Frquently asked questions

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

A: I am a full time drum teacher as opposed to a musician who teaches on the side. I am fully qualified to teach and have an enhanced CRB check. I am continually having professional teaching development through the local authority. I am able to teach to an advanced level and my students include pro players and other drum teachers. I take your learning and progress seriously and will ensure that you progress and enjoy doing it. I have great facilities in my custom drum studio and will help you to achieve your goals.

Q: What will I learn?

A: That depends on what level you would like to study and how long we have. Before I accept any students I discuss their requirements with them and design a lesson plan to suit their needs based upon the areas that they would like to improve on.

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: Lessons are a minimum of one hour, some students prefer to book two hours at a time. Many of my advanced students prefer to book longer sessions and be given lots of material to cover inline with their goals. In the lesson you will get a basic grasp on the material and I address any areas that we need to work on and then you take all of the material away and work through it yourself. This approach tends to work better for advanced players because you already have the skills to work the material yourself instead of paying me to watch you practice. Most advanced players tend to need is guidance, direction and to be introduced to new material so that they can progress themselves.

Q: I’m an experienced player, but I feel like I haven’t progressed for a long time. Can you help?

A: Absolutely, most players I meet in this situation already have the tools to make progress. What they tend to lack is a clear way to get from where they to where they want to be. Before any sessions I always have a plan ready based upon what you would like to achieve. All you have to do is to put the work in and follow the plan. If this is done correctly you WILL achieve your goals.

Q: How often should I have a lesson?

A: I find that most advanced players do not need a regular weekly lesson. I am flexible regarding this and will come up with something that fits around you.

Q: Why do you only accept students grade 5 level or above?

A: My daytimes are spent working in schools and the majority of lessons are for people below grade 5 standard and beginners. While I enjoy these lessons I also enjoy teaching more advanced players and there is a lack of teachers available that are able to teach at a more advanced level. Therefore players that outgrow their current teachers often don’t have anywhere where they can go for further development.

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: How do I get in to teaching drums?

A: There are a lot of drum teachers around and it is not always very easy to get in to. However if you are determined and have the right skills it is possible to start teaching. There are many good drummers who teach but the most important thing is that you are a good teacher regardless of the level you teach at. You need to be able to communicate well and confidently and you need to be able to put things across to a student in a way that will help them to understand what is being taught. No two students are the same so the key is finding out how each student learns and adapt the way you teach to suit them. It is not for everyone but can be a very rewarding career. I offer some short courses for drum teachers where I will set up mock lessons and monitor their teaching and provide feedback.

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.