I started playing the saucepans as a 5 year old (it must have been hell for my parents, my brother and the old lady next door!)  I got some 'real' drums when I was 8.

My first gig to a crowd was at school: in the last couple of years at primary school we put on 2 shows (Jerusalem Joy and Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat).  I have the recordings around here somewhere....just for posterity!

When I was 12 some guys in their early twenties formed a band and asked me to join them.  It was an honour, and such a good leap forward for my playing to be working with those more experienced players.  

I had a bad start with lessons in that I had a few with an ageing jazzer (don't get me wrong, I love jazz now) but he didn't connect with me at all.  This experience has taught me just how essential it is to go out of my way to apply the learning experience of my students to where they are at, not where I am at.

Having a teacher is not always essential for learning, so often the role of a good teacher is to be an inspiration to their students.  This can be a most difficult task through some of the nitty gritty aspects of musical development I admit, but never the less has remained one of my key objectives as a tutor.

It really is never too late to start.  My youngest pupil to date was a 4 year old, but I also taught a guy who started as a complete beginner when he was in his fifties.  If you can move your hands and/or feet then you have the potential to play the drums.

I haven't always been a pro drummer, in fact the course of my life seems to have been somewhat meandering taking in a few twists and turns along the way, such as carpentry, retail sales, coach driving, youthwork & public speaker! I've had lots of fun in all this, but it has been my passion for music (drums and drumming in particular) that has kept me focussed in this area of work.  I hope I can be an inspiration to many others.......