DR RICHARD HEMMINGS
Experienced drummer, composer, performer and tutor offering DRUM TUITION in Leicester (Leicestershire, the East Midlands.)
Loughborough, Nottingham, Coventry, Derby
About Richard
Richard began drumming at the age of 12 but his introduction to music began earlier when he was packed off to piano lessons! His drum tutor for 7 years was Paul Francis, an experienced professional player whose credits include Bill Wyman, Maggie Bell and Steve Harley and the Cockney Rebel.
Whilst studying for his music 'A' Level at Colchester Institute, Richard played percussion (bass drum and gong!) in the Symphony Orchestra. He also performed drums with a local progressive rock group. Richard received percussion lessons from Roy Sinclair (who at the time was playing the odd gig with Wet Wet Wet and Stuart Copeland). Roy taught him a lot about stick control and technique, and also introduced him to timpani and tuned percussion (e.g., the marimba, vibes). Richard passed the 'A' Level music exam in 1994 and moved up to Yorkshire for three years to read music at Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds where he was awarded 1st BA (Hons) in Contemporary Musics.
Leaving Bretton Hall in 1997, Richard spent a year recording a solo album which went on to receive high praise in The Wire. In 1998 he moved to Brighton to help edit a music web-site, where he carried on writing and recording.
In 2000 he moved to Leicester to carry out a PhD in music at De Montfort University. During this period he performed exclusively with his own band EDBM; first as the groups keyboardist and later as the drummer. The group became well-known performers of outlandish experimental rock music, lots of improvisation and electronic weirdness. To this day, EDBM remains one of the few bands to have had a lead bassoonist and feature duck whistle solos! From October 2004 until May 2005 Richard lectured in popular music at Northampton University College. He was awarded his doctorate in November 2005 when he also began teaching drums.
Although his own project, EDBM, is on the back burner, he has performed improvisations with groups based in London, Paris, New York, Rome and even Leicester! Much of his current compositional work is computer-based.
Richard currently lectures in Performance Art at De Monfort University. As you can see, he is incredibly happy when he has his drum sticks in his hand!
