About Chris Livingstone

Chris Livingstone is a Drummer, Teacher and Author of instructional drumming publications.

Chris developed an interest in drums at an early age by watching his dad, Bill Livingstone, a Scottish Pipeband Drummer. At age eleven Chris learned the snare drum under the initial instruction of his dad and other members of Beeston & District Pipeband, particularly David Wright who taught him all of the technical skills which Chris would later use as the foundation for all of his playing. Chris was fortunate to enjoy success playing as part of the Beeston drum corps, winning the European Championships in 1995 and securing 2nd place in his category at the World Solo Pipeband Drumming Championships. Chris continues to be a competing member of the Pipeband today.

As a teenager Chris began to play the drum kit and started to develop as a musician through his love of music and many different musical influences that were being listened to at the time. After school Chris studied music at both further and higher education and began playing gigs locally with blues outfit “The Hookers”, and in 1997 went on to form R‘n’B outfit Color Wealth. With this band Chris was able to do many gigs both at home and abroad as well as airplay on radio and exposure to live TV, expand his live and recording experience and incorporate new styles in to the music such as Latin, jazz and odd time signatures. The band was together until 2003.

From then on Chris was involved in various projects and recordings but began to focus heavily on passing on his Knowledge of drums through teaching as a peripatetic instrumental teacher in schools, as well as performing and recording in his spare time.

In early 2006 Chris relocated to the USA where he continued his musical career as the drummer for alternative rock band “Peacefield”. He also taught privately in San Antonio, Texas, and stood in as leading drummer for the Oklahoma based “Westminster” Pipeband, who in the same year won best drum corps at the Grade 3 North American Pipeband Championships. Chris gained valuable experience while in the US through his musical activities, travelling, playing, teaching and providing drumming master classes.

In late 2007 Chris returned to the UK and took a teaching position with the local authority providing a wide range of Percussion teaching that includes small groups, ensembles, class teaching and workshops in African Drumming, Samba and trash percussion. Since his return to the UK Chris has been focusing on writing instructional material and has created a series of drum tutor books, the first of which was published in 2009.