Drum Lessons in Bristol
Experienced drum tutor in Bristol. Beginner friendly. Teaching rock, pop & jazz.
About John
John Lyall is a highly experienced drum teacher based in Bristol in the South West of England.
He has been playing drums for over 40 years in a large range of bands covering jazz and country to rock and pop.
Learning Drums
- Tuition is on a one-to-one basis
- Beginners can get started with “No Experience Necessary!”
- “Tried and Tested” programme teaches Jazz, Rock and rudiments
- Comprehensive and enjoyable play-along programme
Drum Teaching
John’s teaching provides Rockschool or Trinity Rock and Pop books and grades to exam standards. Sticks and books can be purchased directly.
John can take students wishing to take grades 1 to 8 with Rockschool and Trinity Rock and Pop.
John's Studio
Drum Kits
John teaches on a regular acoustic kit.
Play along to music
Students can play along to audio as well as be recorded on video to see their progress.
Let rip!
The fully soundproofed studio has a PA system.
I've been having lessons with John for over 4 years now and enjoyed every minute. John has been very supportive and encouraging, even sending me support material and giving me advice outside of lessons. The lessons are always fun and relaxed. I thoroughly recommend John as a teacher.
More About John
John Lyall
Drum Tutor
John Lyall is an extremely experienced drummer who has spent a great amount of time studying the music of drums and practicing a vast breadth of drumming styles.
John started playing at the early age of 12 years old and quickly developed a love and fascination for drumming which led him to play for various bands in clubs at the age of 15. Since then, John has played drums for a large number of bands and musical projects covering styles from Country to Jazz to Rock and Pop music, and has appeared at Balloon Festival/Truck Fest/Food Fest/ Beer Fest.
He is a fluent and proficient natural drummer with a reputation for clockwork-like precision, yet plays with feeling and fluidity.
John has spent 5 years drumming for Bristol Concert Wind Band and has recording experience live and in the studio. Also for commercial radio and the BBC.
John places an emphasis on his drumming adaptability, open minded-ness and versatility. He has been teaching for 22 years full time.
Learning the Drums
John’s method will teach you the basic coordination needed between your feet and hands to play the modern five piece drum set.
The idea of moving a roll around the drums in various ways is something that will become totally natural to your playing.
Rolling on the snare drum, picking out subdivisions on the toms and then the cymbals is something drummers do all the time.
In terms of playing ‘time’, any accomplished drummer would be able to change the hi-hat pattern to compliment the feel of a song, without having to change the bass or snare drum pattern.
Happy Students
John is so much more than an experienced and talented drum teacher. He is incredibly friendly, patient, and encouraging, and he has been a wonderful influence on my son over the past five years.
What we really value is the way John keeps my son motivated and progressing, while making sure that learning drums remains fun and enjoyable. He always finds ways to inspire him and encourage him to keep improving, even when things get challenging.
We are very grateful for all the time, patience, and encouragement John has given my son over the years. He has played a big part in my son’s musical journey, and we couldn’t recommend him highly enough.
John has been teaching my son drums since he was 11, so for the past eight years, and the progress he has made during that time has been fantastic.
With John, he has developed into a confident and versatile drummer, learning to play across a wide range of different styles.
John has always been supportive and encouraging, helping him to develop his skills while keeping the lessons enjoyable and engaging. My son has always looked forward to his lessons and, eight years on, he still really enjoys them.
I would happily recommend John to anyone looking for an experienced, patient and encouraging drum teacher.
I've been having drum lessons with John for around 10 years now, and I couldn't recommend him highly enough. Over that time, he's helped me progress from a complete beginner through to Grade 7, while always keeping lessons enjoyable and tailored to what I wanted to learn.
He's a patient and approachable tutor who explains things clearly and always adapts lessons to suit my needs, whether I'm preparing for an exam, learning a particular song, or working on my technique.
I've really enjoyed my lessons over the years, and I'd happily recommend him to anyone looking to learn drums, whether they're a complete beginner or looking to take their playing further.
I came to John as an older drummer who had developed several bad habits and was struggling to progress further. John was able to help me improve my technique, introduce me to some types of music I’d never played before and create a really enjoyable and relaxed feeling in his studio. All this has considerably improved my playing and encouraged me to expand my music horizons.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a lesson and how long?
Lessons are charged at £17.50 for a half hour or £35 for an hour. It is possible to book a term of 6 lessons for £105. A schedule of lessons can be put together to suit your needs.
Where does John teach drums?
John teaches from his fully air conditioned studio in Filton, north Bristol. Very easy to find, it is just off a main road, Filton Avenue.
What styles of drumming can I learn?
John teaches most popular styles from rock/pop/jazz/latin etc incorporating the essential rudiments required to execute these genres.
Will I be learning in a group or on my own?
John teaches one-to-one, so there’s no embarrassment, you get quality time on the drums and dedicated instruction with no distractions.
Do I need any experience or drumming grades?
There is no experience needed for learning with John, and John’s teaching methods combined with his easy going nature will mean you’re playing great beats in no time!
When am I able to book lessons?
You can book lessons from Monday to Saturday, from the hours of 9am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am ’til 12.30pm on Saturdays.
What should I do if I need to cancel a lesson(s)?
Cancellations of lessons will mean loss of the lesson unless a rearranged time can be found to make the lesson up.This excludes anual holidays.
What are your terms and conditions?
- Tuition fees are payable in advance for six lessons.
- Any student who cannot make a lesson other than a pre-arranged holiday should inform me to rearrange a lesson if I have a slot available.
- Any lesson that fall on a pre-arranged holiday will be carried forward to the returning week.
- Illness, prior engagements, unforeseen situations etc will result in the loss of that lesson.
- Unfortunately if a student arrives late for their tuition the lesson will be of a shorter duration.
- Parents of younger students should be ready to collect their child on time as I have no facility to supervise them after their lesson.
Book Drum Lessons
Just use our form to tell us about you and John will be in touch shortly.
Finding the Studio
6 Stanley Avenue, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7NQ
Call John
07950 301 804
Email John
johnlyall95@gmai.com