Are there any T & C’s?

Yes!

To protect both teachers and students / their guardians. A full copy of the T & C’s including our 48-hour cancellation policy can be viewed here. T & C’s are also on every invoice you receive and you will also be asked to sign a copy when beginning lessons with us. We simply couldn’t function without them!

How old do i need to be?

This really depends on the student.

Our youngest students are currently 6, although we have often had students older that would struggle more with tuition, so it all very much depends on the student.

It’s important to consider a few things. Can the student concentrate for the minimum lesson time of 30 minutes (or as close to as possible!)? Does the student know their right and left? Would they struggle to reach the pedals?

You are always welcome to book a one off lesson for £18 first before deciding whether you think it’s a good idea for a student to continue. Many students and parents / guardians like to do this anyway regardless of age!

The worst that can happen is that you continue to encourage their love of music and they will be welcomed back when the time is right!

Similarly, we also frequently get asked if they are too old to begin lessons, and in our opinion the answer is: NEVER! We teach a large number of adult students of all ages.

Do you teach a specific syllabus or work towards graded certificate?

Absolutely!

If you wish to take the route into graded exams, we have tonnes of experience with both Trinity and Rockschool drum syllabuses and have entered many students from grades 1 all the way through to 8, all with a 100% pass rate. This does not mean that we are limited to these syllabuses though. If you’re just wanting to learn your favourite songs or help towards some other kind of qualification or audition preparation, we can help.

What other services do you offer?

We are proud to say that we regularly host performance opportunities for our students at various established music venues across the city. Our most recent showcases have been at The Cluny and Gosforth Civic Theatre (both of which sold out) with students as young as 6 playing!

We also try and host as many workshop events as we can, this gives students a great chance to meet one another and also allows us to teach certain concepts which are more effective in a group environment.

What happens if I’m away on Holiday?

We totally understand that people will sometimes not be able to make their lessons and that is absolutely fine! We just ask that students or their parents / guardians give at least 48 hours notice in writing and then the lesson does not need to be paid for.

If you have already paid for the lessons then this will be taken off the next months invoice. We do ask though, that students are not away for an average of more than one a month as this means that progress will be significantly hindered.

We will not be able to continue to offer or keep a slot for students who are away for extended periods of time, as we have a waiting list of students who would value the lesson time greatly.

Do I need to own a drum kit to have lessons?

To begin with owning a kit is not essential, most students start without a kit at home, there is still plenty of kit-free methods they can use to practice. Although, eventually it is highly encouraged to have a kit for practice or you will find progress extremely slow, or even none existent depending on lesson times!

If you are unsure whether you live in an environment where a drum kit is not possible, an electric drum kit is an extremely popular option and we can happily assist you in the right direction when the time comes to buying. There are also other accessories such as practice pads that can help you well on your way.

Do i need to bring anything with me to the lesson?

Just bring yourself! Every room is equipped with 2 drum kits, one for the teacher and one for the student. Most students like to bring their own sticks as these are particular to them (size and weight etc.). But we also have plenty of those to borrow too!

We can provide ear protection. Although, as students progress they tend to bring their own ear protection, as this can be personal to each student depending on preference.

What kind of safeguarding measures do you have in place?

All teachers have an enhanced DBS check that can be viewed on request. There is CCTV recording at all times in every room of the building to protect both student and teacher. We also have Public Liability Insurance and follow safeguarding advice from both Musicians’ Union and The ISM (Independent Society of Musicians).