We’re really pleased to be able to update you with the status of lessons. Under new government guidance, music teachers are able to begin teaching one to one drum lessons in person, with careful planning to ensure the safety of students. This means that throughout the coming weeks all teachers with studio locations will start increasing their capacity for more students.

There are some revised changes specific to each teacher, so please check in with your teacher for details. But here’s a summary of some of the precautions put in place currently:

• Bring your own drum sticks as your teacher will be unable to share sticks with you. (If you’re a beginner with no sticks, let us know so we can send you a link to get some).
• Teachers are waiting outside the studios to meet you. You will not need to operate doors, buzzers or touch any surfaces.
• Hand sanitiser will usually be provided but please bring your own too if you can.
• Bring your own ear plugs and/or over-ear headphones as your teacher will be unable to loan theirs out.
• Wherever possible there there will be two drum kits set up in the room (no kit sharing). This will help maintain a safe distance (2m) between you and your teacher.
• Only one person will be allowed in the drum studio at once. Unfortunately friends and siblings will need to stay at home for now.
• If you are feeling unwell or displaying any symptoms, please do not come to the studio. Just contact your teacher to rearrange your session.

Remote drum lessons are still running!

For anyone who isn’t ready for one to one drum lessons, all remote drum lessons are still running! Remote learning is a great way of being able to continue your drum lessons in these ever-changing times. Drumming is also a great way to keep your brain active and combat some of the stress we might find ourselves in! You can even mix and match your one to one drum lessons with online lessons!

Interested in one to one drum lessons?

If you’re interested in taking one to one drum lessons please do contact us! We’ll tell you more about the process and get you paired up with a brilliant drum teacher.

As always, if you have any friends or family that might be looking to pick up a new skill, please make sure they contact us. Many teachers now have fully operational online services so we can even offer lessons outside of London. The online lessons have had truly great feedback – do check out the Testimonials for more on this!

And finally, thank you!

To all current students, our teachers want to thank you so much for your continued support. We know the situation is far from over and there’s been an overwhelming amount of encouragement and commitment from you during this period. For all teachers their music is their livelihood. So the continuation of your drum lessons is really important in helping to support them.

Finally, please stay safe. We can’t wait to see you all!

The post COVID-19: One to one drum lessons are back! appeared first on North London Drums.

Physical Health Benefits of Drumming

Let’s start with the physical health benefits of drumming:

Can drumming be considered exercise?

Yes! As soon as you learn to drum, you’re exercising all four limbs. From the get-go both your upper and lower body is engaged in physical activity. You could even argue there’s more benefit to your upper body as opposed to, say, running. When running your lower limbs get most of the workout but in a drumming session all four limbs benefit.

Can drumming help lose weight?

Clem Burke, the drummer in Blondie, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire for his project that looked at both the physical and psychological effects of drumming. During his research he found when drumming over a span of 90-minutes his heart rate would peak at around 190bpm!

This means during an hour of playing the drums around 400-600 calories are burned. That’s the same kind burn rate as going for a run! With this comes an increase in heart rate, and blood flow circulation increases too. If you drum to help lose weight and improve your health it won’t be long before you see the benefits!

A two for one deal!

Clem Burke’s study concentrated on a pretty intense rate of drumming. But consider this. If you’re following a practice routine in your drum lessons then you’re likely drumming at least three times a week. (And to speak to a drum teacher about improving your routine, contact us!)

As you’d expect, this kind of regular practice is crucial to improving your drumming technique. But in this case: practising regularly means you’re exercising regularly.

Simply practising means you’re contributing to your own fitness and health. So if you take drum lessons you’re kind of benefitting from a two for one deal. (Who doesn’t like a bargain?!)

Whilst we’d never suggest you forfeit that early run, drumming can be a valuable tool to stay motivated whilst exercising. Drum teacher Joe Nicklin agrees:

“The physical benefits of drumming are there for all to see” Joe says. “If you’re susceptible to exercise boredom, like I am (!) drumming is a brilliant way to stay fit and engaged. It’s pretty fun at the same time too!”

Lower your blood pressure

The UK’s NHS has even being getting patients to take up drumming as a way benefit your health and help prevent illness. And simply listening to music lowers your blood pressure.

Can drumming build muscle?

As part of an exercise plan it’s definitely possible drumming can build muscle. However taking a drumming session with the sole aim of building muscle will take its toll. The health of your drum kit, skins and cymbals will probably suffer!

Drumming technique and drumming to build muscle don’t usually go hand in hand. It’s likely you’ll be forfeiting technique for the sake of building muscle. Ultimately that’s not a good thing.

Drummer Magazine has a fantastic, in-depth article which details how to integrate drumming into an exercise routine. There’s even a suggested daily programme at the end of the article to try!

Reduce chronic pain, boosts immune system

Drumming, and music-making, has been proven to boost and strengthen your immune system, particularly in relation to adults around 65 years old.

So many people contact us to ask “is it too late to learn the drums?” The research says it all – it is absolutely not!

Remo conducted research specifically into drum circles (group lessons where you drum communally) which also suggested that there were significant health benefits for the immune system.

And there’s even research currently underway linking drumming to reducing chronic pain. Participants of this study started to reduce pain medication and incredibly, in some cases the participants stopped pain medication altogether. (The research still appears to be ongoing so we’ll keep you updated!)

Mental Health Benefits of Drumming

Perhaps even more intriguing are the mental health benefits of drumming. This topic has seen a huge amount of research in the past decade:

Does drumming affect the brain?

Yes, in many different ways! Drumming promotes so many health benefits. From improved coordination to an increase in well-being and happiness, the results are extraordinary. A great place to start is this TEDEd video – how playing an instrument benefits your brain:

Improving coordination

A recent study looked at comparing white matter (the brain’s “wiring”, so to speak) in the brain between that of drummers and non-drummers. The study found that during the testing of motor-related skills drummers brains weren’t so active. But before a round of drummer jokes begin, there was a reason!

