About Thomas
Hi, I'm Thomas Sutherland,
a professional drummer and drum teacher at Glasgow Drum Lessons.
I have been a professional drummer for over 9 years and am an active player in the Glasgow music scene. From tiny pubs to massive venues for thousands of people, I have played hundreds of gigs and performed in all kinds of shows.
But I was late to the game…
Indeed I was! My parents bought me a drum kit when I was 16 but for years it only gathered dust. When at 19, I studied Electronic Engineering with Music Technology at a local college, one of my classmates needed a drummer for a band. Because I had a drum kit, we jammed and that set me off.
In my early twenties, I studied music at Jewel & Esk Valley College in Edinburgh and moved on to get my BA with Honours at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. And yet, I didn’t take my first-ever private drum lesson until I was 28!
My Teaching Experience
I have been teaching drums since 2014. I worked at the Academy of Music and Sound in Glasgow and realised how excited I was about sharing my passion for drums with others. My teaching experience at the Academy was very varied. I taught drum lessons and live performance workshops, 1-on-1 lessons and group sessions for up to 30 students at a time, and students ranging from 15 to 60 years of age.
Want to learn something specific? Read about the main subjects I can cover in our lessons.
I now specialise in 1-on-1 lessons at my drum studio in Glasgow City Centre. I love meeting new people and helping them develop musically as players and personally as musicians.
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My Drumming Experience
Over the years, I have been extremely fortunate to have supported world-class bands and musicians on tour, such as the Proclaimers, Pokey LaFarge and Sturgill Simpson. In 2015, I even performed live with Sturgill Simpson at Celtic Connections in Glasgow. I have also played on the radio and TV for the BBC at the Quay sessions.
All these experiences have made me an extremely versatile plater. I have played in big bands, jazz, indie, punk, post rock, alternative, rock n’ roll, soul and country bands.
No one knows everything though and I continuously seek to learn from others. I have had lessons with world-renowned drummers and educators, such as Steve White, Pat Garvey, Dave Elitch, Louie Palmer and Jost Nickel. At the moment I am studying with Steve Lyman.
I strongly believe that as a professional drummer it is extremely important to keep taking lessons and gain inspiration from others. It helps me to keep pushing myself to be a better learner, player and teacher.