Welcome to the Drums Department

One to one tuition

There are so many positives from learning an instrument, as either a child or an adult, and learning the drums is no exception. As well as helping to reduce stress, it can aid in motor skill development and help our students develop confidence. We are so excited to welcome our drum teacher, Corrie Dick, who is taking on students for one to one drum tuition here at Royal Arsenal School of Music.

Corrie currently teaches for the school on Tuesdays, and lessons take place in Studio 4.

Studio 4

If you or your child would like to take up the drums, please contact us to book your space!

Corrie Dick

Drum Teacher

Multi-award winning drummer Corrie Dick is a musician renowned for his fluency, touch and euphoric abandon at the drum kit. His teaching of drums and rhythm is driven by the ethos that music is here for our joy and pleasure.

Corrie has toured extensively around the world and played on, and composed for, dozens of albums, notably being shortlisted for a Mercury Prize with his trumpet-led jazz-rock band Dinosaur. He has studied jazz and rhythm at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and studied traditional music in Ghana, Morocco and the Congo with leading legends of local styles. His influences are richly diverse, from historic grooves to modern innovations and he puts these inspirations to use with prominent folk, soul, jazz, ska and indie artists.

Lessons with Corrie are about finding what makes the student tick, helping them to sustain enriching practice to build a lifelong and positive relationship with music.

Corrie started out playing piano, viola, trumpet, guitar, bass and singing before he realised the obvious - the drums are the most vibrant and exciting family of instruments the world has ever created!

Oran Cooch

Drum Teacher

Oran Cooch is an accomplished drummer, artist and educator based in South London. With over 10 years of playing experience including international touring, songwriting and studio recording, Oran has played in a variety of different groups, from rock and samba bands, such as the Magic Drum Orchestra, to his current London jazz trio and folk band. He has performed at some of the UK’s top music festivals including WOMAD and Larmer Tree.

As an experienced Bodhran player, Oran is a regular at the Blythe Hill Tavern and Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith sessions, playing alongside Mick O'Connor and Oli Steadman.

He enjoys sharing his broad knowledge of different styles and percussion instruments, developing students into well rounded and versatile musicians. Oran is also a percussion tutor at Blackheath Conservatoire.

Billy Pod

Drum Teacher

Billy Pod (Vasileios Podaras) is a Greek award-winning drummer/musician living in London. He got into music from the age of 5 studying classical piano, violin and drums. He later studied Jazz Performance (BA, MA with full scholarship) at the Jazz Department of Ionian University in Corfu, Greece.

As a professional drummer/ musician and educator he has been leading an

international career for more than 15 years performing/touring and teaching around the world. In 2019 he was selected by the French ‘Batterie’ magazine on the list of the top new drummers of the year.

He is gradually becoming a valuable asset for the London Jazz scene and beyond by performing with established artists as well as his own band.

He is also an accomplished composer with 2 official album releases

and has recorded more than 20 albums, working with internationally

acclaimed artists.

Billy’s experience makes him a versatile teacher with a methodic approach that encourages students to develop a joyful and substantial relationship with music.