Information About Lauren - Derby teacher

Personal Description:

I started drumming at the age of thirteen and haven't put the sticks down since! I completed my initial training by achieving a distinction for my grade eight drum kit exam and then went on to study Popular and World Musics at the University of Leeds followed by a Master's Degree in Music Management at the University of Sheffield. I started teaching drum lessons during my studies and have now been teaching for around 15 years. I am a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and have an enhanced DBS certificate and ISM Registered Private Teacher Status.

I am the drummer for punk-infused, indie-rock trio FloodHounds as well as several other projects and I have been lucky enough to play gigs and festivals all over the UK and beyond. I am also available for session work for live and recorded projects.

Tutoring Experience:

I started teaching drum lessons on a one-to-one basis during my studies in 2009. As well as one-to-one lessons, I also lead various group projects, band rehearsals and jam sessions with children and adults. I have taken part in a number of other music projects outside of my day-to-day teaching, for example I was part of a team working with Nottingham Community Music trialling some new music software aimed at early years and SEN students. I also worked for Artis as a performing arts leader running projects in primary schools, using music, dance and drama to teach national curriculum subjects. Through these extra projects I have been lucky enough to receive training in teaching methods, behaviour management and safeguarding.

Tutoring Approach:

Drum lessons are taught on an acoustic drum kit in a fully equipped studio teaching space in Derby. My aim as a teacher is provide a relaxed and supportive environment where students can develop real life musical skills and above all, a passion for drumming. No two students are the same and lessons are tailored to suit the needs, goals and learning styles of the individual pupils, whether that be to take graded exams, play in a band or simply to learn a new skill and have fun!

For those wishing to take graded exams, I teach the Rockschool and Trinity Rock & Pop syllabuses and can prepare students for either face-to-face or recorded exam submissions. I am proud to say that a number of my students have gone on to study music based subjects in further education settings and have successfully auditioned for specialist institutions such as the Birmingham Junior Conservatoire.

I hold student showcase concerts twice a year providing performance opportunities for students at all levels and I also help students create high quality recorded performance videos that they can share with friends and family.

There is no minimum (or maximum!) age to begin learning to play the drums with me. Lessons with the youngest pupils will focus mainly on simple time keeping and rhythm skills will prepare them for more complex drumming as they progress. Adult learners are also very welcome and I am a firm believer of that it is never too late to learn! I myself started taking piano lessons as an adult so when you feel like you’ve hit a wall or have had a busy week and struggled to fit the practice in, believe me when I say … I get it!