The study found that the drummers brains were actually using this network in a much more efficient way. Brain activity lessened because this process is far easier for drummers. So when you drum, you are re-wiring your brain in the process!

This research shows that drumming can improve your coordination no end. The benefits to this are huge, not least for drumming technique. And the link between drumming and the brain doesn’t stop there.

Last year, a study found that dopamine is released whilst listening to music you enjoy. Dopamine controls brain functionality, from sleep to focus, and even mood. Drumming to a song you enjoy can be a positive boost to your general health and wellbeing. (If you already take drum lessons you’ve likely experienced this benefit already!)

Reducing anxiety & depression

The Royal College of Music in London conducted a study with some pretty incredible links between group drumming with depression and anxiety. It showed that this music therapy exercise helped reduce anxiety up to 20% and helped reduce depression up to 38%!

Benefits for Dementia & Altzimers

It also appears that those who play a musical instrument are less likely to be affected by the onset of dementia. Even for those who have already have dementia there are benefits. Playing an instrument can be key to keeping your brain healthy as music targets the area of the brain most affected by both Dementia and Altzimers.

Drumming for mental health and stress relief

The link between drumming and mental health is getting stronger as research continues. Drumming promotes happiness and its therapeutic nature helps releases negative feelings and, in turn, reduces stress.

Drum teacher Luca Romano says, “drumming is a great positive tool for mental health. By nature, drums are an instrument that requires physicality and energy to be played.

“It can serve as a great stress release catalyst. A bit like exercising, but with the added element of creativity that music can bring.”

So if you find yourself in a creative rut, drum lessons could be just the medicine you need!

Improving your well-being

If you’re UK based it’s likely that during spring 2020 you’ve been drumming weekly without realising. The “Clap For Our Carers” campaign has seen the nation supporting the incredible work of the NHS. Be it clapping, stomping or banging, people up and down the country have been on their doorsteps showing their support.

Anyone who has tried this has felt it produces feelings of positivity, collectiveness and connectedness. This has contributed to a huge mood boost and has been incredibly therapeutic during a particularly stressful period of time.

This collective universal language of “drumming” united the country. Drum teacher PJ Ciarla is in support. He says, “drumming is a universal language. It’s a long term commitment that helps you improve your attention span and keeps your body and mind stimulated.”

If you’ve been inspired by this weekly ritual, check out some of the body percussion ideas in this video. You don’t need a drum kit – or drum lessons for that matter – to feel the benefits:

Social development, academic performance

Research shows that engaging in music lessons can benefit social development. A study in the Journal of Music Therapy explains the impact this can make, particularly in underperforming or disadvantaged children. Drum teacher Josh Hussey says:

“There are many mental and physical health benefits of drumming. During my experience teaching I discovered development in areas I didn’t initially expect.

“Drumming helps build confidence. Early in my career I taught drum lessons at a Special Educational Needs School for boys between 8-16 years old. I taught 50 of the 68 students over three to four years.

“Lessons were introduced to help the boys ‘let off some steam’ with the hope of starting a band. Each student had different areas to improve. Confidence was common.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“Drum lessons began in the typical format. But with these students having a set of learning difficulties I hadn’t encountered before I needed to change my approach. In particular, children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) found the initial stages of learning to drum quite hard.

Drum teacher Josh Hussey (Photo credit: @basil.photo)

“But after designing a colour-based syllabus that presented notation in a simple, relatable way they all began to progress fast. The system allowed all learners to benefit equally.

“This opened the door to many more benefits, including improvements in maths, understanding time and even problem solving. English skills, such as reading ability, improved. Hand/eye coordination increased, along with self confidence and speech ability.

“Students had the ability to sit still and stay focussed but were still able to work together. Listening skills improved with other band members and classmates.

“Drumming teaches you a lot about how to approach various situations. Without developing the skills involved with learning to drum it can be difficult to progress to the next stage. Drumming is the ideal vehicle for boosting confidence”.

Drumming can really give a huge boost to your confidence. You could even see your school grades benefit as a result!

Are there any drumming health issues?

We’ve talked about the health benefits of drumming but it’s worth being aware of some potential drumming health issues. As always, in the first instance contact your doctor for guidance. (These are pointers, not medical advice).

Battling blisters

Perhaps the most common day-to-day issue is getting blisters when drumming. There are drumming gloves out there you can try however switching to a stick brand can often work.

There’s also the plaster trick. Rather than sticking a plaster over a potential blister hotspot on your finger, try this. Fix a plaster to the position on the stick where your forefinger would usually rub.

Can drumming damage hearing?

Drumming without ear protection can damage your hearing so you must always, always wear ear plugs. Musician ear plugs work at reducing harmful frequencies rather than cutting noise out altogether. So there’s no need to worry about not hearing what you’re doing in your drum lessons. They’re fairly cheap too!

(I once met film composer Hans Zimmer. As his scores are considered some of the most powerful out there I asked him how loud he works. He said he works “quietly of course, you only get one pair of ears!”)

The health benefits of drumming

Drumming is incredible fun. It’s a skill that has so many amazing benefits. Along with a healthy lifestyle, the effects of drumming can be life changing.

If staying fit and healthy sounds like a chore, drumming could really be what you’re looking for! Just taking a few drum lessons could lead to unexpected health benefits and improvements to your well-being.

Your thoughts

Do you have any health benefits of drumming to share? Is drumming boosting your confidence? Or has drumming improved your grades? Let us know below!

If you want to experience some of the health benefits of drumming yourself, make sure you contact us for a teacher! (We provide London drum lessons but all of our associated teachers work online too).

The post What are the Health Benefits of Drumming? appeared first on North London Drums.

