Total Drummer Reviews 18

I’m 2 months in from joining the academy as a 69 year old total beginner. I have started the beginners course & find it to be really comprehensive. Matt has a great tuition style & breaks everything down in methodical easy to follow chunks.
I personally am sticking mostly to my course. However there is a huge amount of content & small bite size mini courses on every aspect of drumming you could imagine.
On top of this Matt offers a weekly challenge plus a weekly live lesson.
He invites students to pile in with any questions or requests for certain information relative to their journey & is always quick to respond & offer support. I had tried various other ways to learn with some books & YouTube clips but I found this lacked structure.
I would thoroughly recommend any aspiring drummer or already a competent drummer to join the academy. It is a fantastic learning resource & also great value for money.

If I could give 10 stars in would!! My teenage son and I have been learning to play the drums together. He's autistic and is constantly tapping and fidgeting with things so I thought he could channel that into something constructive and he's loving it. The lessons are very easy to follow and not boring. Matt is so engaging and good at explaining things and braking them down. My son can follow along completely independently. We are on Level 4 of the beginners drumming course and this has already enabled my son to do a drum solo performance at his schools spring show playing Seven Nation Army infront of hundreds of parents, and he got biggest cheer of the night.
We are playing on an old electric drum kit so you don't need to spend a fortune to get started. I've said if my son does his grade 1 I'll buy a real drum kit. With all the proper theory included with the course that is very achievable.
We have had a subscription for another well known course which we found very confusing and lacked consistency for beginners. As soon as we'd completed Matts two week free trial we switched over to total drummer Academy.

Having just completed my first year in the Total Drummer Academy I can categorically recommend joining.

It's hard work, make no mistake, but if you're prepared to put the time in to follow the journey that Matt will take you through step by step, you'll come out the other side feeling much more confident about your drumming and with far more ability than when you started.

The catalogue of Matt's video lessons is wide ranging and comprehensive. He has a knack of teaching to camera in way that more or less overcomes not being in the room together. Given all the lessons are recorded anyway, the ability to review them multiple times is priceless.

Throw in the personal touch that Matt adds with feedback on any videos or emails you send him and you've got everything you need to slowly but surely improve your playing over the year.

Oh, and it's fun too!

Thanks to Matt, my teaching business has experienced remarkable growth. I used to have just a few students and parents contacting me sporadically, but now I have the ability to fill in gaps in my schedule almost instantly. My teaching business has evolved from a part-time endeavor in a school with only a handful of private students to a fully booked schedule with a waiting list of over 20 people and counting.

The course Matt offers is user-friendly and allows you to progress at your own pace. You'll find invaluable support from a global community of fellow drum teachers, a wealth of course materials, teaching resources, and a plethora of useful tips and tricks. Furthermore, Matt is always eager to address any questions you may have about teaching or any challenges you encounter.

I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone looking to start a teaching business or seeking assistance in filling gaps in their schedule. It has been a game-changer for my business, and I'm sure it can do the same for you.

I discovered Matt and Total Drummer after a previous experience with online drum teaching that served to show how truly phenomenal Matt's philosophy and teaching are. Not only does he share his incredible repository of knowledge, he organizes it in an intuitive and easily accessible way, while providing detailed feedback and support. Thanks to Total Drummer, I've maintained a daily practice for months and constantly reap the rewards - increased discipline, pleasure, freedom. The last key difference is Matt's approach to music as a whole, its history, epistemology, all in good fun w/great jokes - makes up for a lot of us who never enjoyed classes back in school/college :)

Total drummer has been a lifeline to me. I suffer from depression and it helps my concentration it’s also good cardiovascular exercise which is good for my weight.The company itself couldn’t be more accomadating to beginners like me as the way the course are structured allows me to study slowly with no pressure. It caters for everyone and offers personalised lesson plans to tailor your needs. The live lounge session are good fun as you can interact with the amazing owner of the site Matt from no doubt from humble beginnings he has created s site for any one at any level to progress slowly if needed. That’s what I like about Matt he encourages to start with very slow tempos and take your time and not worrying if I’m doing well.I am a creative person who likes knitting poetry art and most of all drumming which I started at 15 with my first kit . Many years have passed and I still wonder if I can reach intermediate level.I mention creativity because that’s what Matt encourages. He’s not a stickler for rules and he wants to urge people to experiment m
I could go on but I think I’ve covered all the bases. In a word that Matt often says it’s awesome!!’

A great selection of online drumming courses under 'one roof' - from beginner to advanced with weekly challenges and weekly live lessons.
The best thing by far is Matt's video critiques of your playing. Absolutely invaluable and helps to hone and refine your weaknesses. Matt responds via email and video and explains everything in a very supportive, very friendly way. Recommended

I took a huge leap of faith 3 years ago, and bought a drum kit.
Nothing unusual in that, except I'd never played a musical in my life, and being in my late 50's, the chances of me actually sticking with it lay somewhere between slim and zero!!

