drumstyle.co.uk

Welcome to DRUMSTYLE DRUM KIT TUITION (est 1989) and based in EXMOUTH and EXETER, DEVON U.K.

Tel: 01395 275839 (Monday-Friday 9am-8.30pm, or Saturdays 9am-5pm).
Email: (non urgent messages) via the "contact" button.


DRUMSTYLE was founded by professional drummer, tutor and drumming author, JIM FERRIS who offers private individual lessons at two drumming studios, one in EXMOUTH and another in EXETER.
Former pupils have worked with (amongst others); GIRLS ALOUD, SIR TOM JONES, LEONA LEWIS, JAMES BLUNT, NATASHA BEDINGFIELD, JLS, an appearance on the ROYAL VARIETY SHOW, one has toured CHINA, another has appeared at GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL. Others have appeared on RADIO ONE and RADIO TWO sessions.
Jim also has a 100% PUPIL PASS RECORD for NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS, almost all at "MERIT", "HONOURS" and "HIGH HONOURS" levels.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

***WHERE EXACTLY ARE THE TEACHING STUDIOS?
One is located in EXMOUTH at the edge of Woodbury common (15-20 minutes drive from Exeter motorway services) and the second one is at "MUSIC ROOM" (formerly known as Exeter Music Shop), SIDWELL ST (which is in the city centre) EXETER.The Exeter teaching room is accessed via two flights of stairs.

***HOW MUCH DO LESSONS COST?
£13.50 at Exmouth and £14 at Exeter (fees are based on nationally recommended minimum rates).
Lessons are 30 minutes in length and are always given on a one to one basis using an acoustic drum kit fitted with volume reducing pads and cymbal volume dampers.
Lessons are taken weekly, with approximately 12 weeks holiday built into each calendar year, timed around the local school holidays.

***WHEN DO LESSONS TAKE PLACE?
EXMOUTH lessons are available Monday to Thursday during the afternoons and evenings, plus a few lessons take place late Friday afternoons.
EXETER lessons all take place on Saturdays, during the morning and afternoon.

***I'VE ALREADY READ YOUR WEBSITE AND THE SUCCESSES OF YOUR FORMER PUPILS IS IMPRESSIVE BUT A LITTLE INTIMIDATING.
Please do not be put off at all. Absolute beginners are very very welcome and I do not expect everybody to be aiming to be a top professional player. Everybody is different and some people only want to be good enough to play along to c.d.'s at home and not even to get into a band one day. That's perfectly fine with me, I only ask that all of my pupils take full advantage of their lessons by practising adequately so as to ensure good steady progress each week.

*** IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO TEACH?
Pupils need to have reached TEN* years of age before commencing tuition on the full drum kit, however parents are welcome to ask for their childs name to be put on a waiting list when they become nine*. This minimum has been set to ensure that a young drum student does not embark on tuition before they have physically and mentally developed enough to take full advantage of the lessons.
* Pupils aged between nine and ten years can sometimes be accommodated on condition that they study the snare drum only at first. Contact Jim for further details.

*** DO YOU TEACH GIRLS / LADIES?
Of course I do. I understand that the drum kit is still seen as a male dominated instrument but I can tell you that some of my most successful pupils have been female.

***COULD I BE TOO OLD TO START TUITION?
It is unlikely, pupils have started in their fifties and even sixties though it is true to say that adults should try to be confident that they can spare the time to practise regularly between lessons, before they commence the tuition. Adults do sometimes struggle to find enough practice time each week.

***I'M LEFT HANDED, DOES THAT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?
The answer to that is both yes and no. A good proportion of my most succesful pupils are left handed, BUT they are all taught on a right handed kit set up, as right handed players. There are two reasons for this, firstly it would be impractical to rearrange the kit for one lesson and secondly, like many drum teachers, I think it is in the interests of the pupil to be able to get on anybody's kit and play. You will not be able to do that if you can only play with the kit set left handed.
In over 18 years as a professional tutor I cannot remember one left handed pupil who has failed, or been severely hindered by, having to play the kit right handed.

***HOW MUCH PRACTISE TIME WOULD I NEED TO FIND EACH WEEK?
I ask my pupils to be prepared to practise a minimum of four times a week for twenty minutes per occasion, on the work I have set for them. However it will not always take that long to achieve the work set for you. Of course though, the more time you regularly spend practising, the quicker you will improve.

***CAN I JUST HAVE ONE LESSON TO SEE IF I LIKE IT?
Most definitely, that is the preferred way although it will not be possible to tell if you will succeed after just one lesson (or two or three for that matter). Your chances of success with the instrument will be largely down to how much you practise and how well you absorb the advice given to you during the lessons.
PLEASE NOTE that if you do have a one off "try out" lesson, it is NOT a free lesson.

*** DO YOU DO "ONE OFF" LESSONS FOR BIRTHDAY/CHRISTMAS PRESENTS?
Sorry no, not unless the intention is to go on and have further regular tuition, subject to the pupil enjoying the first lesson of course.

