Drumming …

I love drumming. I’ve loved the drums since I was knee high to a bass drum.

My favourite drummers are, in no particular order, Stewart Copeland of The Police, Chester Thompson and Phil Collins of Genesis, John Bonham of led Zeppelin and Neil Peart of Rush.

Here’s a nice little YouTube of Chester and Phil doing what they do best.

Click here

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Banging the drum…

I have been interested in drumming since my mid teens. I started playing with the Lewis School Brass Band. After lots of practice I improved and joined the Mid Glamorgan Youth Brass Band. We used to rehearse in the college in Rhydfelin, Pontypridd every Saturday morning. My dad would drop me off at 10am and pick me up at 12.20pm. Sometimes I even cycled there - Pontypridd was a good 25 minute drive from where we lived in Penpedairheol.

Back then, I used to go to Ogmore camp for weekends and whole weeks with the Mid Glamorgan Youth Brass Band. It was great fun being away from home and playing music every day. Each day we’d usually rehearse or practice in the morning and after lunch - then our time was our own. Afterwards, we’d usually go down the beach or to the café in the village. Great fun.

Our percussion tutor during this time was a lady by the name of Sue Howell. She lived in St Brides Major near Ogmore in the Vale of Glamorgan. A great lady and fabulous teacher - she was so patient and very encouraging but could get a little frosty if she thought you weren’t putting in one hundred percent. I recall her being very petite but she had that look in her eye that you’d mess with her at your peril. I liked her a lot. One Christmas, she invited me to play with her local orchestra, the Vale Sinfonia, at a concert in Bridgend. I recall being very nervous as I hadn’t rehearsed with them so was, in effect, winging it. Happily, we got through it and it was an enjoyable experience.

Back in those days, I didn’t play on a kit. We’d play the snare or bass drum or cymbals on their own. I always wanted a kit but couldn’t afford one until much later in life. Now I have a classic Tama Swingstar conventional kit and a couple of Roland electronic drum kits. I have one of the Roland kits hooked up to an amplifier and CD player in my office so I can play along with any music I like. It’s a great way to unwind and sometimes when I’m ‘in the zone’ can be a truly spiritual experience.