Born and raised in the borough of Queens in New York City, Freddy Dugard is a Drumbeat and City Sticks Drum Programs developer specializing in stress management, who for over a decade, has been facilitating group empowerment workshops for New York City primary and secondary schools, universities, corporations, and health care facilities, such as Schneider Children’s Hospital/ North Shore-LIJ Health System. In 1997, he received an educator’s endorsement from Pro Mark Drumsticks. Freddy produced his instructional tape “Drum Workout,” which was sold through Modern Drummer Magazine and the Long Island Drum Center. To raise the bar in his music therapy training, he studied under the tutelage of Dr. Barry Bittman, M.D. to become a certified Remo (R) Trained Health Rhythm facilitator. 

Freddy has found a way to bring his record-breaking athletic self-discipline and natural aptitude to his musical skills. As a teen, he attended Thomas Edison High School where during a competition at Princeton University, he competed against Olympic gold-medalist sprinter, Willie Smith, in the 300 yard dash setting the national record as the fastest sophomore in the nation. After attending Tennessee Tech University on a full athletic scholarship to study music, he eventually returned to his hometown to establish Without a Trace, a jazz-funk mixed race and gender ensemble of some of the top musicians in New York City. Their 2006 live CD, “Without a Trace Live from Harlem” continues to sell at their sold-out performances. In addition, Freddy has backed up and recorded with notable recording artists, Roy Ayers, Bobbi Humphrey, Jonathan Quash, and Mark Adams.   

Freddy continues to explore different avenues of musical performance by expanding his repertoire as musical director for the Symphony Space production of Dreamgirls (2006), and as percussionist in the York College productions of Little Shop of Horrors (2009) Fame (2010) and Rent (2012). He currently teaches “The Art of Drumming” program throughout the Queens Library System, the Malvern School of Music, and at York College of the City University of New York as a Continuing Education Instructor where he also performs with York’s Gospel Chorus. Freddy presently offers private drum lessons to beginner and advanced students at his Queens music studio, and is a staff member at York College of the City University of New York Performing and Fine Arts Department.   

“I have never before felt possessive about a band, but I am fiercely glad that Freddy Dugard belongs to us—fine tuned, his drums are resonant, and his band, Without a Trace, allows us to overhear jazz the way it was meant to be heard. Nobody else today plays quite like these musicians; and few indeed play any better. ” —Lala, Grammy Award nominee for Best R&B song, “You Give Good Love” and co-founder of the Jack Sass Band formerly based in Jamaica Queens.

"Freddy Dugard is one of the most electrifying drummers on the scene. I have had the pleasure to work with him in many musical situations over the years, from Funk, R&B, and Jazz. Within Freddy is a magnitude of infinite strength, wisdom and will. These attributes has helped him to be a driving force in any rhythm section. A true musical drummer". ~ Mark Adams pianist/composer/arranger/author And musical director for the Roy Ayers band