Drums with Joel came to life in a Brockley basement studio in 2017, though owner Joel Phillips has been tutoring budding musicians for over 9 years and has been perfecting the craft himself since childhood.

Joel grew up in the south-east coastal town of Hastings, a creative hub which would provide the backdrop for his musical pursuits. Growing up in a household infused with the rhythms of Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan, as well as his father’s African drums, it’s hardly surprising that the 9-year-old Joel developed a lifelong passion for playing music.

“My parents would always play music around the house. I was exposed to the likes of Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin and The Doors from a young age. As I started to grow up, and was listening to more and more music, the one thing I would always tune into would be the rhythm of the music, and, of course, the drums.”

Despite exposure to various other musical instruments, including bass and “a little bit of piano”, Joel felt himself gravitate towards drumming.

“It’s in my blood,” he explains. “There’s some kind of drive in me that I can’t explain.”

As he grew up, he sought to dedicate himself to helping others master the art of drumming and threw himself into private instructing and working with schools, including giving classes at St. Aloysius School for Boys for the last couple of years.

During lessons – which are open to drummers of all ages and levels – students are taught the wide range of core skills needed to grow from complete beginner to Ringo Starr, including coordination, hand techniques, reading, footwork and timing. Under Joel’s guidance, students can climb through the Trinity Grades and track their progress as they become more adept and confident behind the kit.

Lessons are given in and around Hastings. Students must have their own drum kit

When he’s not giving lessons in Hastings, Joel can be found drumming at major UK festivals such as Wilderness and Citadel, or at various London venues with other musicians. In fact, one of his favourite pastimes is meeting with “complete strangers” for a jamming session.

“Other musicians teach me something new. To be inspired is to learn, so I’m always on the search for new inspiration to further my musical knowledge.”

 So, what’s the best part about playing music, according to Joel?

“Playing music is like a kind of therapy. When you’re playing music nothing else matters, you’re just completely encapsulated by it; any troubles of the day are put to one side. I also love being able to bring other people joy through playing music – that’s probably the most rewarding part of it all.”

If you’d like to kickstart your drumming journey – or tap back into an old passion – get in touch!