“I told people I was a drummer before I even had a set, I was a mental drummer.”
– Keith Moon
A patient and attentive teacher
Where I teach
Philosophy- Everyone can learn drums
Background info
Warning
Learn With An Experienced Teacher
Teaching drums has been my full time occupation since 2008. Prior to that I taught part-time for more than a decade. I am a dedicated and passionate teacher and I love sharing my knowledge of the instrument and the music I love (and the music I hate sometimes too). I’ve been studying and playing drums since I was ten and I still love learning. I’ve been fortunate enough to have studied with some illustrious players and teachers including the wonderful Ralph Salmins, the funky Ash Soan, the rambunctious Billy Ward and the no-nonsense Todd Bishop. My current teacher is Asaf Sirkis who has been a huge inspiration to me as a player and a teacher.
Online Drum Lessons
I offer one-on-one drum lessons online via Zoom, Skype and other video communication platforms. Please check out my online lessons page.
Face To Face Drum lessons in Edgware, North West London
If you’d like to have face to face drum lessons, I teach at my studio in Edgware.
A patient and attentive teacher
- Individually paced learning.
- Students learn through encouragement.
- Goal orientated drum lessons.
- Styles include: Rock, pop, R&B, funk, jazz, reggae, ska, latin, metal.
- Develops positive foundation which can apply to all styles.
- Promotes good posture, correct technique and awareness of the importance of hearing protection for healthy drumming.
- Experienced with beginners and young students.
- Imparts values of musicality, tone, feel and technical proficiency.
- Believes that everyone can be a good drummer if they are willing to learn and prepared to work.
- Coaches bands to improve ensemble playing.
Where I teach
I currently give drum lessons in Edgware, North West London. Easy access for people in North-West London including Mill Hill, Harrow, Wembley, Kingsbury, Queensbury, Colindale, Cricklewood, Willesden, Kilburn, Hendon, Golders Green, Finchley, Barnet, Borehamwood, Edgware, Stanmore.
Philosophy – Everyone can learn drums
Drums are the most fundamental instrument, alongside the voice. I believe anyone who has the desire, can learn how to be a great drummer. The only requirement is the will to work at it.
Although it can take a long time to become a virtuosic player, it is possible to learn enough to start playing with a band in a fairly short period, if the student is motivated and willing to practice what they learn in their lessons.
Everyone comes to the instrument with their own perspective. I aim to listen to my students and help them achieve their own goals at a pace which suits them. Taking regular drum lessons with an experienced and dedicated drum teacher is great fun and the rewards of seeing oneself improve are immense but attending lessons will not yield the results you want without regular, focused practice at home.
As well as learning how to hit drums with a stick, I also teach tuning, the importance of listening and developing tone and am attentive to posture and playing in a relaxed manner to avoid possible injuries.
Background info
Back in the nineties I found myself living in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city. I had a regular gig with an expat covers band and sat in with several Nepali bands. My introduction to teaching came with an American friend of mine who asked me to help him improve his drumming skills. Soon I came to the attention of the leader of a Finnish scheme which brought kids with troubled backgrounds to Nepal. Part of their education was to get a band together and perform to their fellow students. I instantly acquired 5 students and learned that giving drum lessons was great fun and an interesting challenge.
After I returned to the UK I continued to teach alongside my other activities. During my period employed at Galaxy Records I coached drummers from the label’s bands and continued with individual tuition on the side.
In 2008 I moved back to London and started giving lessons at Mill Hill Music Complex. Soon after, I was offered a position as drum teacher at Ebony & Ivory School of Music. I have experience teaching a broad range of students from beginners who’ve never held a stick to experienced drummers who want to improve their technique, musicianship and repertoires. My students’ ages range from five to eighty and their musical tastes and attitude to the drums are all unique.
Warning: I am quite preachy about the importance of hearing protection – this is due to the permanent and LOUD high pitched whistling that I have to live with (known as tinnitus) and some minor hearing loss which could have been avoided.