***WILL I LEARN HOW TO READ DRUM MUSIC?
Yes you will. Many new pupils fear this part, but they quickly gain their confidence when they realise it is nowhere near as difficult to master as they thought it would be. Being able to read drum music will give you many advantages.

***WILL I HAVE TO TAKE DRUMMING EXAMS?
No, but each tutor book does have two summary pieces at the end which checks that you have understood and can cope with, the contents of the book and pupils are issued with a certificate when they have succesfully completed each level. Pupils who reach the end of the Level Four tutor book should be able to cope with a Grade 8 external examination if they wished to do so.

***DOES JIM PREPARE PUPILS FOR EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS?
Yes. If you do wish to take an external examination, Jim is very happy to prepare you for the widely respected "Rock School" syllabus.
Jim has a 100% pupil pass rate for examinations. Almost all have passed at "merit", "honours" or "high honours" levels.

***PLAYING A DRUM KIT IN THE HOUSE WILL BE VERY NOISY WON'T IT?
It does not have to be. A drum kit and its cymbals can easily be fitted with sound reducing practice pads and dampers which considerably reduce the level of sound produced. It would cost you around £40 to fit out the whole kit.
Alternatively there are electronic drum kits of course. These are becoming evermore popular for home practise as they can be played through headphones, making them almost silent to others.

***ARE DRUM KITS EXPENSIVE TO BUY?
A reasonable starter level acoustic kit with basic acceptable cymbals and sound deadening pads, can be purchased new for aproximately £300. Professional drummers would pay upwards of £2,000 for their kit so £300 is modest in comparison.
Electronic kits start at around £350 for beginner models that are of a (just) acceptable quality.

***HOW SOON WOULD I NEED TO OWN MY OWN KIT?
Assuming you do not have good access to one at a school or wherever, it is recommended that you get your own kit within a month or so of commencing your tuition. You cannot take full advantage of the tuition if you do not have a kit to practise on between lessons. Jim is happy to advise pupils / parents on a suitable purchase.

*** DO PUPILS TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO ATTEND LESSONS?
I have to say that I do try to discourage that. Experience tells me that if pupils live more than 15 (or so) miles away from their chosen teaching studio, the travelling will eventually become a problem for them.

***TELL ME MORE ABOUT JIM FERRIS.
Jim was born in Coventry in 1955 and studied drumming for five years at the Coventry School of Music http://www.coventrycorpsofdrums.org.uk before embarking on commercial ventures at the age of fifteen. In 1970 he appeared at The Royal Albert Hall in London as a percussionist in the highest level of the finals of the World Brass Band Championships. It was suggested at the time that he was probably the youngest percussionist to have ever appeared at that level of competition. Jim again played at the Royal Albert Hall in the 90's.
During his playing career he has performed in many genres of music from Marching Band to Brass Bands to Rock Bands to Big Band Jazz and most things in between. Jim has worked in theatres, cabaret clubs, seaside shows, open air stadium concerts, live and pre recorded radio broadcasts as well as freelance recording session work at studios in London, Coventry and the West Country. He has played for many t.v. personalities appearing at live shows in the South West and was the drummer for A.J.'s JAZZ BIG BAND for 20 years! playing on four of the bands albums, two recorded in it's hey day whilst the much respected founder and band leader Alan J. Hempstead was still leading the band.
All of this experience, gained over many years, leaves him ideally experienced to teach drumming to others.

***HOW DO I KNOW JIM FERRIS IS A GOOD TEACHER THOUGH?
Jim has taught drumming since he was eighteen years of age. He turned it into a full time professional career in the autumn of 1989. For nineteen years (1989-2008) Jim also taught drumming at schools across Devon and Somerset including leading independant schools Blundells @ Tiverton and Queens College @ Taunton where he was the tutor of drum kit for nineteen years.
Many new pupils are referred to him by local drummers, music teachers, present and former pupils. Jim has taught the children of many established local semi professional drummers, other professional musicians and music teachers, as well as teaching drumming to other music teachers themselves. He also taught drumming to the son of a Duke and Duchess for a while, but for the sake of confidentiality won't say who he was !!
In 1994 he began writing a series of tutor books named "The Mere Mortals Guide To Drumming". The tutor books now consist of four levels (plus a double pedals book) and all pupils are taught from these books. Pupils who succesfully reach the end of Level Four, often go on to take Grade 8 national examinations.
As detailed above, Jims pupils have consistantly achieved "merit", "honours" and "high honours" passes in national music examinations right up to grade 8 "passed with high honours". Former pupil Mark Pusey is now a leading London session drummer with many t.v. appearances to his credit.
Three pupils (out of three entered) have won through to the semi final stage of the annual "U.K. Young Drummer of the Year Competition".

Jim was last fully CRP checked as a schools music teacher, in 2005.

*** IS JIM WILLING TO GIVE FREE ADVICE?
In a word YES, he is very happy to help you if he can. He has a website that tries to answer the most popular questions posed by beginners. Go to http://www.futuredrumstars.co.uk and look for the answer to your query.

