Meet Our Drum Teachers
Our teachers are some of the most in demand drummers in New Zealand.
With a wealth of knowledge and experience across a broad range of genres, we'll match you with the teacher that best suits your needs.
Ryan Carroll
Director / Drum Tutor
Check out some of Ryan's drumming
Ryan Carroll
How long have you been playing drums, and what style do you play?
I've been playing drums for 20 years. I would say my favourite styles to play are Pop and Rock.
How did you get into drumming?
I started with drums very much by chance. I was encouraged to learn an instrument after I stopped figure skating lessons because I was spending too much time watching TV. Drums seemed like to best/coolest instrument and so I went with it!
What’s your favourite kind of song to drum?
I love playing so many different types of songs. Typically songs that have an interesting or unique sounding groove are fun to play.
What’s your favourite snack food?
I love burgers
Who’s your favourite drummer?
Since I was 15 and found out about a band called A Perfect Circle, Josh Freese has been a significant force in what inspires me in drumming.
What bands and/or countries have you played in?
I've played in Ekko Park, Frozen Alice, Black River Drive and Mamaku Project to name a few. I have played in the US, Australia and NZ.
What’s your favourite kind of student to teach?
I have a lot of time for any student that loves the process of learning and is committed to seeing results no matter what level.
Why do you like drumming?
Rhythm is such a fundamental part of music and the way it sounds and feels. There is something so special about hearing the rhythms that make up my favourite music being played by my own hands and feet.
Why do you like teaching? Do you have a favourite moment from teaching that you would be willing to share?I like to imagine that when I'm teaching I can inspire the same level of excitement about drumming that I have been lucky enough to have felt when I was learning. It's always really special to see a student's face light up when they play a beat or a song that they never thought they could play.
Jared Desvaux de Marigny
Director / Drum Tutor
BMus - Jazz Performance (UoA)
Check out some of Jared's drumming
Jared Desvaux de Marigny
How long have you been playing drums, and what style do you play?
I've been drumming for 18 years. I play a little bit of everything, but I mostly enjoy playing Hip-Hop, Latin, Reggae and Jazz.
How did you get into drumming?
I grew up in a pretty musical family and I originally started on piano and guitar. I remember my mum wanted me to sign up for drum lessons and I had a big fight with her because I only wanted to play guitar. She told me to just try one lesson and if I hated it I never had to go again... I've been drumming ever since!
What’s your favourite kind of song to drum?
Anything with a great groove and a lot of bass.
What’s your favourite snack food?
Those little mochi ice creams.
Who’s your favourite drummer?
It's a close tie between Mark Guiliana and Richard Spaven.
What bands and/or countries have you played in?
I've toured and recorded all over - multiple tours in Japan and Australia, and all over New Zealand regularly. The main bands I'm playing in at the moment are Miho Wada's Jazz Orchestra and Miloux.
What’s your favourite kind of student to teach?
Somebody with a great sense of humour and who's passionate about drumming.
Why do you like drumming?
I like the physicality of it. Whatever you give the drums is what you get back from them.
Why do you like teaching? Do you have a favourite moment from teaching that you would be willing to share?
Being able to pass on knowledge about something that has consumed the majority of my life is really incredible. Watching students progress lesson after lesson and then one day coming in and showing you videos of them performing is such a cool feeling.
Tom Leggett
Drum Tutor
BMus - Jazz Performance (UoA)
Check out some of Tom's drumming
Tom Leggett
How long have you been playing drums, and what style do you play?
I’ve been playing for 16 years now. I mostly play Rock music in my bands, but I often play Soul, Funk and Jazz too.
How did you get into drumming?
My mum is a music teacher and pushed me to learn an instrument from a young age. I actually chose the saxophone but my hands were too small! They put me on drums instead - and I’m glad they did because I had a great teacher and got hooked immediately.
What’s your favourite kind of song to drum?
I love anything that challenges me whether it’s fast and loud, slow and quiet, simple or complicated.
What’s your favourite snack food?
Are dumplings snack food? If so, those.
Who’s your favourite drummer?
Of all time? Ringo Starr.
What bands and/or countries have you played in?
My bands are Wax Chattels and Miss June. And with Wax Chattels I've toured England, North America, Japan, China, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.
What’s your favourite kind of student to teach?
I like a student that wants to be challenged -and who isn’t afraid to make mistakes!
Why do you like drumming?
Drumming makes me feel good. You can play drums when you’re happy, sad or angry and it will always improve your mood!
Why do you like teaching? Do you have a favourite moment from teaching that you would be willing to share?
I like to teach because it’s inspiring to see somebody progress at something they are passionate about. One of my favourite moments was teaching drums in China for six months last year. I found it to be a great challenge!
John Murray
Drum Tutor
BMus - Jazz Performance (UoA)
John Murray
How long have you been playing drums, and what style do you play?
I have been playing drums for 12 years, playing everything from Jazz, Rock, Pop, Punk, Folk and Hip-hop. My current focus is Afrobeat, making sure that the crowd is dancing!
