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I caught up with him recently to find out a little more about his life and work both inside and outside school and what prompted his lifelong interest in drumming. Who or what got you interested in drumming? Graham Burbidge from Chris Barber’s band. He played a drum solo on ‘When The Saints Go Marching In’ and I was hooked at the age of five. I tried my best to learn that solo and it still stands up today! When did you get your first drum kit? I bought my first snare drum from Jim’s Drum Shop when I was about 10. It cost £40. I raided my money box and spent every penny I had and Jim had to give me a free pair of sticks. My mother was absolutely furious! After that, I guess I would have been about 14, my grandmother lent me some money and I spent the lot on an old Premier Elite. PETER GREATOREX Peter has been teaching Drums at St Andrews for over 30 years now so a good number of OAs will remember him and quite a few will have been taught by him!
College now. I sometimes get the opportunity of teaching right the way through from Y4 to Y13. What events stand out as most memorable in your 32 years of teaching at St Andrews? Two. We did a hilarious cooking/ percussion round once with Bryony Maxwell, Jacob Smith, Rory Mathers and Chloe Pollard. We also did a New Orleans Parade complete with Indian tribes - that was great fun. Have you kept in touch with any of your former pupils and do you know of any who continue to play the drums today? I see Chloe Pollard around Eastbourne sometimes and I hear from Bryony Maxwell periodically. I also taught Nikita Malkov from Y6 to Y13. He even turned up unexpectedly at my wedding with some flowers! What qualities and skills do you consider to be the most important to become a successful drummer? The simple ones – look smart, turn up on time, know your position in the rhythm section. But in my music you need to add depth and culture and that is more than the notes you play – 30 years of listening and soaking it all up. ‘Walking the soil’ as they say in Muscle Shoals. (look it up if you don’t know!). Which famous musicians have inspired or influenced you the most? Too many to mention but here is a good start: the father of drumming, Gene Krupa, because none of us would be playing without him. Buddy Rich, as he was the greatest drummer who ever picked up sticks. Philly Jo Jones and Danny Richmond, as they were genius players. I guess we all just stand on the shoulders of giants! I am also lucky to have studied with some amazing drummers past and present and they all leave their imprint. That said, I do tend to focus more on a band sound rather than individuals. You listen to a band or go to see a concert for the group rather than the drummer. Drumming has taken you to many places abroad. Which venues or gigs stand out as being the most memorable? I have indeed been lucky enough to play all over the world but without doubt the best experience was playing the Arctic Blues
Festival. I took a train, three planes, a ferry and a bus to get there. After our show, we went down the Fjord in a small boat to catch a cod for dinner and there were killer whales in the water just a few feet away. I could have reached out and touched them. The gigs were great too!! What logistical challenges are there when it comes to getting your drum kit to International venues? I am fortunate enough to have a rider so I get to choose the equipment I use whenever we travel abroad. A different drum set is hired for me in each country/venue. I have become less precious with equipment over the years but I tend to take my own cymbals which were made by a wonderful cymbal smith from Tuscany called Roberto Spizzichino. In England it is a matter of shouldering your equipment up 12 flights of stairs on your own!! How has drumming changed over the years now that we have digital drums and modern technology to help us? I think electric drum sets are great as they are space saving and allow children to play without upsetting the neighbours too much! Having said that, as a five year old, I just thought the drum set looked cool and the music I listen to is predominantly from the 1950s… so pre- electronics! Do you have any unfulfilled goals or ambitions for the future? I have been lucky enough to play places such as The O2, The Royal Festival Hall and Ronnie Scott’s but I always wanted to play the 100 club in London as I used to go there to see my favourite American artists. There was this great Jamaican Blues singer I saw there… I got the chance to work for him 24 years ago and I have played for him ever since. We performed at the 100 Club a few years ago and it is now a regular gig so I feel pretty blessed with my career. I have never asked much from music, just to play the music I believe in and hold my sticks for a job; so I feel that if it all came to an end I would still be a very satisfied man! I also now have two beautiful young girls so I am starting to slow down and enjoy watching them grow up. Dancing is now a BIG part of Saturday mornings, so my new ambition is to be there for them; now that‘s a proper goal!
Berta – a current pupil
Ben – a former pupil
How did you come to be the Drum Teacher at St Andrews? I met the Brass teacher while I was playing on Joseph somewhere and he mentioned that St Andrews were looking for a teacher. I applied and I am still here 32 years later! How many other schools have you taught or continue to teach in? I started teaching at St. Andrews and Lancing Prep and have taught at Bedes and two deaf schools – Hamilton Lodge and Ovingdean. It was quite challenging as the children feel the sound rather than hear it and I had to attempt to communicate by sign language! I also teach at Cumnor House School and Eastbourne
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