There are countless online ways to begin to learn even just the basics of drumming, but I decided after a bit of research that as a total novice I would benefit from a professional tutor.

I made the best possible choice at the point where it was vital that I did so at that time, and I opted to take the free trial at Total Drummer, where I found that I was welcomed to the 'drumming community' by Matt, and I have never looked back to be honest.

He is an excellent tutor, who has a wealth of experience, and a totally pressure free, free flowing teaching method.
You learn at your own pace, and there is so much information, courses and aids available on the Total Drummer site that caters for just about every level of drummer that it's difficult not to look forward to getting behind the drumkit to progress the learning curve.
Like most things, the student has to put the effort in, and do the 'hard yards' with practice and more practice, but jeez, it's not half worth it!
Matt also emails across a 'weekly drum challenge', reminders to keep up progress, and he provides a weekly 'live lesson' where interaction is encouraged both to join in with lesson, and ask questions.
He is also quick to respond to emails and/or questions on social media.

I am still with Matt and Total Drummer three years on. I am totally engaged with all things drum related, and don't see myself altering that anytime soon.

My advice (for what it's worth) is if you are taking the plunge or have already done so by investing in a drumkit, then give yourself a fighting chance of success and take the free trial, just as I did.
I am not connected to Matt or Total Drummer in any way, nor am I being 'rewarded' for this feedback.
I am just a normal bloke who took a punt on doing something I'd never done previously.
My progress, and ongoing desire to learn more and more is due to Matt.
I do the graft, and Matt does the unwavering inspirational stuff!!

As I complete beginner I find the course helpful and easy to follow. Matt is always helpful with any questions and I feel I am progressing really well thanks to the course. Well worth it. Love it.

Matt at Total Drummer makes this experience a very personable and supportive one. He is super quick to reply to the online Facebook group and the lessons through the Total Drummer site are really instructive, simple to follow; you are able to pause and restart which is great for time management, and at less than £20 per month this is great value. The site itself is easy to work around and you can structure your drum journey to how you want. There are live lessons - this is a totally interactive way to learn the drums.

Great for beginners and intermediates, like me, too. Bags of enthusiasm and plenty of useful resources.

I have been playing drums on and off for 40 years and picking up my sticks again for the first time in a number of years, I was searching online for some sort of lessons that would help me get going and progress beyond my previous limited ability.

I came across the ‘faster hands in seven days’ introduction to Total Drummer and found it a straightforward easy to follow way to get the hands moving better.
Having signed up as a full member, I had some communication with Matt about where I was at and what I wished to achieve and he produced a practise plan to suit my needs.

The live lesson on a Wednesday evening is a fixture in my weekly diary. If you have any concerns about the live lesson - don’t! the only person anyone can see or hear is Matt. You can play a long on your acoustic kit, electric kit, practise pad, or failing that your kneecaps and the floor and no-one else will ever know.

The live lessons cover a wide range of styles and techniques and are aimed to be of benefit to everyone whatever their level of ability – even if you have only just started playing, the more complex stuff is broken down to basics so you can at least see how drum pieces are structured and will usually be able to play at least a small part. As the lesson progresses up to full pace incorporating all the elements worked on within the lesson, there may well be a point at which even the more experienced players may find their limit… but they always leave you with something to work on even if the style is not what you would usually play. Some lessons are more basic stuff, some are more fun stuff and some will make your brain hurt!!

On top of all this, to help keep you improving your technique and ability, there is a weekly challenge. Just a short exercise to work on throughout the week to hone your skills on one particular aspect. Matt is always enthusiastic and encouraging, responds to any queries raised during the live lesson and emailed queries or comments in between, on any aspect of your drumming. There is also a massive amount of archived material which you have access to any time. Excellent value, great teacher, enjoying my drumming more than ever for having joined Total Drummer.

Matt really cares about his students and their progress, he is very helpful with answering personal issues you may be having with anything drumming… I am blind and he has been exceptional at explaining what I may be missing visually… Love my online lessons and money well worth spent

I've always wanted a drum kit since I was a kid, but it was always a non-starter, finally I have an electronic kit. I'm completely new to drums/drumming/musicianship and after messing around on my electronic kit for about 6 months and not really getting anywhere I bit-the-bullet and subscribed to Total Drummer, after it was recommended to me by a friend.

I have periods where I'm not able to do any practice on my kit, but Total Drummer allows you to learn at your own speed, fitting in the practice when it suits you. Matt, the tutor, holds regular live drumming lessons and sets weekly challenges which you are free to attempt or not. There are hundreds of specialist and archived lessons for all levels of drummers at Total Drummer.

I'm a rock fan, but since starting the lessons I now listen to music completely differently and when i'm practising, occasionally I am actually writing down my music (although it's at a very basic level), to help me remember the different notes/rhythms.

Drumming focuses the mind and body and allows you to switch off from everything else even if only for an hour. I recommend this particularly for complete novices as progression is not hurried or time limited.

People have said, that me buying a drum kit is part of a mid-life crisis, but I say, it's helping to prevent it!