Beginnings

Hi Siân. Thanks for taking the time to have a catch up during this rather bizarre period we find ourselves in. It would be great to start at the beginning and find out a bit about why you started drumming. What was the tipping point for you deciding to try it out?

I was nine years old when I first got into drumming. My older brother was good at everything musical and I used to hang out at his band rehearsals. He showed me a few beats. When I wouldn’t put the sticks down my parents gave in to me having lessons at school.

Were you taking any other lessons at school?

I learned guitar around the same time and kept that up through school. But I went through all the grades on drums and that was my first instrument.

Liverpool

You studied at the prestigious Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, founded by Sir Paul McCartney. What was it like going there?

It was an amazing experience! As one of four drummers in the year group I was in around ten bands each semester. It was chaotic but I loved every minute. Liverpool was such a great city for music. I ended up staying there for another four years after I finished at LIPA. It was a fantastic time for me.

So after four years of living in Liverpool did you decide a move to London would be inevitable?

My family are all based in the South and ultimately I wanted to move back here at some point. The reason any musician comes to London though is because there are more opportunities here than anywhere else. The competition is high. I needed that to push myself up a level and get involved in the music scene here.

Moving to London

The music scene here is vast. And it didn’t take you long to start playing with some big, known names. What has that been like over the past year?

Last year was a busy one for me and really amazing. A stand out day has to be Black Deer Festival, where I played with the Jessie Buckley band and The Wandering Hearts just a few hours apart from each other. I’m a fan of going to festivals in general. It’s a great way of discovering new bands to listen to. Just walking around soaking up the music at Black Deer after I’d performed was an amazing day. Both gigs that day were really special too. Nothing beats a mainstage crowd singing along with you at a festival.

Back to North London, what do you enjoy the most about being a drum tutor at your Finsbury Park studio?

Making a lot of noise! When looking for a studio it was important to have around the clock access and able to make noise at any time. The community at the studios is a really nice atmosphere too with lots of musicians and creative people. Finsbury Park is so well connected so it’s really handy for my students. It’s a really easy location and a great complex.

Your studio is really well equipped. Is there somewhere in particular you go for your rig?

Being from near Southampton I’ve always used a drum store called Graham Russell Drums. They have always gone above and beyond expectation. The shop is in Fareham but they deliver all over so I still use them as my go to! I just love the guys there.

Teaching online

We find ourselves in a challenging environment right now whilst we deal with coronavirus. Although you’re a Finsbury Park based drum tutor, you’ve made the extremely successful transition to online, or remote, lessons. We’ve had such great feedback. How have you found that experience?

Yes since the lockdown I’ve been offering music lessons via Zoom, which is working great so far. I tend to allow a little longer for lessons in case there’s any technical issues. But in general I feel like my students have been more focused and are using their initiative more than usual. It’s fantastic.

A lot of people are using their spare time at the moment to pick up a new skill or hobby. What advice can you give to someone thinking of picking up the sticks?

Learning a musical instrument is such an enriching activity. It not only boosts academic and social learning but also aids confidence and boosts mental health. It becomes part of your personality. However if you’re considering learning you must be prepared to dedicate time to the cause!

And for those currently taking lessons?

I would advise – do your research. There is so much out there and lots of different influences, so don’t just practice what your teacher tells you. Explore further. Dive into the different types of music that you really love and discover more. I use Drummerworld.com a lot. There is so much on there in terms of notated solos, videos and exercises. You can also discover drummers that you didn’t know before.

Diversity in numbers

Drumming is often criticised for its lack of gender diversity. Being a female drum teacher in London do you find this to be the case in the capital?

It’s absolutely true that there are fewer female drummers than male drummers in the world. But it is changing, and there is a lot of support out there for all drummers, regardless of gender. Between drummers we have an amazing ability to unite and not be against each other. I have definitely felt this over the years.

Ultimately everybody wants to learn the instrument they enjoy, which tends to be boys when it comes to band instruments. But the balance is different in every instrument.

What do you think we, and the industry as a whole, can do to make music more inclusive. And to encourage more non-male drummers to start playing?

I think schools, and people in general, are being more open about what’s on offer to the younger generation. Many are making a real effort to close the gender gap which is great. Anyone who has an influence on young musicians whether it’s parents, teachers, or even musicians out there doing it. It all helps kids think “Yeah, I could do that”. Ultimately though, you have to be really good to succeed. Regardless of your background, gender and so on. And that should remain the most important thing.

Influences

You’re a pretty inspiring teacher and we get so much feedback on how much your students enjoy their lessons. But what inspires you? Are there any drummers you really admire or had a great influence on you?

I think my top 5 drummers would be – Steve Gadd, Billy Cobham, Buddy Rich, Stewart Copeland and Travis Barker.

That is a truly great list! There’s not much I can add to that!

Agreed!

Have you ever had a particularly stand-out moment from one of your lessons?

I’ve had a few students come to my gigs. One time a student came to a soundcheck and had a go on the kit after we’d finished. The first time you hear a mic’d up kit through a PA is awesome! That’s what I wanted them to feel. It really made me smile! It’s having those opportunities to see where music can take you.

Those opportunities are vital. So many musicians cite that kind of experience as the moment they realised that “yes, I can do this!”

Yes exactly!

Before you go is there one single tip you think would make the difference to anyone currently learning the drums?

Listen to Buddy Rich playing. Find video footage of Buddy Rich playing. And when you’ve finished, do it again!

Siân, thanks so much!

—

If you’re looking for a female drum teacher in London and would like to contact Siân for lessons, drop us an email at jack@northlondondrums.co.uk. You can also check out her Siân’s profile right here for more details. If you’re looking for online drum lessons rather than London drum lessons, Siân has a great set up too! Contact us for more details.

The post Interview with Siân Monaghan: “Learning drums aids confidence, boosts mental health” appeared first on North London Drums.

