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TEACHING PHILOSOPHY:

First of all, you are never too young or too old to start... Buddy Rich was already performing at 4 years of age, and many of the old jazz drummers, some in their eighties, are still going strong.

Some people are happy with enough drumming knowledge and skill to just have fun with, whereas others wish to dedicate themselves to become the best they can be. Others are competent players who want to learn specific things or find new sources of inspiration. I respect all of these approaches, and structure my teaching accordingly. However, it is important to realise that you will only get out what you put in. The simple fact is that motivation and practice (of the correct kind ) do make perfect.

Never forget the reason why you wanted (or want) to play the drums: Enjoyment! Have fun, enjoy your practice... Feel yourself improving, and this will motivate you even more!

I tailor my lessons to the individual, so do not follow a set curriculum, as everyone has a different level of ability and different needs.

The correct techniques are relevant across the musical spectrum: If you want to play hardcore death metal or lounge jazz, the same fundamental principles apply.

My main role as a teacher is to enable students to express their own ideas with the maximum of ease, so please ignore the cliche “I don’t believe in lessons ‘cos I’ll only sound like someone else!”

My function is to help develop and expand the student's own style.

I focus on the avoidance of tension, as this is the enemy of control, power, finesse, and musical expression.

During Learning there is no point in oversaturating the brain. I teach the student to recognise when his/her optimum level has been reached, especially when learning new exercises, and then to go and get a cup of tea! Don’t force the brain! (not too hard anyway...)

With Reinforcement, methods are similar to sport training, in that repetition and stamina are more to the fore. The key to both phases is regularity and patience. 1% improvement a day may not feel like much, but striking results will soon develop.

The teacher’s job is not only to instruct, it is to promote efficient learning techniques so that the student can develop independently. The teacher’s role then becomes more that of a guide.

I always continually stress the essential ingredients of being a good musician: Timing, Listening skills, and always putting the music first.

I always encourage students, regardless of their level, to seek other musicians to play with, as this is vital to growth, and because the drums are fundamentally an accompanying instrument.

I emphasise that the student must try to separate practice from performance, because a self absorbed drummer tends to be an inappropriately noisy and unmusical beast!