Andrew
Andrew is a first-year drummer at Shaffer Conservatory. He dreams of being one of the greatest drummers in history, like Buddy Rich. After he is invited to play in the jazz band conducted by the abusive Terence Fletcher, Andrew becomes all the more motivated to be "one of the greats." Andrew is self-motivated and ambitious, sometimes to a fault, as when he pushes away the people in his life in favor of playing the drums. His hyper-competitive ambition sometimes makes him arrogant and dismissive of people who do not have the same drive he has. However, this single-mindedness is also what makes Andrew a good musician, and what propels him to get better and better at the drums.
Fletcher
Fletcher is an infamous teacher at Shaffer who recruits Andrew into his jazz band. He is brutal in his teaching tactics; he screams, demeans, and even throws furniture at students to get them to do what he wants. He is fired from Shaffer after Andrew testifies that he played a part in a former student's committing suicide. Fletcher is a mean-spirited and aggressive man, but he doesn't think of his methods as abusive; instead, he justifies his brutal tactics as being in the interest of the student becoming better. By his logic, the more he hurts and humiliates a student, the more motivated they will be to become better.
Nicole
Nicole is a Fordham student who works at the movie theater that Andrew frequents. Andrew asks her out and they share an affectionate chemistry, even though Andrew is condescending to her about her lack of direction in life. Andrew breaks up with her so that he can have enough time to dedicate to his drumming. Later, when Andrew invites Nicole to the jazz festival, she declines and tells him she is dating someone else.
Ryan
Ryan is another first-year drummer at Shaffer. Andrew considers him to be less talented than he is, but Fletcher pits the two against each other in order to get more out of both of them.
Tanner
Tanner is the core drummer in the Studio Band that Andrew joins. He is condescending and dismissive towards Andrew, and only grows more contemptuous towards the young player when he replaces him as core drummer.
Jim Neiman
Jim is Andrew's father, a high school teacher who is supportive and kind to his young son. In many ways, he is Fletcher's foil, providing Andrew with love and affirmation, while Fletcher only demeans him. Andrew is condescending towards his father at various points for not being an artist. Andrew views Jim's profession as ordinary and uninteresting, but goes to him for support at various points in the film.