Drum Grade Exams – RSL Awards

A big congratulations to Emile (Queen’s Park) for getting a gigantic 91% in his RSL Awards grade 2 exam! His drum teacher Joe Snelgrove said he’s been working super hard and it’s definitely paid off! Emile chose to play Slipstream, Cuba Mama and Y’All, getting 19/20 on the last two pieces. With near perfect technical exercises he sailed into the distinction grade. Emile also completed this exam remotely given the current circumstances. Well done again Emile!

Well done to Rupert (De Beauvoir Town) for passing his grade 3 exam this term. Rupert did amazing, especially considering this exam took place with RSL Awards remotely. Rupert went for a really varied batch, performing Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, Smooth by Santana and Standard by Stormzy. Standard is a pretty quick track to play and there’s some difficult transitions in Smooth too. Great work Rupert!

Congratulations go to AB (Muswell Hill) who passed her grade 2 RSL Awards exam with drum teacher Joe Nicklin. She got a merit with 78% – nice work AB! She chose to play the Rockschool pieces Y’All and For You, along with Losing My Religion by R.E.M as the free choice piece. Excellent work to both AB and Joe!

Well done also to Ian (Winchmore Hill) for sailing through his grade 3 RSL Awards exam. His drum teacher Luca Romano tells us that Ian played the three Rockschool pieces Fallout, Overrated and Old Bones Blues. Fallout is an especially difficult one for grade 3. There’s lots of syncopation and it’s tough to stay right in the pocket. Excellent work Ian!

Drum Grade Exams – Trinity Rock & Pop

And last but not least, congratulations go to Howard (Muswell Hill) who passed his Trinity Rock & Pop grade 1 with drum teacher Joe Nicklin. Howard managed a fantastic distinction – amazing work! He chose to play Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, The Weight by The Band and Another One Bites The Dust by Queen. Keep up the superb work Howard!

Interested in London drum lessons?

Although the teachers mostly deliver London drum lessons, everyone is now available to teach online! (You can find out more about that right here). If you want to improve the marks in your drum grade exams, make sure you contact us!

Congratulations again to everyone for the brilliant drum grade exam results this term! If we missed your result out, email us and we’ll make sure your results are posted right here.

The post Drum Grade Exams – Results Spring 2020 appeared first on North London Drums.

We would like to update you on drum lessons due to the ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19 / coronavirus. We are pleased to let you know that all of the tutors are teaching via remote drum lessons. Remote learning is a great way of being able to continue your drum lessons in these ever-changing times. Drumming is also a great way to keep your brain active and combat some of the stress we might find ourselves in!

Everyone will affected by the restrictions in place. As we commit to social-distancing or self-isolation we know that creativity and music will become more important than ever. This is especially for the tutors who are incredibly happy to still be playing.

Studio lessons

For anyone currently taking London drum lessons at a tutor’s studio, these lessons have now fully moved online. Your tutor will be in touch with the specifics and how to connect to your lesson. If you’ve been coming to a studio for lessons as you have no drum kit at home, please don’t worry. Depending on ability you don’t even need a drum kit to continue your drum lessons.

Remote drum lesson equipment

Please don’t worry if you only have minimal equipment or access to just a phone or tablet. All the tutors have appropriate set ups on their end so they can conduct your lesson with minimal disruption. Platforms currently being used by the tutors include Skype, Zoom, FaceTime and WhatsApp but there’s flexibility if you have a preferred option too. Furthermore, the tutors will take you through the settings you need to ensure that the lesson works well for you. Everything should sound exactly as you need it to!

Parent and student feedback

Current students who have moved to this learning environment are continuing to have great, dynamic lessons. We’re getting positive feedback from tutors and students alike:

“During this lockdown period we have switched to online lessons via Zoom, which Max has really looked forward to each week. We have so appreciated Siân’s efforts to keep the lessons going. Her ability to connect with Max, even via the online platform, is impressive. I can’t recommend Siân enough!”

Leila Barbaro (Parent)

 

“We recently moved to a distance learning plan using FaceTime. I’m pleasantly surprised with how well we’ve been able to continue our progress through meaningful lessons in this medium. Our time with Joe is a highlight of our week.”

Alex Hagedorn (Parent)

 

“Joe has been teaching our daughter for approximately two-years now. We were keen to keep lessons going during the lockdown and happily accepted the option of lessons via Skype. It is working really well, with the usual level of interaction. We’re glad to see our daughter’s learning progressing unaffected.”

Justyna Rzeszotarska (Parent)

 

Exam booked?

If you’ve got a drum exam booked then fear not! We’re getting word from exam boards that options to continue with a remote exam will be provided shortly. Each student will be contacted by their tutor with further information. It’s great to know that there is no reason to disrupt any lessons that have involved exam preparation. It’s still a great time to learn!

UPDATE: RSL Awards have announced that they will providing a video exam option going forward. You can find out more right here.

Interested in remote drum lessons?

If you’re interested in remote drum lessons please do contact us. We’ll tell you more about the process and get you paired up with a fantastic tutor. You’ll be set up in no time and you don’t even need a drum kit at home. We have some tips and suggestions to help you get going. We can even help test your set up prior to the lesson too.

If you have any friends or family that might be looking to pick up a new skill, please make sure they contact us. They now don’t have to be based in London for drum lessons with the tutors! It’s a great way to spend time during lockdown!

Thank you!

To all current students, our tutors want to thank you so much for your continued support. The transition to remote drum lessons is easier than ever because of everyone’s incredible cooperation. For all tutors their music is their livelihood. So the continuation of your drum lessons is really important in helping to support them.

Finally, please stay safe. We’re sending our best wishes to you all throughout this difficult time.

The post COVID-19: Remote drum lessons during lockdown appeared first on North London Drums.

If you’d like to contact drummer Luca Romano for drum lessons, contact us to book a session!

