Maths symbols to cymbals...

FOLLOWING the beat of a different career . . . drummer Gavin Perry

FORMER maths teacher Gavin Perry is hoping that a musical career change adds up to success.

That’s because the 46-year-old who has supported TV musician Jools Holland is offering drum tuition at Chadderton recording studio NCN which is used by up and coming bands.

And pupils will be able to get that live experience thanks to the hi-tech equipment installed by Gavin which allows them to play the drum part along to a pre-recorded band track and then listen back.

There are also two drum kits so he can demonstrate without changing places with the pupil.

It the second career change for Gavin, of Cherrywood, Chadderton, who was originally an engineer with British Aerospace before completing a degree and then becoming a teacher.

He taught at Saddleworth School before following his passion for drums which he took up as a teenager.

“I loved teaching but I had been playing drums since I was about 14. You reach a point where it is now or never and I went professional in 2005,” explained the father-of-three.

A former resident tutor at Manchester Drum Studio for 10 years, Gavin has been in several bands including Souled as Seen which worked with Jools Holland, Edwin Starr, Russell Watson and Jimmy Ruffin.

His current band is Pearl Jazz while he also shares session work with 10CC drummer Paul Burgess and Kevin Whitehead who plays for Lisa Stansfield.

Pupils have included actor Andrew Knott who was in the film “The History Boys” and Daniel Short who plays alongside former Happy Mondays bassist Paul Ryder in Big Arm.
Gavin also carries out custom drum engineering and Peter Gabriel is among his customers.

He spent a long time searching for a suitable studio and believes that its set up is unusual explaining: “The drums are not really a solo instrument, you need to play in a band. The equipment is a massive help because it is like playing with a band.

“They can then listen to how they have done: have they got it right, are they speeding up and all those issues.”

So much so that Gavin is eventually hoping to use his contacts to bring in live bands for pupils to play with and perhaps set up podcasts.

But it is not just for the youngsters and he added: “There must be people out there my age or older who have fancied playing drums. It is great for the body, the co-ordination, and the keeps the mind sharp.”

For information contact Gavin on 0161-628 4104.