Hello, Drums there! My name is Mr Stewart and I have the pleasure of teaching every parents’ nightmare instrument. Yes, you guessed it. The drums. THE. DRUMS.
I began playing drums and percussion at the age of thirteen, continued playing through my secondary school years and then came to Leeds to study Orchestral Percussion at Leeds College of Music (now Leeds Conservatoire), gaining a Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2002.
Throughout my professional years a musician I have performed in various orchestras (Opera North, National Festival Orchestra, Leeds Sinfonia) and recorded for the Naxos label (‘Tom Jones’ - Edward German. National Festival Orchestra. 2008). I am a long-standing tutor for Rock School U.K-teaching children how to play cover songs, write their own songs and perform as a band throughout the course of a week. I play drums for Leeds band Hope & Social and I front my own seven-piece band that performs Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ Album up and down the country at venues and Festivals. I write my own music and have released four albums to date. I also frequently freelance as a drummer for recordings and live.
I offer tuition on the drums on every level-from entry level (Meg White) right up to Grade 8 (Dave Grohl). I teach predominantly from the Rock School Grade syllabus but can offer tuition for any syllabus. I teach stick technique and focus on rudiments and warm-up exercises. I also feel that my extensive performing experience in various types of ensembles, on various different instruments, lends itself in nurturing a general musicianship for the student.
