speak English in his native country, Karl adapted quickly to the American culture and lifestyle.  

In high school, Karl discovered what he really loved as a member of the Torrance Marching Band and Drumline: the lifelong friendships he forged, the thrill of performance, competing at a high level, and teaching underclassmen how to get acclimated to their system.  He continued to perform extensively throughout high school and college, including The Tournament of Roses Honor Band, Cal State University Northridge Matador Band, and the Kingsmen Indoor Percussion Ensemble from Stanton, California. 

Karl's experience as a professional drum instructor spans over 20 years.  Upon graduating, Karl immediately started teaching his Alma mater with the goal of giving back to the organization that gave him so much.  Karl was the Torrance High School percussion caption head for over 16 years at his Alma mater.  He has taught high school and independent performance ensembles throughout Southern California, winning several competitive competitions along the way.

He has also taught Drum and Bugle Corps within and outside of California, including Gold Drum & Bugle Corps, Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps, and the Trooper Drum & Bugle Corps from Casper, Wyoming.

Currently, Karl creates educational products and teaches private percussion lessons from his home studio in Torrance California.  Karl teaches kids of all ages and adults to help them prepare for band, drumline, or drum corps auditions, or just to excel in their passion for percussion.

Karl is also a Co-Founder of Ensemble Block, a streaming service for fine arts where students can take masterclasses and teachers can create their own.

Karl currently lives in Torrance, which is in the greater Los Angeles area, and can be found on all social media platforms with over 6,000 followers as karldrumtech; a persona that gives young percussionists free basic drumming tips and strengthens the greater percussion community.  Karl is a firm believer in the notion that there is more to life than drumming and puts his own self-development spin into his percussive teachings.  Check him out on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat! Karl is also proudly endorsed by Beetle Percussion and MuseScore.

Karl earned his bachelor's degree in English from the University of California Irvine and spent 10 years working in residential real estate.  Karl is an avid Lakers fan, poker player, lives a healthy lifestyle, loves to go to Las Vegas to party, and enjoys life traveling and seeing the world.