Starting out

Luca, you’re one the most experienced drum teachers we represent. It can be easy to forget that even the most experienced drum teachers were beginners at one point. What made you want to play?

I’ve always loved music. Even though no-one in my family played I grew up in a very musical environment. I always wanted to play. When I was about 12 I decided to make the step. Drums was somehow the obvious choice – it just seemed like the coolest instrument to me. Every time I’d listen to music I would ended up tapping along. (My parents loved that as you would imagine!) That’s when I started taking drum lessons and I’ve played ever since. Before then I played a bit of piano in school, but not very seriously.

Did you ever take any music exams in Italy?

Music exams are not very popular in Italy. I wish I had done though as it can be a very helpful way to learn any instrument. I often attended masterclasses and short courses – I have a whole box of certificates back in Italy. After I moved to London I started studying music on an academic level and obviously that included taking numerous exams.

You never pressure students into taking exams but for those that do, what’s the most rewarding part of this process?

The sense of achievement that I share with my students when they do well in an exam is incredible. After years of teaching, witnessing their progress first hand still fills me with joy!

Moving to London

You started drumming back in Italy at 12 but sometime after that you moved to London. When did that happen?

I moved to London in the summer of 2011 to study music and become a professional musician. I started a one-year diploma in 2011 and then my music degree in 2012. I’ve since completed my MMus.

How do you find living and teaching in London?

London is the place to be for me. It offers great opportunities both on a professional and personal level. It’s a city I truly love and it feels like home. My studio is based in Green Lanes which has a very strong music and artistic community. I naturally started to gravitate around it. There is also an incredible amount of great restaurants in the area!

Are there any secret spots in the area you’d recommend a music-fan checking out!?

The Nightjar in Old Street. They host a lot of very nice small jazz gigs in there – the atmosphere is very unique. And their cocktails are great!

Gear

Going back to your studio in Green Lanes, what’s the current kit set up you are using there?

Well it often depends on the gig I’m playing but my favourite set-up includes the following. For drums, a 22″ kick drum, 12″ snare drum, 10″ and 14″ toms. For cymbals, a 14″ hi-hat, 16″ and 18″ crashes, 20″ ride, 18″ china and both 8″ and 10″ splashes.

Wow, that’s pretty comprehensive!

All my cymbals are Zildjian and my kit is a beautiful Yamaha Oak Custom that I love dearly. I’m pretty content but I’ve recently entertained the idea of buying a deeper snare.

And this is the kit you tutor on I presume?

Absolutely!

So let’s move on from “drummer Luca Romano” now to “drum teacher Luca Romano!” Do you have any favourite books or resources you use in your lessons?

Lots and it depends on the area I am trying to cover. If I had to pick I’d probably pick the Patterns books by Gary Chaffee. They’re all absolutely fantastic!

Online versus one-to-one lessons

There are so many books out there and so much is available online too. With so many resources what actually makes coming to lessons worth it?

It is undeniable that the amount of online resources at our disposal is incredible. The internet is a source of constant ideas and inspiration. It really is a great time to learn an instrument. However guidance is also essential. In my opinion, that is the case for two reasons:

Firstly, having the guidance of someone makes the process easier, efficient and more enjoyable. They have already gone through the journey and know how to get from A to B. It’s hard to navigate through all the content available online. To have someone to show you the path according to your goals, abilities and personality is something hard to replace.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, is the face-to-face interaction. Your tutor is there to help you with all aspects of your playing. They will provide a constant flow of information.

Say you want to learn a song. You might go online and study one of the many videos on YouTube. But what if you can’t figure out that one fill? What if you try to play the beat as explained but still can’t crack it? That’s where having a tutor makes a difference. They can step in and give you a solution to your problem right there and then. A good teacher will advise you on things you didn’t even know you could improve.

Amazing teachers

Is there anything that you have brought into your teaching from the lessons you took?

Absolutely. I have been lucky to have had some truly amazing drum teachers throughout different stages of my career. They have inspired me greatly as a teacher.

My first teacher was a very calm and patient individual, he allowed me to really feel comfortable. Even during moments when I wasn’t doing great he would always be encouraging. He made me focus on the positive elements of whatever I was doing. He also stressed how important a knowledge of the instrument is. That’s the key of really turning the instrument into an extension of yourself.

That’s a really interesting point!

My most recent teacher was also an incredible educator. He gave me structure and methodology. I improved hugely in a very short period of time. His teaching style is based on a few very simple concepts. It’s something I’ve made my own from the very beginning of my teaching career. It’s helped me craft my own personal teaching style.

Taking music lessons

What advice can you give anyone thinking about taking drum lessons?

Just do it! I go on and on about how amazing it is to be able to play an instrument. There’s truly nothing like it – it’s an experience anyone who loves music should have. On a more practical level I would recommend to always have a goal in mind. “I want to play that song one day” or “I want to be able to play that groove or fill”. They’re great places to start. To embark on a journey like this and to visualise where you want to go will help you stay focused. It will help you to put in the work and passion you need to improve.

Is there any advice you can give to anyone currently taking drum lessons?

Enjoy the journey. Learning any instrument is a fluid process that is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling but also full of small challenges. I think back ten years ago and it makes me feel incredibly proud to realise how much I have overcome. Both in my musical journey and how happy and whole playing an instrument makes me feel. It’s a feeling that anyone can experience!

Practical playing

Once you get to your studio, is there a particular warm up you use?

I don’t really have a specific warm up. It depends on the mood and whether I am about to go on stage. Generally I try to make sure I include single stroke rolls as well as paradiddle variations. When gigging I warm up based on a 16th note single stroke rolls on a practice pad. Sometimes I double or diddle the notes. It’s great warming up like that – it’s both musical and fun.

I also often like to take out the metronome and phrase along using different compound stickings. I do that because it puts me in the right mood to walk on stage and let loose. If I am about to practice I try to warm up in relation to whatever I intend to practice. So it really depends!

