Welcome to my new look blog. Here's a little about me...
I was born in 1974.
At 11 months old I teethed on Keith Moon’s drumsticks (don't ask how - it's a long story).
I still have those sticks today minus a tip on one which I must have swallowed.
Those early memories of waving drumsticks around and bashing pots and pans seemed to influence my love of drumming.
I had my first kit at the age of three which I loved and played on using Moonies sticks - minus a tip!
But it wasn't until I was 11 that I really wanted to learn properly. My parents were directed to Tony Scott, Cambridge's finest jazz drummer, who agreed to take me on as his student. He taught me proper disciplined techniques which I repeated over and over again playing on only a snare drum to begin with.
Like most kids I wanted to be good straight away and this sometimes felt like torture.
After a few months like this my Father went out leaving me practising and dreaming of rock stardom. He returned with a Premier Olympic kit for me. It was the best kit in the world!
Tony taught me for just over a year before saying I was ready to go it alone and practise practise practise.
I spent my teens and early twenties in various bands and session work around Cambridge until a wrist injury prevented me from playing for 5 years.
During this time I took guitar lessons (thanks Mark) as I had dabbled on guitar on and off thinking I could, perhaps, fall back on this.
My wrist recovered and I began playing again.
A couple of years ago I received a Roland electronic kit as a gift. The best kit in the world! No noise constraints. I can play anytime I like.
It's this kit that I predominantly use to teach my students as it's easier to give instruction. It also has a 'line in' capacity which, once a student can hold a beat, enables me to jam along on guitar giving them an insight of what it's like to be in a band. This has proved to be a positive and unique approach and adds a bit of fun value to a lesson.
I prefer to teach beginners to intermediate levels but anybody is welcome.
I also still do session work (preferably rock / metal) so if you're interested in collaborating then please get in touch.
Christopher
