Belfast Drum Academy

For those of you who are interested in reading music and taking exams we use the Rockschool syllabus. Phil has used this syllabus as both a tutor and student for nearly ten years, and achieved a distinction in his grade 8 exam in 2006.

With Rockschool, students not only learn to play in a number of classic and contemporary styles such as Rock, Funk, Country, Jazz and Latin, but can also explore Drum n Bass, Metal and Afro-Cuban to name a few. As well as this, students will have the opportunity to develop other important musical skills such as improvising, sight reading and listening (ear tests).

Students are given an opportunity to put all their hard work and practice to the test twice a year when Rockschool exams are held here in Belfast. Not only is this a positive step in building a students confidence, but can also provide vital experience for future exams or auditions etc.

Students are under no pressure to sit exams if they do not want to, and will not be entered for an exam until fully prepared. Rockschool helps lay an excellent foundation for anyone who either wants to play music for fun, or to pursue music as a career.

However, if you don’t want to read music or sit exams then do not panic, there are still loads of things we can do. You will be expected to practice, source music and rhythm ideas to work on at lessons, learn basic counting skills and learn simple rudiments like flams, drags and ruffs.

We can work on songs you know and love as well jamming over backing tracks we have compiled, or we can help develop your sense of timing by playing along with a click track or metronome.