DRUM LESSONS

Current Availability

Mondays: 4:00 - 4:30 pm
Additional slots may become available—please contact me to join my waiting list.
I have limited availability on weekday daytime (before 4pm).

Booking & Rates

Initial Lessons: I recommend 1-2 lessons before committing to regular lessons.
Rate: £20 per half-hour session.*

Location

Lessons are held at my home studio in Three Mile Cross, near J11 of the M4 in Reading, Berkshire.
Please note: I don’t offer lessons at students' homes.

Special Rates for Home-Educated Students

Discounted lessons are available on Thursdays and Fridays during the day. Please inquire for details.

Success Rate

100% exam pass rate (Trinity Rock & Pop syllabus)

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Lesson Prices

30-minute lesson - £20.00*

45-minute lesson - £30.00*

60-minute lesson - £40.00*

* Once you commit to a regular lesson time, lessons can be invoiced in advance on a monthly, half-termly, or termly basis—whichever you prefer. Enjoy a 10% discount when you pay within 7 days.

Terms and Conditions

Payment Options & Invoicing:

Fees are payable in advance based on Wokingham Borough Council term dates, as communicated on our website and in emails.
Invoices are sent monthly (default), half-termly, or termly, depending on your preference.
Monthly invoices are issued on the 1st of each month, while termly and half-termly invoices are sent the Sunday before the start of the billing period.

Discounts & Penalties:

A 10% discount is available for invoices of regular weekly pupils if paid within 7 days; after 7 days, this discount expires, and the full amount will be payable.
Payments made after 14 days will incur a £10 administrative fee.

Cancellations:

If we cancel a lesson, a refund will be issued at the rate paid for that billing period. Alternatively, the amount can be applied to the next invoice.
Pupil cancellations are non-refundable, and payment is required for all term-time lessons to retain the regular slot. Rescheduling is not possible due to a full teaching schedule.

Notice for Stopping Lessons:

A minimum of 4 weeks' written notice (or payment in lieu) is required to stop lessons.
We would appreciate written notice as soon as possible if you wish to end lessons; more than 4 weeks' notice is welcome.

My Teaching Philosophy

Throughout my years of teaching, I've realized that a "one size fits all" approach doesn't work well for drum lessons. Everyone learns differently, so I'm always looking to adapt the structure and content of my students' lessons to fit their individual needs. Whilst I do teach from the Trinity Guildhall Rock and Pop grades, I'm also happy to teach other songs, styles, and grades. One advantage of the Trinity syllabus is that exams are relatively easy to handle. Students can book them online, either in person or as digital submissions. However, I always stress that exams are not mandatory. We can still work and make progress without them.

My own drumming style is built upon a strong foundation of drum rudiments, and I try to teach all my students the core PAS drum rudiments. But I also explain and demonstrate the usefulness of rudiments in drumming and how we can apply them throughout the drum kit. I want my students to understand that rudiments can be a lot of fun, not just dry and boring exercises.

I can cater to students of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to experienced players looking to refine their skills. Typically, I can start formal lessons from the age of 6 (although I can do percussion lessons for younger players) so that kids can comfortably reach the pedals and play the drums without struggling.

I teach most styles, although I must admit that I'm not the best choice for anyone wanting to learn extreme heavy metal and blast beats, as I’m not the heaviest of players (the bassist in my rock band might disagree)!

In my teaching room, I have a full 6-piece acoustic drum kit and an almost matching electronic kit. During lessons, I encourage students to sit at the acoustic kit while I play the electronic kit, so they get maximum playing time without wasting time switching positions. I also have a high-quality speaker system for playing backing tracks, as well as a phone mount for students to record their lessons for their own enjoyment or for digital exam submissions.

Term Dates 2024/2025

Autumn Term 2024

Half term 2: Monday 4th November - Sunday 22nd December (inclusive)

NO LESSONS ON MONDAY 9th DECEMBER

Spring Term 2025

Half term 1: Monday 6th January - Sunday 16th February (inclusive)

Half term holiday Monday 17th February - Sunday 23rd February (inclusive)

Half term 2: Monday 24th February - Sunday 6th April (inclusive)

As well as regular drum lessons, I can offer tuition in set-up and maintenance of drum kits.
Please ask for further details.

Dave is a member of the Musician's Union, and both Dave and Sophie have been CRB/DBS checked.

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