Gigging

In terms of gigging, you’ve toured pretty extensively. Where has music taken you?

I’ve toured in most European countries such as Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany. Even Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Montenegro and the Netherlands as well as the UK. I’ve toured both with my band as well as session-ing for other bands. 2019 was a fairly busy year – I toured on and off throughout the year. My favourite place to play is Berlin, I always have a fantastic time there!

Is there a favourite gig you’ve played out of the places mentioned?

The one I enjoyed the most was when I played at a festival called ArcTangent in Bristol. My band You Break, You Buy was signed to a small indie in 2016 . A year later we were offered a slot on the second biggest stage of the festival. It was an incredible experience and the crowd was amazing.

I still smile when I think about seeing a few people walking around the festival with my band’s t-shirt. It was truly a beautiful moment for me.

Do you still go to gigs yourself?

Totally!

Which has been your favourite so far?

That’s tough. If I had to pick I think I’d go with the very first gig I went to on my own. It was The Cure in 2005. They played in this old Greek amphitheatre and it was breathtaking.

In 2019 I also saw two of my all-time favourite bands, Tool and The Midnight. It was fantastic!

Inspiration and improvement

Speaking of favourites, and I know it’s tough, but do you have a favourite drummer?

There are so many but I’ll go with Eric Moore II. He is such an inspiration and he’s the perfect mix. Eric can pull off an incredible solo as well as the most solid groove. There’s something about his playing that really excites. Every time I watch him play I want to go back to my studio and practice for hours!

Do you have a dream collaboration?

I’d love to play with Robert Glasper, Christian Scott, Jose James, and Jordan Rakei.

Before we wrap up, what projects are you currently working on?

I recently started session-ing for a pop band who record their songs using intricate electronic drum beats. It’s quite a challenge to be able to translate those parts onto an acoustic kit and to perform. It’s really made me grow as a musician and forced me to step out of my comfort zone.

Finally, is there a particular stand out moment from teaching so far?

I’ve had countless stand out moments. The one I remember most fondly was when a young student informed me they wanted to become a professional drummer. I had had them under my tutelage since they were quite young. To know that they wanted to make such important step filled me with pride and joy.

Thanks so much for your time Luca!

Want to book a lesson with drummer Luca Romano?

If you’d like to contact drummer Luca Romano for lessons, simply drop us an email at jack@northlondondrums.co.uk. You can also check out his tutor profile right here.

If you’re not in the exact area but you’re still looking for London drum lessons, do still get in touch!

The post Drummer Luca Romano Interview: “It’s a Great Time to Learn Drums” appeared first on North London Drums.

Trinity Rock & Pop Drumming Test Results

Lisa (Southgate) got a huge 91% in her first ever drum exam with Trinity Rock & Pop, an easy distinction! She took her grade 1 exam late last year and her drum teacher Jack Cowens says she’s delighted with her result. Lisa chose to Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars and Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes. Fantastic results Lisa and Jack!

A big well done also to Lulu (Upper Holloway) for passing her grade 1 with 90% – a distinction! Amazing work Lulu! Lulu decided to play the three pieces Fever by The Black Keys and Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars, with full marks in fluency and security. Lulu also played Another One Bites The Dust by Queen where she got 24/25! Her choice to improvise for the end of the test rounded off an incredible result. Well done to Lulu and her drum teacher Joe Nicklin.

Sophie passed her grade 2 Trinity Rock & Pop exam also with drum teacher Joe Nicklin getting a solid 81%! Well done Sophie! For her merit Sophie chose to play Fallin’ by Alicia Keys, You Make Loving Fun by Fleetwood Mac and Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz. Great work Sophie and Joe!

RSL Awards Drumming Test Results

Grade 6

Congratulations to Heiragan (Edmonton) for passing his grade 6 exam with RSL Awards with a whopping 92%! This of course means Heriagan got a distinction! He chose to play RSL piece You Can Call Miguel, along with Superstition by Stevie Wonder and I Feel Good by James Brown. Heiragan’s drum teacher Az Khan tells us he’s also been working on triplet phrasing. Amazing work Heriagan!

Grade 5

A huge congratulation goes to Sam (Crouch End) for getting a distinction on his grade 5 exam. Sam worked super hard on this one, getting 90% overall, and chose some pretty tricky tracks to perform. His first track was Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix. He then performed Hard to Handle by Otis Redding (although this version was more like The Black Crowes!) and Late In The Evening by Paul Simon, getting 19/20 on both! This coupled with full marks on his technique and musicianship questions meant he soared to the top grade boundary. Amazing work Sam!

Grade 2

Also passing with distinction is Andrew (Friern Barnet) who took his RSL Awards grade 2 this winter. Fantastic results Andrew! He chose the Rockschool pieces Y’All and For You, along with Relegation Riddim by Bugzy Malone. Great work Andrew and well done also to his drum teacher Lauric MacKintosh.

Grade 1

Congratulations also to Sapir (Muswell Hill) who passed his RSL Awards grade 1 with distinction! Sapir got 92% on his exam and his drum teacher Luca Romano says he’s absolutely thrilled. He chose to play Munky Fusic, West Coast Rollin’ and Bend & Snap as his Rockschool pieces. Sapir got full marks on his first piece along with 14/15 in his technical exercises. Brilliant work Sapir!

A big well done to Arwen (Muswell Hill) for getting a 79% merit on her first ever Rockschool exam! Arwen’s drum teacher Josh Hussey tells us she chose the grade 1 Rockschool pieces West Coast Rollin’ and Kaiser Roll, along with Liberation by Wretch 32. Arwen also got full marks on both her ear tests and the general musicianship questions. Great stuff Arwen!

