Drum Lessons with Andy

I believe playing music should always be about sharing emotions, expressing yourself, having fun, staying curious and pushing your own boundaries.

Private lessons naturally require concentration, discipline and effort, so the challenge is finding the right balance between these things and keeping the enjoyment and curiosity that made you want to play drums in the first place.

My lessons are built around that idea.

EARS FIRST

Music starts with listening.

The first way we experience music is through our ears. Listening is how we discover an instrument, develop our musical preferences and learn what inspires us.

Everything we work on — whether it’s a rudiment, a song, a groove, a fill or a drum solo — should have a musical context.

That’s why I encourage my students to listen to a wide range of music and regularly introduce them to new artists, tracks and styles. I want them to develop a broad and constantly expanding musical library.

Rock, Pop, Funk, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music, Metal, Punk, Drum & Bass, Electronic, Indie, Fusion and more.

A good musician and a good listener should have no boundaries when it comes to music.

THINK, THEN PLAY

Listening gives us the information. The next step is understanding it.

We work on analysing music, understanding how different elements fit together and developing the knowledge needed to use them on the kit.

Technique, reading, rudiments and coordination are important, but they should never become exercises without a musical purpose.

The goal is to understand what you are playing, why you are playing it and how you can make it your own.

Everyone has a different personality, musical taste and approach. My aim is to help each student develop their own sound, vocabulary and confidence as a musician.

THEN THE BODY

Once the ears and the mind are involved, we put it all into practice on the kit.

For beginners, this can mean spending time on basic technique, coordination and reading before they have all the skills needed to play the music they love.

I try to keep that process enjoyable and musical. Play-along tracks can be a great way of keeping students engaged while they develop the technique and vocabulary they need to play the songs properly.

The aim is not simply to learn how to play exercises.

It’s to understand them, hear them, feel them and eventually use them to make music.

WHAT WE CAN WORK ON

Lessons are personalised to each student’s age, experience, interests and goals. Depending on what you want to achieve, we can work on:

• Hand and foot technique — sound, dynamics, speed and endurance

• Coordination and independence

• Reading — exercises, charts, notation and sight reading

• Timekeeping, with and without a click

• Playing and understanding different musical styles

• Developing your own sound and vocabulary

• Music listening and music history

• Playing along to songs and developing musicality

• Loops, samples and drum machines

• Drum tuning and setting up

• Studio and recording techniques

• Rockschool and Trinity exam preparation

LESSONS

I offer one-to-one drum lessons for all ages and experience levels, from complete beginners to advanced players.

The main focus is on individual lessons tailored to the student rather than following a fixed programme.

The new studio is based in North London, close to Manor House Station.

A free trial lesson is available for new students.

If you’d like to find out more or book a free trial, get in touch.