Drum Pupil Accounts & Testimonials

In all the years I've been teaching drums I've helped 100's of pupils to reach their drumming goals. I'm proud to show you the following testimonials from actual pupils of mine, both past and present.

"I have been playing for just over a year now and Rob has been my drum teacher since the beginning. I can honestly say that he has been the BEST! His lessons are always fun and so easy to pick up, I never thought that the drums could be this easy to learn." James Donahue 20010 - Southampton

"My first lesson with Rob was a really special moment for me and my playing. Within minutes he had spotted technique problems that had gone unnoticed and unchanged for years. After just a few lessons he had me playing faster, more accurately and more comfortably then I had ever hoped" David Green 2003 - Portsmouth

"Rob's lessons are really well structured, easy to follow, fun, inspirational and a real treat. Thank you Rob for helping me to become a much better drummer and for being such a great drum teacher!" Jenny Mansfield 2002 - Gosport

"I've always wanted to play the drums and at the age of 57 I decided, what the heck, let’s go for it. I'm really pleased I chose Rob to be my drum teacher as lessons with him are both easy to follow and TRULY inspirational. It amazes me how much this guy knows and what dedicated passion he puts into his work. Thanks Rob, you're the best!" Geoffrey Abbot 2007 - Portsmouth

"Three words - FUN, EASY, BRILLIANT! I've had several drum teachers in the past and Rob is the best by far!" Lu Oliver 2006 - Fareham

"Rob is approachable and so easy to get along with. I have never sensed him get impatient with me and believe me when I tell you that I am a VERY difficult pupil! Thanks for sticking with me Rob, I wouldn't be the drummer I am now without you!" Mark Thompson 2008 - Fareham

"I have had drum lessons with Rob for over 6 years now. Not only are the lessons fun and easy to understand but the diversity of the lessons are truly great. We've covered Jazz, Metal, double bass drum as well as many other techniques. I hope to be learning with Rob for another 6 years, there's SO much to learn and Rob's the guy to teach it!" Anna Paige 2009 - Southampton

"I've had drum teachers in the past and thought they were good, that was until I found Rob. Just six months with Rob has taught me more than 6 years with my old drum teachers. Keep up the good work Rob!" Ben Loveday 2008 - Portsmouth

"Rob has taught me so much. Styles, practical playing advice and musical appreciation are all areas that Rob has encouraged me to improve on and his keen interest and depth of knowledge is really inspiring" Sam "The Egg" Upsher 2007 - Fareham

Check out Sam during one of his drum lessons with me. He's been playing for just 8 months and is only 10 years old!

Drum Pupil Accounts

The following articles are true accounts of some of the experiences I have had as a drum teacher. They will hopefully give you a better understanding of the kind of person and teacher I am as well as what you might expect from drum lessons with me.

Copying Your Favourite Drummer

One of my drum pupils, called Julie from Southampton, started having lessons with me back in 2005. Julie had never had a drum teacher before and was starting with me totally from scratch; a complete beginner.

Julie wanted to play like Tre Cool from the band Green Day so after spending a little time going over the basics we set about learning her favourite songs note for note. She isn't interested in learning different styles of music so we focus totally on learning her favourite songs.

I still teach Julie and since choosing me to be her drum teacher she has learnt to play along to all of Green Day's songs (that's a lot of songs!) as well songs from My Chemical Romance, Kings Of Leon and Blink 182.

Drum Perfection

Most of my drum pupils live around the Fareham area of Hampshire. There are other drum teachers and tutors available but I was lucky enough to have Simon choose me.

Simon is a super talented drummer and has been playing for over 20 years, he has had drum teachers in the past but in his own words - "They never really taught me what I wanted to learn, it was always about what the drum tutor thought was best".

He gave up on the idea of having drum lessons for many years and has only just recently started with me. I wanted to show Simon what drum lessons are supposed to be about and to focus totally on Simon's needs.

Our lessons consist of Simon showing me where he struggles or wishes to improve and then me suggesting ideas, exercises and offering guidance. It is then up to Simon as to what he chooses to take forward and develop.

I have helped Simon to improve his double stroke rolls as well as the other rudiments. He can now play double bass drum (something he always wanted to learn but didn't know where to start).

Simon desperately wanted to be a more rounded player so we spent some time learning how to play in the Jazz, Metal and Latin styles of music.

I have been Simon's drum teacher for about 6 months now and I look forward to helping Simon further in becoming the drummer HE wants to be.

Start Young

The parent of a 7 year old girl called Tyne (she's adorable!) searched online to find a drum teacher in the Portsmouth area of Hampshire. Again, there are quite a few drum tutors to choose from but I was lucky enough to be chosen.

Tyne was also a complete beginner and didn't have her own drum kit, this meant that she had lessons from my home in Titchfield (Warsash, Locks Heath, Park Gate area).

The parents wanted to wait a few months until they were sure Tyne was going to stick with drumming before purchasing a drum set. A child as young as 7 isn't able to concentrate for very long and will get bored easily so I made sure that lessons were simple, and most importantly, lots of fun!

We spent time learning really basic drum beats and fills as well as playing along to songs, something Tyne enjoys greatly.

She has been with me for over a year and has since been given a drum kit for Christmas. This means that I can now teach her from her home and the parents don't have to worry about driving their daughter to lessons anymore.

Look out for Tyne in 10 years time, she's going to be BIG!

Walking to the Beat of His Own Drum

I have been a drum teacher for over ten years but back in 2007 I started to teach a drum pupil that totally astounded me! His name is John, he lives in Gosport (Portsmouth) and has been drumming for over 15 years.

He needed drum lessons from an experienced drum teacher to help him reach the next level. After meeting him he showed me what he could do as well as demonstrating his technique.

John (and he doesn't mind me saying this) was in a bad state, his playing was solid and musical but his technique was restricting and uniquely awkward. I had never seen anyone drum quite like John before.

John had been playing the drums in his bedroom since the beginning and was totally self taught. It was because of this that his drum kit was set up back to front and awkwardly, he held the sticks in a manner that restricted his speed and accuracy around the drums and he struggled to understand the concept of the drummers "job" within music.

We started, in our first lesson together, to correct some of the technique errors that had accumulated over the years as well as setting up his drums in a comfortable and efficient way. Over the next few weeks John was playing better and more confidently than he had ever previously done and has since found a band.

I'm pleased to say that I still teach John and I look forward to helping him improve still further.

Never Too Late

I started teaching Joe the drums 5 years ago and he has been with me ever since. He lives in Stubbington (relatively near Fareham) and is currently 73 years young.

He decided after retiring that he wanted to learn an instrument, he'd always wanted to learn the drums but never got around to it. He was worried that he might be too old to start and rang me to ask what I thought about it. I told him that you are never too old to start learning the drums and that I would be happy to show him how easy and fun they are to pick up.

Joe chose me to be his drum teacher back in 2003 and since then has become a very accomplished Jazz/Swing drummer (his favourite style of music). I get great satisfaction in watching Joe improve and helping him to learn the instrument he has always loved.

Every Drummer Is Different

It's always fascinating for me to talk to a group of drummers and find out what they think about the subject and where they want to be as players in the future. Something I always knew, but only really became clear since teaching drums, is the idea that every drummer is different.

Some drummers want to become session musicians, some want to join a band and some are happy simply playing in their bedrooms.

Being a drum teacher means I have to balance what I think a pupil could benefit from learning and what that pupil actually wants to do themselves.

The most satisfying part of being a drum tutor is seeing pupils grow into the musicians they want to be. I’m doing my bit to help them and I take great pride in doing so.