Congratulations also go to sisters Stella and Isabella (St. John’s Wood) who got 86% and 74% (both merits!) on their first RSL Awards grade 1 exams! full marks on GMQ. Kaiser Roll, Yeah by Usher and Liberation by Wretch 32. Amazing work and congratulations both from us and their drum teacher Josh Hussey.

And last, but certainly not least, well done to Axel (Alexandra Palace) for passing his grade 1 with a merit! His drum teacher Luca Romano tells us that Axel chose the Rockschool pieces Munky Fusic, Bend & Snap and Kaiser Roll this time around. Great results Axel, keep up the great work!

Looking for London Drum Lessons?

A massive congratulations to everyone for the amazing set of drumming test results this term. It’s really important to remember that not every drum student takes drumming tests. You can still make great progress regardless! So if you’re searching for London drum lessons, exams or not, do drop us a line!

(Apologies we missed out any of your drumming test results this time. If so please do send us a message so we can get that rectified and uploaded right here!)

The post Drumming Test Results – Winter 2019 appeared first on North London Drums.

Playing an instrument, no matter your age, is good for you. Studies show that it has benefits for your mental health and emotional wellbeing because it can expand your social circle and relieve stress. It even grows the corpus callosum, the nerve bundle which connects the left and right side of the brain. Wow! What an easy and fun way to make yourself smarter and more dexterous!

If playing an instrument is good for you, then playing the drums must be the best: it requires physical skill. Practicing develops hand-eye coordination. The drumming position improves your posture. You will learn to read music notation which is basically like having a second language. And it’s really cool.

The only thing is: the kit. It is expensive, it’s big, and it’s loud. Perhaps you live in a flat or house where you’re already short on space. Or perhaps your neighbours don’t seem like they fancy listening to you bashing away in the evenings. Surely you can’t learn to drum at home in a city?

Don’t give up yet! We’ve got some tips and tricks that will make drumming at home seem easy. No matter where you live or who you live with.

Save Money

Professional drum kits aren’t cheap, but you can do it on a budget using these tips:

• Look for a second-hand kit, either from a friend or through sites like Gumtree. Often local neighbourhood Facebook groups have sections where people are giving away instruments because they are moving or need space!
• Fix up an older kit. If your kit has a broken skin, it’s easier to replace that than get a whole new kit. Or your kit might just need a spruce – check out this inspiring article from Seb Atkinson about cleaning up old kits.

Save Space

Maybe the problem isn’t money, but space. Here’s how to squeeze your sticks in:

• Slim it down: go for a compact kit set-up. Can you get by with just a snare drum, hi-hat and bass drum for now? We call it the Stray Cat Strut after Slim Jim Phantom.
• Practice some minimalism: go for a practice pad. These can cost as little as £8.00 and can even just go on your lap!

Keep it Quiet

We know this is the big one: no one wants their neighbours knocking on the wall shouting for you to keep it down when you’re trying to let out your inner John Bonham.

• Practice patience, and your technical exercises. Go for a practice pad, so you can get the time in without it making a racket. These can cost as little as £8.00 and can even just go on your lap!
• Upgrade your existing kit with some silent skins. These go on the kit and make it lovely and quiet. We recommend the Remo Silentstroke or the Zildjian L80 cymbals.
• The Body Electric: why not try an electric kit instead of an acoustic one? Whilst they can be pricey, we think they’re great because they fold away and create more space. You can also put your headphones on and rock out as loud as you want. Your neighbours won’t even know you’re a rockstar. Amazing, right?

Learning to Drum at Home

Now that you’ve got an amazing money-, space- and ear-saving setup, you’re ready to learn to drum at home. Why not connect with one of the tutors at North London Drums? If you’re learning to drum at home then the tutors can come to your place and deliver tailored one-to-one lessons.

Or maybe you’ve decided that you just need to bash it out Rush-style on a big, loud, acoustic kit. No problem! Why not contact us to find out about London drum lessons with studio-based drum teachers?

The post Learning to Drum at Home appeared first on North London Drums.

Trinity Rock Pop Drums Results

Well done to Lulu (Holloway) for passing her very first drum exam (Initial grade) with a distinction! Her drum teacher Joe Nicklin says she did great and has been super enthusiastic which is great to hear. Lulu chose Fever by the Black Keys, Island In The Sun by Weezer and Gold Lion by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Brilliant work Lulu!

Congratulations also go to Sophie (Highgate) for getting a distinction in her grade 1 Trinity Rock Pop drums exam. Her drum teacher Joe Nicklin tells us she chose Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars, Float On by Modest Mouse and Another One Bites The Dust by Queen. Great choices and a great result. Brilliant work Sophie!

Matan (Edgware) walked away from his grade 3 exam with a merit! His drum teacher Joe Nicklin said he’s worked hard on this one, so well done to Matan! He chose the tracks Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith, Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses and Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz. Brilliant stuff!

The last result from drum teacher Joe Nicklin this term comes from Riley (Muswell Hill). Riley got a brilliant merit on his grade 2 Trinity Rock Pop drums exam. Great work Riley! Joe tells us that Riley chose the pieces Fallin’ by Alicia Keys, Miss You by The Rolling Stones and She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult. Nice one Riley!

RSL Awards Results

Debut

A huge well done goes to Sapir (Muswell Hill) who passed his Debut RSL Awards exam with a huge 93%! That’s clearly a distinction! Sapir chose to play Rattlesnake and Hazee Daze as two of his Rockschool pieces for the test. Well done Sapir for also getting full marks on the sight reading part of the test too. Amazing results!

Grade 1

Congratulations to Emile (Queen’s Park) for passing his grade 1 exam with RSL Awards! His drum teacher Joe Snelgrove said he’s been working hard so it’s great to see these results! Emile chose the three Rockschool pieces West Coast Rollin’, Jangle Road and Munky Fusic for the test. Well done Emile!