***PAST AND PRESENT PUPILS INCLUDE;
**Mark Pusey....London sessions, GIRLS ALOUD, SIR TOM JONES, JAMES BLUNT, LEONA LEWIS, NATASHA BEDINGFIELD, EMINEM, JOHN BARROWMAN. B.B.C.'s T.O.T.P's plus many other t.v. appearances and Radio One live sessions, Radio Two air time with THE RYES. http://www.myspace.com/markpusey

**Sarah Morgan....(grade 8 with honours) drummer for ROSIE and the GOLDBUG. Support band to the CYNDI LAUPER European Tour, Oct. & Nov. 2008.

**Matt Freer....drummer for RESONATE, Radio One interview and sessions, LockJaw (indie) Records. http://www.myspace.com/reso and http://www.resonateonline.co.uk

**James Bennetts....awarded "high honours" passes in both Grade 6 and 8 drum kit examinations. James toured China with a band in the autumn of 2006.

**Stuart Archer....drummer for "Picture Books in Winter" Glastonbury 2008 appearance and Radio 1 http://www.myspace.com/picturebooksinwinter

**Stuart Martin.... kit drummer for highly successful functions band "LIMITED COMPANY" http://www.limitedcompanyband.co.uk. Stuart was awarded a Grade 6 qualification with "honours".

**Ben Mc Cabe....semi finalist in the "U.K. Young Drummer of the Year Competition". Ben was also awarded an "honours" pass at Grade 8.

**George Woodward....semi finalist "U.K. Young Drummer of the Year 2009". George was also awarded a Grade 8 in 2009 at the age of 16.

**Drew McGilchrist....semi finalist "U.K. Young Drummer of the Year 2009". Drew has, since the completion of his lessons, been awarded a Grade 8 "passed with distinction".

**James Keefe (aged only 15) was awarded an "honours" pass @ Grade 8 drum kit.

**Harry Gill.... recording sessions.

*Plus many more potential stars of the future!

*** PRESENT AND FORMER PUPILS HAVE ASSOCIATION WITH THE FOLLOWING LOCAL ORGANISATIONS:
* Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra (senior and junior bands)
* West Exe College Big Band
* City of Exeter Railway Band.
* Queens College Taunton (junior, middle and senior school bands).
* Blundells School Tiverton (jazz band).
* Sidmouth Town Band (senior and junior bands)
* Sidmouth Community College Band.
* East Devon Wind Band.
* Lympstone Junior Band.
* Exeter Childrens Orchestra.
* Exeter College Big Band.
* Exmouth Town Band.
* Taunton Concert Band.
* Tiverton Town Band.
* Exmouth Community College Jazz Band (senior and junior bands).
* Exeter Battle Of The Bands winners (2002) "Nookie".
* Exeter Battle of The Bands winners (2004) "Supenik".
* Many local working Pop and Rock Bands....... far too many to list here!
* Plus other school bands and orchestras across Devon and Somerset.

***JIMS GEAR;
Jim plays a custom built PEACE PARAGON (canadian rock maple) kit.
PEACE (maple) woodhooped, Pearl Virgil Donati (maple and birch) and Pearl Jimmy Degrasso (brass) snare drums. D.W. 5000 double bass drum pedals. PAISTE (2002 / Signature) crash, ride and hi-hat cymbals, STAGG (brilliant finish, hand hammered) splash cymbals and a Sabian HHX Evolution "O" zone.
Vic Firth Steve Gadd signature nylon tipped sticks.

***TO BOOK A LESSON OR TO ASK FURTHER QUESTIONS;
Please telephone 01395 275839 between 9am and 8.30pm Mondays to Fridays or 9am till 5pm on Saturdays. Alternatively, email non urgent messages via the "contact" button.

Please note that sadly, it is NOT a good idea to call into the shop on Saturdays to try to discuss tuition with me, as I am nearly always teaching. Sorry about that.

***IS JIM AVAILABLE TO PLAY WITH BANDS?
Yes indeed, there seems to be an assumption that I am always busy but there are plenty of dates available that I am willing and keen to play with bands. Please get in touch with details.

*** JIM ON MYSPACE:
http://www.myspace.com/jimferris

***OTHER USEFUL LINKS.
http://www.futuredrumstars.co.uk Beginners help site provided by Jim Ferris
http://www.ukdrummerscollective.com The U.K. Drummers Collective.
http://www.pianoroomexeter.co.uk Devon's premier piano/keyboard supplier.
http://www.musicroom.com Music shop in Exeter
http://www.projectdrums.net Music shop in Exeter
http://www.theexmouthmusicshop.co.uk Music shop in Exmouth
http://www.psstmusic.co.uk Music shop in Exmouth
http://www.professionaldrumteachersguild.com
http://www.drumdeal.co.uk Buy and sell drums
http://www.drumspace.co.uk Online drum shop
http://www.musiclodge.co.uk Online drum shop
http://www.guideeuro.net Europe web directory


*SEE VERY BOTTOM OF WEB PAGE FOR FULL CONTACT DETAILS*


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