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Lessons are normally 30 minutes or an hour, depending on the age, level and wishes of the student. Lessons can be weekly, fortnightly or at any other interval. Phil teaches both the "matched" and "traditional" (also called "orthodox") grips. He is more than happy to accept left handed students and will teach them on either a left or right handed kit, which ever the student prefers. Students will learn to read music almost as a by-product of learning to play the drums with Phil. Contrary to popular belief, reading music does not rob you of your "feel", it merely makes learning quicker and more effective and thus enhancing your "feel". Lessons are structured, taking the student from the basics of how to hold the sticks, through the building blocks of playing, and on to playing music with other musicians (on CD) as soon as possible. Phil stresses the importance of using the music that each student listens to as the basis for these "play along" teaching techniques. He says, "The music I listened to when I was learning is very different to that which pre-teens and teenagers listen to today. I respect the tastes of my students. I was lucky enough to find teachers with this same attitude all those years ago". As the student advances, we explore more diverse styles of music which introduces them to the whole world of sounds and rhythms that the drum kit is capable of producing. Beyond this, if students want to take their studies into areas I feel I’m not best placed to take them, I am not too proud to assist in finding the best teacher for their requirements. Phil is proud to carry forward the tradition within drumming that advice is always given freely. He is proud to continue that tradition and only asks that when you are asked for advice, you continue that tradition and pass on that knowledge, to the next generation. |