Another big congratulations goes to Eve (Alexandra Palace) for getting a fantastic 79% merit for her grade 1 exam. She’s been hard at work on this one in her drum lessons with her tutor Jack Cowens. Eve decided to play the Rockschool pieces West Coast Rollin’ and Deep Trouble. Congratulations Eve!

A big well done goes to AB (Muswell Hill) for her distinction at grade 1, with a superb 91%! It’s fantastic to see such a high mark for her first drum exam. Her pieces were Kaiser Roll, Munky Fusic and West Coast Rollin’, where she got 19/20! She also got full marks on her improvisation and interpretation test. This is along with full marks on the general musicianship questions too. What a brilliant result, great work AB!

It was Anna’s (East Finchley) first exam too, and she received an amazing 90% for her grade 1. Another distinction! Anna chose the Rockschool pieces West Coast Rollin’ and Kaiser Roll. She opted for Highway to Hell as her free choice piece where she got a brilliant 19/20! This coupled with full marks in sight reading and the general musicianship questions sealed the deal. Amazing work Anna, keep it up!

Grade 4

Finally, a big congratulations to Jonathan (Golders Green) for his grade 4 merit! Jonathan tackled some tough tempo and time signature changes in his drums lessons. These were then applied to his free choice piece Live & Let Die by Guns N’ Roses. For his two other Rockschool pieces, Jonathan played both The Nod and Cold Pants. It was all rounded off with full marks in his general musicianship questions. Great work Jonathan – now onto grade 5!

Want to learn to drum?

A huge well done and congratulations to everyone who decided to take exams this time around. Not everyone takes exams and many progress positively without. If you’re looking for London drum lessons, regardless of whether you’re interested in exams, please drop us a line!

(If we missed out any of your exam results, please do send us a message. We’ll get your results on this page with a congratulations message!)

The post Trinity Rock Pop Drums / RSL Awards Results – Spring/Summer 2019 appeared first on North London Drums.

RSL Drum Exams – Grade 4

Congratulations to Domenic (Muswell Hill) for getting a strong 84% merit on his grade 4 RSL Awards exam this term. Domenic had a strong set of scores throughout the exam, with full marks in his general musicianship questions too. Domenic chose to play the reggae song Jahmake Ska from the Rockschool tracks. For his free choice pieces Domenic went for Californication by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers along with Live & Let Die (the Guns N’ Roses version!) It’s a great result and he’s making great progress in his drum lessons. Well done Domenic!

Sam (Crouch End) entered his grade 4 this period and got 81% on his test, a merit! Well done Sam! As with Domenic, Sam also opted for Californication by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Live & Let Die by Guns N’ Roses as his free choice pieces. Along with those two, Sam chose the Rockschool funk song Cold Pants to complete his trio of tracks. With full marks on general musicianship questions and strong marks across the board, this is a great result! Nice work Sam!

Well done also to Rich (Wood Green) on his 83% merit for his grade 4 exam! Rich chose Cold Pants and the Guns N’ Roses-inspired Attitude as his Rockschool pieces. For his free choice piece Rich chose Message In A Bottle by The Police. Rich is now exploring his stylistic knowledge before getting ready to tackle grade 5. Brilliant work Rich!

RSL Drum Exams – Grade 3

Congratulations also to Lucas (Highgate) who got a huge 93% on his grade 3 exam. Lucas achieved 19/20 on two out of his three pieces. He also got full marks on his sight reading and general musicianship questions – amazing! Lucas’ drum teacher Joe Nicklin tells us he chose the Rockschool pieces Maiden Voyage, Indecisive and Fallout this time around. It’s a superb result, keep up the great work in your drum lessons Lucas!

RSL / Trinity Rock & Pop – Grade 2

A big well done goes to Matan (Edgware) for getting a merit (76%) on his grade 2 exam this term! Matan’s drum teacher Joe Nicklin tells us he went for the pieces Just Kissed My Baby by The Meters, Song 2 by Blur and Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz. Those three are such great choices for the exam, nice work Matan!

Also, a big well done to Ian (Winchmore Hill) for passing his grade 2 exam with drum teacher Luca Romano. Ian achieved a merit and is progressing super fast through the RSL drum exams. Luca says he’s making great headway in his drum lessons and the practice is really paying off! Ian decided to chose the three Rockschool pieces Cuba Mama, Y’All and Dora & Bootsy. Grade 3 here we come Ian!

RSL / Trinity Rock & Pop – Grade 1

A big well done goes to Evelyn (Muswell Hill) for achieving a merit in her Trinity Rock & Pop grade 2 exam. Her drum teacher Joe Snelgrove tells us she worked super hard on this one. She chose Under The Bridge by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Miss You by The Rolling Stones and Fallin’ by Alicia Keys. What a great choice of tracks. Well done Evelyn!

Well done to Ari (Golders Green) for his 82% merit at grade 1. His drum teacher Jack Cowens tells us he chose the three Rockschool pieces Deep Trouble, West Coast Rollin’ and Kaiser Roll. Jack tells us that Ari has been practising hard for this one and the merit really shows it. Great work Ari! Onto grade 2?

Congratulations also to Riley (Muswell Hill) who got an impressive 89% in his grade 1 exam. Riley’s drum teacher Joe Nicklin tells us that he chose the pieces Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Brunco Mars and Another One Bites The Dust by Queen for the test. It all works out as a very comfortable distinction. Super results Riley, keep up the brilliant work!

Interested in learning the drums?

Congratulations to everyone out there for passing their exams this term. It’s great to see so many amazing results, the drum teachers are super pleased with the progress. If we missed out your RSL drum exams or Trinity exam results, please send us a message. Let us know your grade so we can add your result to the page.

Not everyone takes exams and many progress positively without. If you’re interested in taking exams or looking for a London drum teacher who DOESN’T teach exams, please do still drop us a line!

The post RSL Drum Exams / Trinity Exams – Results Winter 2018 appeared first on North London Drums.