Drumming with Chris has been a blast! When joining I was a complete beginner to anything musical. It’s great to have someone so supportive and knowledgeable to give guidance at every step of the way.
Learning proper drumming techniques and music theory can feel quite intimidating at first, but Chris provides such helpful introductions to any concept and mixes them up so well it’s difficult to feel overwhelmed at all.
After a year of learning with Chris I can comfortably say I’ve improved with every lesson. Once foundations have been laid for certain topics, he has a great way of focusing on creativity and exploration around the drum kit, which really helps to make you a more interesting and versatile drummer.
He also has a wide knowledge of musical genres in general. Playing music is what it’s all about really, so having Chris choose and help to break down songs suitable for your current skill level from a band you love is incredibly rewarding.
Above all though, Chris is a fantastic teacher. He is patient, relaxed and insightful throughout the learning process – essential when studying some of the tougher concepts. Lessons are fun and can be filled with as much variety or focus as you wish. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some drums which are just begging to be hit…
I got a drumming voucher as a birthday present from my wife. Something I’ve always fancied trying but never found the right way. A few months later, I’m hooked!
Chris has been a great teacher, patient, friendly and very helpful. I’ve been learning at my own pace, as I travel a lot for work but making good progress. Chris is flexible in that he adapts his approach to suit my music taste and specific needs, with his tips and experience really helping, when I hit an issue.
As a way to enjoy yourself, relax, get fitter, learn without fear of embarrassing yourself, I can highly recommend Chris and his school.
A fantastic teacher. After trying different tutors for my son it was brilliant to find a teacher who actively encourages him to try his best and at times allows him to free style and mess around with grooves he learns and those are on occasions when Chris sees Romelo just too tired from long school day, he is only 8 but has done amazing with all the support and flexibility offered. Chris is enthusiastic and explains complex concepts very clearly ( this is aimed at me as I’m trying to understand parts of drumming to support my boy at home practicing) and is just generally a top, top man and all round nice guy.
Having come to drumming later in life, and having no musical background, I did have a fair degree of apprehension when I started. After some initial lessons with a different tutor which were geared towards exams, I switched to Chris some 7 years ago. Chris’ approach has been to adapt the lessons to what I want to get out of it, but within a structured programme which has considerably boosted my confidence.
I thoroughly enjoy the lessons – we can have a laugh, and chat about music, and Chris always has interesting ideas as to how to develop the areas I am interested in. Even the practice is fun – and I can honestly say I look forward to both!
I would have no hesitation in recommending Chris to anyone who, like me, wants to develop their passion for drumming.
Chris has been a fantastic drum teacher, mentor and perfectly-pitched wind up merchant to our daughter (who was 7 or 8 when she started lessons with Chris -she’s now 15). She looks forward to her weekly lesson as much for the drumming as for the fun and laughter involved along the way. Drumming has been the only activity (of many) (MANY) that has stuck and that, I am confident, is down to Chris. Couldn’t recommend him highly enough.
My son has been having lessons with Chris for about 4 years now, and in that time has progressed not only with his drumming skills, but also other aspects of music.
He has taken an interest in keyboard playing and making his own music using ‘Garage Band’ at home and Chris has recognised this eagerness & encouraged him further by adding this into his lessons at times, utilising the software in the studio & supporting Reuben to expand his creativity.
Chris is very perceptive & is able to adapt his lessons to suit Reuben’s varying moods, for example, during lockdown Chris was available on Skype for weekly lessons & would adjust his teaching style to vary Reubens creative appetite & keep him motivated.
It’s been great for Reuben to have a teacher who is sympathetic to his various needs & who doesn’t insist on sticking by the book, and has the flexibility to enhance his students creativity & passion for drumming and everything musical. Reuben says “I get along with Chris really well and he always makes my lessons fun“
Chris has also introduced Reuben to new artists and drummers to listen to which has really helped to expand his knowledge of different music genres. He’s recently been teaching him some really difficult beats using the song ‘Rosanna’ by ToTo and Reuben has risen to the challenge, practicing & practicing at home to master the technique. He was so pleased with himself once he’d mastered it.
I would highly recommend Chris.
Charlotte has been learning the drums for 3 years now with Chris and looks forward to every other week when she has an hour lesson of fun filled drumming! From a parental perspective, Chris is brilliant at reading his pupils, knowing when to push and when to back off at the end of a tiring week when they’d rather not do set pieces from a book, but create their own brilliant drumming session, complete with backing track. His passion for both the instrument and for teaching is clear and the hours lesson goes by in a flash. Every week is different and my daughter looks forward to her class, which is not what can be said for all music teachers!
Testament to the connection and engagement Chris has with his pupils is that my then 10-year-old continued her lessons virtually throughout lockdown, when many other online pastimes were dropped.
Chris has a brilliant way of making the more tedious parts of the lesson, such as necessary technique and theory fun and incorporates his wide knowledge of multiple musical genres to suit each student.
Chris is not Jesse’s full time teacher but covers holidays and sickness. However, when Jesse has a session with Chris he always comes away buzzing. His energy, professionalism and the way he is able to relate to my son, who has some learning differences, is incredible.
In Jesse’s own words –
“He’s always friendly and great fun! “
Theo has been learning drums with Chris for a couple of years now. Theo’s skill and confidence in playing are continually improving and he always looks forward to his next lesson.
Theo said “Chris is fun and laid back, I can have a laugh with him whilst learning. He’s a great teacher who is patient when I make mistakes and encourages me to learn new skills without any pressure”.
Theo started studying GCSE Music this year, and Chris has been very happy to adapt lesson plans to help Theo learn and perfect performance pieces for school.
We highly recommend Chris as a drum teacher.
My son had Chris as his drum tutor for several years and loved his lessons! He’s now gone on to do a degree in Music Performance and Industry, so a massive thank you to Chris for all of his encouragement and humour!
Chris has been my son’s drum teacher for around seven years now.
Chris has been a fantastic teacher, he is very patient and flexible and is great at keeping Kieran engaged and making the lessons enjoyable. The lessons proceed at Kieran’s pace and the focus is on developing skills and technique whilst also keeping it open, creative, and fun. Chris has also introduced Kieran to other instruments as well as recording techniques to widen his musical experience.
One of the things that has made the lessons so successful is the way in which Chris has built on Kieran’s interests. For a long while he helped Kieran to play along to the video game music he was interested in, and more recent they have recorded the Dr. Who theme.
Kieran started as a complete beginner and, although it took him a while to really get into it, he reached a point where it all started to come together and he has come on in leaps and bounds since and it has been great to watch his progress accelerate. Playing the drums has become a big part of Kieran’s life and he now uses drumming to destress and he is also performing regularly and has even entered a competition.
Kieran says
“I would give Chris 5 stars. He knows what he is doing and doesn’t rush over things. He doesn’t mind if I make mistakes and he gives me enough time to get things right. I really enjoy learning to play along to songs that I have chosen, and loved making my own music recordings.”