Sam - Whitton - Drum

Methodology

Hi! My name's Sam and I'm a Freelance Percussionist and Drummer currently working in and around London.

- Which subject(s) do you teach?

I teach Drum Kit, Percussion and Music Theory.

Drum Kit - All main genres of drumming - From beginner to advanced.
Percussion- from the triangle to congas, to 4 stick marimba, to timpani to samba drumming.
Music Theory - Graded Music Exams (ABRSM)

- Tell me about your qualifications.

Bmus from the Royal College of Music in Percussion, Timpani and Drum Kit.
Percussion Grade 8 (ABRSM)
Drum Kit Grade 8 (TRINITY GUILDHALL)
Violin Grade 8 (ABRSM)
Theory Grade 8 (ABRSM)
A-Level Music - A
Higher Music - A

- How much do you charge?

I charge £30 per hour or £20 for half an hours tuition.

- Where do you teach?

I'm willing to travel to students' houses in Central, South West, West and North West London.
I will also teach music theory, computing, and web design from home.

- When are you available?

Apart from Tuesday's and Friday's when I teach around Surrey, I am very flexible!

- Which ages and levels do you teach?

I'll teach any age:
Percussion - Beginner to advanced. ABRSM or Trinity Guildhall grades.
Drum Kit - Beginner to advanced. ABRSM grades.
Music theory - Beginner to intermediate. (ABRSM, grades 1 to 5)

- Which qualifications do you prepare your students for?

Drum Kit - Trinity / Guildhall grades and Rockschool grades,
Percussion - ABRSM grades and Trinity / Guildhall grades,
Music Theory - ABRSM grades.

Experience

- What kind of experience do you have?

Currently I work for Surrey Arts as a Drum Kit tutor around multiple different schools in West Surrey! I have 3 years of experience teaching Drum Kit and Percussion to kids and helping out at the Royal College of Music's junior department on Saturday mornings. I have also lead and helped with workshops for children and adults (eg the BBC's Family Orchestra days)!

As a freelance musician, I have played with the London Contemporary Orchestra as a soloist and as part of the Ensemble, in T4's Unsigned Act finals, as part of Paraiso (London's premier Samba band), manage and play in a 12 piece Latin band (GD Latin Collective) and have played in the Proms with the National Youth Orchestra.

- Do you have an up-to-date DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service, formerly CRB) Certificate?

Yes, from mid September 2012.

- Where and with whom did you train?

At the Royal College Of Music I was lucky enough to have a range of tutors specialising in many different percussion instruments:
Drum Kit - Ralph Salmins
David Hockings - Percussion (Principal Percussionist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Sinfonietta)
Alex Neil - Percussion (Co-Principal Percussionist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra)
Latin Percussion - Hugh Williamson
Timpani - Andy Smith (Principal Timpanist of the Philharmonia Orchestra)
Vibraphone - Anthony Kerr
Marimba - Daniella Ganeva

- Tell me about some of your current students.

I'm teaching a range of different styles of drumming to loads of different kids - Some are learning for fun, other's are very serious about becoming awesome drummers and there are a few who have learning difficulties and/or mild autism, so I'm very clear and my lessons are structured and thought out, but at the same time, fun!