How did you get into drumming?
A friend needed a drummer for his band, so I picked up some sticks and the rest is history!
What’s your favourite kind of song to drum?
Something with enough to keep me on the edge of my seat and enough to make everyone in the crowd start moving.
What’s your favourite snack food?
Barbeque Shapes.
Who’s your favourite drummer?
I have 3 at the moment! Kendrick Scott, Nate Wood and Jamire Williams.
What bands have you played in?
I'm currently playing in Fathe and the Sweetos.
I've played with Andrew Fagan and the People, The Plague, Bernie Griffen, Badcorporation, Stay Foolish and Hot Knives.
There have also been a few session gigs with the likes of Ha the Unclear, Jess B, Pollyhill, DblDbl, and many others.
What’s your favourite kind of student to teach?
Someone who loves music and is keen to find out how to take part in all the magic, and then puts their own stamp on it.
Why do you like drumming?
There's something wonderful about the role of the drummer, you can push and pull an entire crowd with just a bass drum. The skills required can be really simple to pick up, but take a lifetime to master, and that journey involves making a bunch of weird and great sounds with all your friends. Sounds like a good time to me!
Why do you like teaching? Do you have a favourite moment from teaching that you would be willing to share?
I love seeing my students learn how to learn. Drumming can be hard, but with each lesson learned and each challenge conquered, you get more and more freedom with the instrument. Seeing my students tackle those challenges, reminds me that I can keep doing it too.
Oliver Prendergast
Drum Tutor
Check out some of Oliver’s drumming
Oliver Prendergast
How long have you been playing drums, and what style do you play?
I have been drumming for 15 years now, focusing heavily on Rock and Pop. I also enjoy adding electronic elements to my set up.
How did you get into drumming?
As any impressionable "youngest brother" would; seeing my oldest sibling playing in bands throughout highschool made him to coolest person in the world, so I had to be just like him. 15 years later I'm still drumming and he's driving boats!
What’s your favourite kind of song to drum?
Anything with plenty of space to grove! Throw in a half time breakdown and we're away!
What’s your favourite snack food?
I've always been ridiculed for my snack preference, so let's just be upfront......I like the Turkish delights left in the box of favourites, I like black liquorice, and the $2 Big Ben pies beat the proper bakery ones any day. Drum off if you disagree 😉
Who’s your favourite drummer?
I've been heavily inspired by both Jay Pastones (Tesseract) and Matt Halpern (Periphery). Both are masters at blending different time signatures (or displacing the beat over a 4/4 click) and they create some very unique sounding beats and grooves for their bands, which stands out to me as the genre that can typically be overrun with double kick and china cymbals.
What bands and/or countries have you played in?
I've been drumming for Strangely Arousing as one of the founding members since 2011. We have been lucky enough to perform in Australia, China, Korea and Dubai. More recently I've joined with some friends to Create Kazia, think slick Pop hooks over a modernized Jazz feel.
What’s your favourite kind of student to teach?
Someone that has a goal in mind. Anyone can come in and be taught the basics of drumming and a rock beat, but if we can direct that energy towards a particular artist you band you like, I find the student will enjoy it more and retain the knowledge for longer.
Why do you like drumming?
There is no better feeling than being able to make people jump and dance. Seeing a room of people move because you're tapping your right foot? It's a surreal experience playing music and performing in bands and I hope to help guide other young drummers to do the same!
Thomas Christie
Drum Tutor
Thomas Christie
How long have you been playing drums, and what style do you play?
I’ve been playing drums for 12 years and I enjoy playing jazz and rock.
How did you get into drumming?
One day someone called Brig called on the landline and he was offering drum lessons. Ever since that first lesson, I was hooked.
What’s your favourite kind of song to drum?
I usually try to play along to songs that give you somewhat improvisational freedom while still having a solid base to come back to.
What’s your favourite snack food?
Crisps.
Who’s your favourite drummer?
The greatest drummer of all time - Buddy Rich of course! Buddy is known for his speedy rudimental playing and grand flashy drum solos which left the audience in awe.
What bands and/or countries have you played in?
I’ve played in many bands. No smoking after 3:15, Zoned out, The Observers, Lynfield College Big Band and I even manage my own jazz quartet.
What’s your favourite kind of student to teach?
I like a student who has patience and the desire to improve and get better in their playing. Someone who is open to constructive criticism and who enjoys playing the drums regardless of skill level.
Why do you like drumming?
The drums unlike most instruments doesn’t use chords and we don’t need to worry about pitch. A drummer needs only worry about rhythm which is an integral part of music. The drummer holds the time and keeps the band together. Drumming also helps develop your ears and allows you to replicate rhythms that you might here in a song which is a skill that can be applied across many different instruments.
Why do you like teaching? Do you have a favourite moment from teaching you would be willing to share?
I like teaching people because it is a great feeling when you use your skills to help someone else better themselves in what they enjoy. It is extremely rewarding as a teacher to see your students excel.