About The Drum Coach
Have you ever thought about what it would feel like to make a living as a professional drummer? To travel and let the music take you on an adventure? If so, then the Drum Coach website might be for YOU!
Thedrumcoach website provides all types of drumming information from beginner lessons (through the Drum Coach Drumming Foundation books) right up to personal self(drummer)-improvement essentials – there’s something here no matter where you are on your journey.
Some of the most important information on this website comes from my personal experiences as a percussionist and musician for over 35 years. So, I invite you to take advantage of the Drum Coach Experience, whose aim is to provide high-quality, on-demand information for drummers as they begin their journey to achieve their personal drumming goals and ambitions.
Our commitment to our readers is always 100%! If you have any problems, questions, or concerns, just let us know and we’ll help you take care of the situation as quickly as possible.
And remember to Stay In Time! and continue to Rock!
The Drum Coach
A Magical Experience Timeline
Go to the bottom and work your way up to read about the drum coach’s personal drumming experiences and how it all got started.

Writing & Publishing
The Sound of Music
Paul Daniels - It's Magic

Again the music was consistent and required more and more skill from the drummer. Of course, I spent a lot of time practicing over the years so was growing as the gigs grew around me.
Paul Daniels
Paul and his family were all really nice folks, and they offered me the following year with Paul’s brother Trever on keyboards. Trevor had done a lot of work with one of my all-time favorite drummers Ronnie Verrell (Jack ParnellĀ as well as Lots of T.V. work). I first listened to Ronnie on a Jack Panel Album many years ago – He was completely awesome. In particular, this rendition of Skin Deep. I used to practice and play this four hour on end in the 80s.
Southport Pantomime
Contrary to what you would think, pantomimes were really demanding theatre gigs. You would normally spend a couple of weeks rehearsing and then begin playing two shows per day for four weeks. The reading was usually quite intense at times and to be honest, they were always a joy to work on.
Of course, the drummer had sound effects to do as well so it could become really intense at times.
It was on this gig that I was offered the Paul Daniels gig.
United Arab Emirates
From that point, the keyboard player and girl singer/sax player decided to stay and so we sent to the UK for sequencers and began learning a new song list. We chose the songs, I wrote all the words out and gave each member a copy with all the backing vocals highlighted and we began practicing.
It pains me to say that at this time I had to sing myself. Let me just say, it wasn’t pretty. But we got by and ended the season on a high. Drumming sometimes requires you to adapt to new situations.
Positive Touch
Consequently, I used to tell every other drummer I met about the store and the great deals and over the years put many thousands of pounds/dollars in sales their way.
But as I said, I got some great deals there myself. Paul put a few gigs my way but one stands out. It stands out because the band did 6 months around the midlands and then we went to Abu Dhabi in the Middle East (UAE) for six months.
Scarborough Residency

