Full teaching career.... the teacher of teachers....

World Class Professional Drummer 

Martin was originally taught by his father, a Welsh Guard's Drummer and later studied under Glynn Thomas who was a well known session player at the time. He then went to the National Youth Jazz Association for whom he later taught as well as a peri in London Schools. He was a young member of the Harrow Youth Jazz Orchestra and it was then he was chosen to take a seat with NYJO. With that he found that the work with these groups magically seemed to turn him into a professional drummer only able to teach between tours privately and substitutions in the schools. The more people saw him, the more work came his way. He has always loved teaching, but performance made him a better teacher. He can relate to almost any circumstance his students may face in the future. He always taught when he wasn't on the road. Martin has always felt he had a lucky break and that there is undiscovered talents out there who may never get a chance if there isn't a teacher who really does know the true meaning of "Professional" When Martin decided to open STIX School he really didn't know if there would be an interest in Bedfordshire to learn the drums properly, so he taught Saturdays at "Miniature Music" in Flitwick well into the time when he could not work outside of his own school. In 1998 the Government's 'New Deal' had him training peripatetics for state schools in his studio in hopes that the music departments would have more qualification [ref EDD]. In 1999 Mid Beds District Council asked him to teach for "The Mix" Summer Rock School. STIX has often done workshops for the less fortunate and recently we had to turn down the "bite size" programme as the school is full time, 45 weeks per year, 6 days a week. Stix also ran a non-profit afterschool club, 'The Drummers Drop Inn' for local kids interested in a place to 'hang out'. Unfortunately, this was run by school funds only which quickly depleted. There seemed to be a lack of community interest and further funding could not be found, with saddness, the club had to cease. Result, local kids, some with talent are back on the streets. Martin is an accomplished musician, a masterclass drummer and professional drum teacher.