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Some students may become overwhelmed when thinking about coordination. I remember when I was first blown away by coordination on the drums when I heard The Mule by Deep Purple. I had only been playing for a few weeks with a drum teacher at that point, and what I was hearing on the drums sounded impossible. The constant left foot “pulsing” on the hi-hat with the busy tom work made my jaw drop. It was inspiring and seemed unreachable. Listening to it now as I write this, I can

In a world where AI and technology are part of almost everything we do, learning a hands on skill like drumming is more valuable than ever. At Guildford Drum School, we see it every day, whether it’s a child discovering their first beat or an adult returning to music after years away... drumming teaches more than rhythm. It teaches how to learn . When you learn the drums, you’re developing patience, focus, and awareness. You can’t rush coordination or perfect timing. You have

Getting kids to practice drums at home can feel like a challenge, but it usually comes down to two things: how easy it is to sit down and play, and how they feel about it when they do. A few simple tweaks to the space and the routine can make practice feel natural. The setup of the room makes a bigger difference than most people realise. Position the drum kit so it faces a wall, rather than tucking it into a corner. That way, the drum throne is easy to access, and students ca

When learning drums or any instrument, encouragement and support make a huge difference. At our drum school in Perth, we welcome parents to sit in on lessons. Not only does this create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, but it also helps students feel more motivated and confident as they learn. We’ve set up the teaching space so parents have somewhere to relax while their child takes their drum lessons. One parent, whose child has been learning from me for some time, even fou

Online drum lessons are a fantastic way to connect with a drum teacher when you can’t find the right fit locally, or if you want extra lessons on top of what you’re already doing. One of my most memorable moments as a student was having a lesson with the legendary Dave Weckl. He’s based in Los Angeles — a very long way from my hometown of Perth. We actually got the time zones mixed up, so I rolled out of bed barefoot, half-awake, and suddenly found myself face-to-face online

These days, many drummers begin their journey online. Platforms like YouTube are packed with tutorials that quickly introduce you to basic patterns, grooves, and fills. This content is extremely useful, but there comes a point where videos alone aren’t enough. To truly grow as a drummer, it’s important to understand the traditions of drum education—the rudiments, the classic books, and the teacher–student relationship that have been passed down for generations. Rudiments For

When I’m on tour, I might have 20–25 opportunities to play gigs in a month. In between those shows there’s usually no time—or facilities—to practice. We travel in a splitter van, and often drive 6–8 hours a day on the same day as a show. Bigger bands with bigger budgets may have buses that take them to the next city overnight, and massive bands might even have a practice room booked at their destination. For me, where we’re at now, there’s a lot of time that starts to feel wa

This is such an interesting question. When drummers read notation, we’re engaging with intellectual concepts to process and execute music. We need technical control over what we play, but ultimately the result should feel organic to our listeners and fellow musicians. If we over-analyze, we may risk losing touch with the musicality of our performance. A musician who has memorised a piece of music will almost always perform with more impact than if they were sight-reading it f

I think a lot of people who know me would be surprised to hear me say this, but if you’re just starting your drumming journey, I’d actually recommend buying an electronic drum kit first. Eventually, though, you’ll want an acoustic kit as well...especially once you’re playing at an intermediate level. This is the same advice I give many of my new students who come for drum lessons at Guildford Drum School in Perth or online. An electronic kit can make it easier (and a lot more

If you’ve ever started a new hobby, a new diet, or jumped into fitness, you’ve probably felt that shift from motivation into lethargy. At first, it feels exciting and fresh. But after a while, it’s all too easy to fall off the horse. Even something as small as a five-minute daily meditation can be hard to stick with long term. I’ve seen the same thing happen to beginner musicians. Someone starts full of passion, but slowly the energy fades. Honestly, it can be heartbreaking t