I have been playing drums on and off for over 20 years, mostly in church and a bit of jamming with mates. I came across Matt on YouTube a few years ago as he had an easy way to learn bossa nova and other Latin grooves. Then I found out about the total drummer academy a bit later on. I joined during covid and have loved it ever since. There is so much material on there for learning just about anything to do with drumming, all grooves and styles, and a great live lesson once a week to stay in touch and pick up something new together with Matt. The lessons start slowly so you can pick it up easily, and moves on to more developed technique so everybody can get something out of it. It's a great way to discover new styles to keep things exciting! Highly recommended for any aspiring drummers who want a fun way to keep improving and stay drumming!

So....... you have decided that you want to learn drums, you have chosen your kit, (or maybe Santa will perhaps bring you one!), and it's all shiny and new, and you sit behind the kit, clutching your drumsticks ready to rock out..... Then you realise that you have forgotten one of the most important parts of your new hobby, you don't have a clue how to begin to make sense of what is laid out in front of you...!
As a result, you make a bit of noise, randomly hitting drums, toms and cymbals, and after a few weeks, you get bored because no major rock bands have 'come a knocking' on your door, and the drums either end up as a weird clothes horse, or they end up on an online auction site being described as 'As new, hardly used'!

I speak from experience, as I was that person, 2 years ago. I am now 60 years of age, (so I reckon that I must have been 58 when I shocked my wife, and announced that I wanted a drum kit!).
She went along with it, so I bought a Roland TD17KV kit. Both her and my family were convinced that I would end up placing the kit on the 'online auction site' (as mentioned above), as I had never shown any interest whatsoever in playing an instrument before! But I didn't..... and nobody is more surprised than me about that!!

What I did do, is spend some time researching online tutors, as this was the method of teaching I had decided would suit me best.
Also, no-one could have forseen what was about to happen to the world, so it transpired to be a masterstroke on my part!

I opted to join 'Total Drummer', and this has also proven to be another cracking decision.
Matt, the sole teacher on the site, first of all sent me a personal video message welcoming me, and has been there every step of my (often faltering) journey, offering encouragement, and suggestions to help make my drumming miles better, and also to make me the 'best drummer I can be'.

This is a milestone of where I am as a drummer right now, and am only at this point due to hard graft... (I am most definitely an 'enthusiastic novice'), and having an excellent tutor.
There is so much information, courses and general help from Matt on total drummer that a 'practice failure' soon becomes a 'practice success', so the spectre of the drum kit becoming a 'clothes horse' never materialises!
I am currently approaching the end of one of the more in depth courses on TD, (that being the 'beginners drum course'). I could have finished it far sooner, but .... it is a course that allows the student to go at their own pace, and encourages development leading to other aspects of drumming.
I have also done lots of smaller courses while undertaking the beginner's drum course, purely because that is the way I wanted to approach things, and everyone is different, so the whole TD website is geared to individual choice.

I make a valiant attempt to do between 1-2 hours a day on my drums. It's MY chillout time. When I'm not drumming, I'm reading about it, and every surface becomes a drum pad!
Seriously, that is how much drumming gets under the skin.
Matt is at the end of an email if my practice sessions, or a particular groove is baffling me, and he is there most Wednesday evenings giving us all a live, interactive lesson where his 'infectious enthusiasm' can't fail to get the best from us, the students who join him live, week in, week out!

Drumming has occupied my mind throughout Covid, and continues to be the best thing I have ever 'taken up' as a hobby.
Don't just take my word for it though. (I have no connection with Matt or TD by the way!)
Just don't sit at your drums waiting for some devine inspiration. Have a look at TD, you won't regret it.

I began the mentorship program with Matt back in March 2020, just as the nation was placed into lockdown. Little did we know the extent and length this pandemic would last for! Matt helped me transition my teaching to an online format, helping to supply me with instructions and templates I could send to my students to help make the process as smooth as possible! As a result, my tutoring flourished instead of failing when I was forced into unfamiliar territory!

In a pretty gloomy year, Matt helped keep the positivity flowing and took my visions and ideas and helped me to make them a reality.

I told Matt I wanted to rebrand my teaching into a ‘business’ and address the pricing and contracts I had in place. He helped me tweak the wording and make sure my messages were clear and was there to offer his assistance in any way, every step! He recommended people who could help me get the message right on my new website and offered design feedback to create a super professional website.

The Total Drummer private Facebook group is great for championing the success of others and offering live Q&A sessions, addressing tons of tutoring scenarios! I have always felt like if I had a question or something bugging me, then Matt would always be there to help!

In a tough 12 months, with a global pandemic and MONTHS of national lockdowns, I’ve gone from Cameron the drum tutor of 12 students, to Cameron the business owner, with 25 students, who is super excited for the future!

Matt’s encouragement and general positivity is something that any drum tutor could benefit from if they're looking to develop their services! I highly recommend him and I’m so glad I have had the chance to work with such a great person as a mentor!