Professional Drummer, Percussionist, Drum Tutor & Drum Technician

My 30 seconds drum clip entry for June’s DrumOffTV competition. Voting instructions to follow.

I have a brand new section of my website, dedicated to my current set of drum students and showcasing videos of their talents behind the kit. Just click on the section above entitled ‘Students’ for the full list of videos and students, or just click this link:
http://thommillsdrums.co.uk/students/

Here is Bailey showing off a tidy groove!

Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information on drumming lessons: thommillsdrums@aol.co.uk

I am very pleased to announce that I will be drum teching for Foals this year on their forthcoming ‘Holy Fire’ album campaign. Promo for the release starts tomorrow in Berlin, and around Europe until the UK / European leg of the tour begins on February 28th until the end of March. I may even be playing a spot of percussion, triangles and tambourines at the ready!

Here is their brand new video ‘My Number’ TUNE!

Over a year has passed since recording the first Holy Vessels album ‘Last Orders At The Marshall Arms’. All recorded on a farm in Oxfordshire where we moved in, lived in a caravan and brought our own studio and producer and spent 2 weeks grafting out the record.
We finally released the album through our own label Hello Babe! Records in November of 2012 to some sparkling reviews, great live shows, national radio play and a building of our fan base.
The album is now available to listen to in full, via soundcloud just click on the player below, if you enjoy the record please support us by buying a copy via iTunes:
itunes.apple.com/gb/album/last-or…arms/id576430800
This will help us be able to fund and make a second LP, as we have no financial backing from labels or management, its all done for the love of the music and all funded from our own pockets.

Made my television debut on Later last night with Foals, playing triangle and tambourine, check out the live video here:

Pre-order our debut album “Last Orders At The Marshall Arms” here:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/holyvessels

Every lesson I teach is tailored around the individual student’s musical taste, needs and ability. This way the student is motivated and focused throughout the lesson. My experience enables me to break drum teaching into 4 key areas:

• Sight Reading / Aural Perception – From basic notation and values to advanced chart reading, transcription, studying genres of music, drum grooves, click tracks, pieces and performance and Grades 1-8 also taught, if required.

• Technical Development - To achieve a perfect technique, study of Moeller system, Drop and snap technique, sticking, posture, breathing and all aspects of drumming technique.

• Drum Grooves & Fills - Study of specific grooves relating to individual genres, these include; Rock, Pop, Funk, Metal, Country, Afro-Cuban, Drum & Bass plus many more. Also study the relative drum fills used within these genres to help to form an understanding of how to write the perfect drum part.

• Session Drummers & Live Performance - Studying a vast selection of drummers and genres. Learning key performance techniques and songs to be performed live and along to tracks.

• Additional Subjects:

• Drum Tuning - How to make you sound great behind a kit, as you can learn all the greatest techniques, but if your drum kit doesn’t sound good this will have less impact. Also cover drum-kit care how to look after your gear and the internal workings of your drums.
• Music Industry - Learn the basics of how the industry works and how to get the best out of your career as a musician and own musical project.

My lessons are taught from my own written syllabus with aspects of other workbooks and exercises, techniques to achieve the ultimate drumming experience and information. I am also currently writing my own drum workbook.

I have my own drum studio based in Brighton where I teach from, provide mobile drum lessons where I travel to the student and teach on their own kit and also offer interactive drum lesson through Skype.

CRB checked.
Musicians Union Member.
Skype Username: thommillsdrums

Rates – £30 per hour / £15 per half hour.

Bibliography;

• Progressive Steps To Syncopation For The Modern Drummer – Ted Reed
• Stick Control For The Snare Drummer – George Lawrence Stone
• Master Studies – Joe Morello
• Advanced Techniques For The Modern Drummer, Vol 1 – Jim Chapin
• Conversations In Clave – Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez.
• The Drumset Musician – Rod Morgenstein & Rick Mattingly
• Advanced Funk Studies – Rick Latham
• Play Rock Drums – Joel Rothman
• Jungle/Drum ‘n’ Bass For The Acoustic Drum Set – Johnny Rabb
• Afro-Cuban Grooves For Bass And Drums, Funkifying The Clave – Lincoln Goines & Robby Ameen
• Trinity Guildhall, Drum Kit 4, Pieces & Studies, Grades 7 & 8.

Thom Mills – Drum Tutoring CV.

Thom Mills – Music Industry CV

I have now started a new music blog, check it out here: http://teenagedeer.wordpress.com/

A preview video of the forthcoming Holy Vessels album, to be released later this year. Features track ‘Golden Hair’ from the LP entitled ‘Last Orders At The Marshall Arms’. Check out www.holyvessels.co.uk for more info.