And up to this point I had played on several pantomimes, again with UK celebs. These times had been fantastic from a musical point of view as it was constantly changing and evolving.
This trend of one-nighters ended for a while when I took on a residency on the east coast of the UK.Ā Scarborough.
Also, up to this point, my music listening was somewhat limited but at this time I met the drummer who used to play for Roy Wood’s Wizard.Ā He kindly gifted me several cassette tapes by The Rippingtons, The Yellowjackets, and Steps Ahead… as well as other great contemporary artists from the United States. From that point, my listening began to widen and my playing began to grow too.Ā Ā
Jersey Year 3 - The Inn On The Park
I must admit, these past few years were spent enjoying myself in the daytime, spending time on the beach, swimming, and visiting the beautiful vistas of the Channel Islands.
Jersey Year 2 - The Inn On The Park
He introduced me to his bass player/band leader and after spending most of the previous summer with them, it was decided that I was to take over at the
InĀ On The Park where they had spent the summer. This was my first step into working with top-shelf artists from the UK. People like Les Dennis and Bobby Davro among many more celebrities. The reading was also very challenging which was great.
Many of the artists included here can be found on the Drumming Foundation website.
Jersey Year 1
After which I went on an audition for a gig in the Channel Islands – Jersey to be specific.
It was a hotel residency which again had a variety of artists throughout the week along with the resident artist. The reading wasn’t challenging but again, the experience was exceptional. Great people, great food, and great music. What else is there?Ā
Tenerife Residency
Karmuna
Summer Season In Devon
Gathering Reading Experience
For the next several years from 1985 to 1992, I pursued reading music chart gigs. During my time off throughout the few years, I played with hundreds of keyboard players around the local and not-so-local clubs. Some involved reading music but most did not. I discovered that I liked the idea of meeting someone for the first time and then playing their song list. This gave me more variety and I found it most challenging. I was never a fantastic reader because the parts were never really musically great. But they did give me a foundation in reading charts and busking as it were.
The Story So Far
That was my intro into the drumming world and the world of music. I had played with quite an array of different bands and although at the time, it all seemed pretty sporadic. I was mostly working with one band or the other. The next phase of my drumming life was when I began to take advantage of my ability to adapt to different situations. And I started looking for reading gigs. Summer seasons, tours, deps, and sessions. Sadly, throughout my whole career, taking photos wasn’t a concern for me. The internet hadn’t been invented in those early days and cameras were… well, cameras, and not phones. So I rarely carried one with me. back then it was about the drumming, not the business of taking photos to create a great blog or other social website as is the norm today.
DNA - Beatles Style Band
Here’s an example of some of the original material. Oh Did You Know – Not Supposed To Know – Feel This Way – A Long Time Ago – Tomorrows Gonna Be Alright – You Know How It Feels – Have You Heard The News
Powerplay
Of course, I jumped at the chance. We began practicing in a local practice studio and began gigging a couple of weeks later.
I played with them for 2 years until internal problems split us up. We had just returned home from a 6-month European Tour and I was looking forward to the next one. But it never happened.
Here is a recording of a couple of songs we did. It was recorded back in the 80s but it’s not too bad. Madonna – Dress You Up and Phyllis Nelson – Move Closer
New Formula - Punk Rock Band
Old Time Music Hall
Left School
Despite my experience as a drummer whilst still at school, there was absolutely no drumming work available. So I had no choice but to get a regular job.
My Final Years Of School - And My First Depression!
For the next few years after my first band had split up. I was down in the dumps, but then began to focus on my schoolwork for a couple of years. Then, as my last year of school arrived, it all just fell apart. Or rather I stopped caring about my education. I had hit my first almost depression. I wanted to play and there just weren’t any openings at that time.Ā Ā
My First Drumming Gig
All of the band members were present. The leader counted me in and we proceeded to play a few Abba tunes. Mama Mia, Waterloo, and Money Money Money. 45 minutes later and I had my first drumming job.
We toured for 4 years around the local club circuit. I was playing 4-5 nights per week and I felt really enthusiastic and optimistic about this great start to my drumming career.Ā If only the girl who broke my 5-year-old heart could see me now. (hahaha). I was overjoyed for the entire 4 years until the band split up.
Drumming Lessons Began
A Love Destined To Last Forever
I had just begun my junior education at the New Whittington Junior School. Life seemed golden. I met someone who would change my life for good. He introduced me to my second love.Ā
It was 1972 and the song “Rock And Roll Part 1 & 2“ had just been released. What else can I say? I fell head over heels in love with the drumming in that song. This love was very different from my first love. In that, it lasted many years as opposed to my first unrequited love, which lasted about as long as the shortest drum solo of all time.
Drumming was here to stay!
My First Day At School - And My First Heartbreak!
At the age of 5, I began my journey through life at New Whittington Primary School in Chesterfield. And I must be honest, this is where I first had my heart broken. On my first day in the schoolyard as we were taking our lunch break. That was when I saw her, she was about 30 yards away with golden hair glowing in the sun.Ā
That was to be the beginning and end of our unlived romance. It was fleeting but I never forgot. The following day I saw her again. She walked around the corner towards me. She walked with who I already knew to be the school bully (I had just labeled him so).Ā So there it was – the end of my first fleeting romance. 5 years old was a tough year.Ā