Drum Kit
Drum Kit lessons are tailored to meet the individual needs of students of all ages and abilities from Beginner to Advanced using a combination of the 'Drumsense' tuiton programme and teaching resources built up over 20 years of studying and teaching.
Lessons are taught on a Yamaha DTXpress IV Special electric DrumKit and may be recorded on audio or video for assessment and to provide a record of playing development.
Drum Kit exams can be taken using either Rockschool or Trinity Guildhall examinations
Beginners and Intermediate players learn:
Technique
Reading drum notation and drum charts
Hand/Foot Co-ordination
Rudiments and their use in kit playing
4, 8 and 16 beat drum patterns
Time Keeping
Playing with recordings and a click track
Drum Fills
Snare and Bass drum independence
Odd time signatures
Sight reading
Improvisation
All styles of music including, Rock, Pop, Swing, Jazz, Funk and Latin
Exam Preparation for Grades 1 to 6
Advanced studies include:
Double Bass Drum technique
Heel-Toe Method
Advanced Hand / Foot co-ordination
Transcribing drum parts from recordings
Polyrhythms
Linear Drumming
Exam Preparation for Grades 6 to 8
Percussion
Percussion lessons teach the skills needed to play the wide range of instruments that make up the percussion section within Orchestras, Brass bands, Wind Bands and Percussion Ensembles.
Percussion exams can be taken using either the ABRSM or Trinty Guildhall Percussion Syllabus.
Percussion Lessons cover the following instruments and skills:
Snare Drum
Sticking technique
Reading musical notation
Controlled rolls
Rudiments
Sight reading
Orchestra / Brass Band Repertoire
Tuned Percussion
Sticking Techniques
Timpani
Xylophone
Vibraphone
Marimba
Glockenspiele
Leigh Howard Stevens 4 Mallet Technique
Orchestra / Brass Band Repertoire
Auxiliary / Orchestral Percussion
Concert Bass Drum
Clash Cymbals
Triangle
Tambourine
Conga / Bongo
Latin
Orchestra / Brass Band Repertoire
Music Theory
Music Theory lessons teach the musical knowledge needed to support a musicians playing development, and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) state on their website that
"As instrumental skills progress, development in music theory and musicianship becomes increasingly important in helping students to perform with sensitivity, understanding and confidence."
Students who want to take advanced level exams (Grades 6, 7 & 8) on their chosen instrument have to pass the Grade 5 Music Theory exam.
Students can work to sit each exam form Grade 1 through to Grade 5, or if necessary lessons can be provided to prepare students to enter the Grade 5 exam only.