Frquently asked questions

Drum Kit Tutor

Q: Why should I choose you as my Drum Teacher.

A: I am a teacher who plays rather than a player that teaches. Unlike many drum teachers, I am fully qualified to teach and have an enhanced CRB check. I am continually having professional teaching development. I am able to teach a range of students from beginners to pro players and I even teach other drum teachers. I take your learning and progress seriously and will ensure that you progress and have fun doing it. I have great facilities in my custom drum studio and will help you to achieve your goals.

Q: How much do lessons cost?

A: Lessons are charged at £12.50 per 30 minute session.

Q: What will I learn?

A: That depends on what level you are at currently and what your goals are. I have developed many programs of study to suit all students whether complete beginners or people who have been playing for 20 years. During your initial consultation I will discuss your requirements and put something together according to this.

Q: Why do you use electronic drums in the studio?

A: Because they are brilliantly suited to teaching. I am able to get students playing along with backing tracks and clicks easily and no ear defense has to be worn during lessons so I can communicate better with my students. It is also easier to record. I use Roland electronic drums in the studio which are the absolute best quality available on the market.

Q: How long are the lessons?

A: The lessons are either 30 minutes or an hour in length.

Q: How long will it take me to learn to play?

A: That really depends on you, what your natural level of coordination and timing is like, whether or not you already play another instrument, how much you can practice etc. Most students can be playing drums along with music within 6-8 weeks.

Q: Do I have to learn to read music?

A: Reading music is really helpful when teaching and without doing it your progress will be slower and what is being covered will be more difficult to understand. Drum music seems to terrify a lot of drummers but it is really easy to read. I guarantee that I can get you reading, understanding and playing from basic drum music within 30 minutes.

Q: Can I have a free lesson to see if I like it?

A: Yes, I always offer a free lesson/consultation so I can take my prospective students through some of the basics and have a look at your natural coordination and timing skills, have a chat about your requirements and make sure the lessons are right for you.

Q: When do you teach?

A: I have extremely limited spaces available some evenings and at the weekend. I teach in schools during the day so I'm not available for any day time lessons 9am - 4pm.

Q: What age groups do you teach?

A: I teach all ages. Generally not students under 10 years old as many young children are unable to concentrate enough to make good progress, but there are always exceptions to this and it really depends on the individual child so please don't let this discourage you from getting a free consultation / lesson to see if they would benefit from having lessons.

Q: What ability levels do you teach?

A: I teach all ability levels. I have taught students from beginners to working professional drummers and even other drum teachers.

Q: Will I make progress?

A: Absolutely. If progress slows down or is not being made then there is a problem. Either the student is unable to commit enough or the goals set are not right for the student. There is definitely a balance to be had between making progress and having fun and just enjoying playing the instrument and part of my challenge as a teacher is to get that balance right. In my experience some students have enjoyed the lessons but have had time restraints which means they don't practice regularly and make little progress and where this happens I always have a discussion and usually lessons are put on hold.

Q: What is your experience?

A: I have over 10 years teaching experience but this became my living in 2003. Since then I have taught full time in schools where I am a fully accredited Instrumental Teacher. I also teach music in the classroom in primary Schools and conduct a number of music workshops to groups of up to 50 where we cover all types of drums and percussion, such as Samba and African Percussion. I am a Professional player myself and have been involved in many performances in different countries and worked within many genres and mediums such as radio and TV. I also write instructional material and have recently completed a book which is due for release in 2009. See my complete Bio for more info.

Q: What is a CRB check.

A: This is a Criminal Records bureau check and is required for all people working with children and young adults. As a teacher I am required to have an enhanced version of this check to be able to work in our schools. This is re-checked every 3 years.

Q: Do you accept all of the students who apply?

A: No, I have to see a student demonstrate a commitment and real desire to want to learn otherwise the lessons fizzle out very quickly. Also a lot of people underestimate the amount of time required to learn an instrument. Some children have so many activities ongoing that they are unable to put in the time time required, likewise some adults are so busy that they are unable to put the time in. In order to accept a student they need to be serious about learning to play, be able to commit to a regular weekly slot and have a little time in between for some practice.

Q: Are you able to teach students with special needs.

A: This really depends on the student's requirements which I am more than happy to discuss. I do currently teach students with a range of special needs.