HUGH LAWRENCEDRUMS & PERCUSSION

DRUMMER · PERCUSSIONIST · EDUCATOR

Hugh
Lawrence.

A life in music.
A love of sharing it.

I’m a working drummer and teacher based in Cheshire. Playing with people, helping musicians develop, and finding useful ideas along the way.

Explore my work
30+ YEARS PLAYING1997 TEACHING SINCE
Hugh Lawrence smiling
HUGH LAWRENCEBA (Hons) MISM
01 / PLAYING

On stage, in good company.

Different bands.
The same love of playing.

My current freelance work moves between soul, funk and Motown, New Orleans R&B, roaming brass, jump-jive and rock ’n’ roll.

Hot Jazz BiscuitsSoul, funk & Motown The NightcreaturesNew Orleans R&B · led by Henry Botham Worker Bee Brass BandManchester roaming brass Dizzy BrasscalsBrass party band & showband Tommy Valentine & The Love RatsVintage jump-jive & rock ’n’ roll

A FEW PLACES ALONG THE WAY

Glastonbury · Manchester Jazz Festival · Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Selected performance credits

I’ve backed The Miracles, The Contours, Gloria Jones and The Velvelettes, as well as Dee Dee Sharp and Swamp Dogg, at Motown and Northern Soul festivals in North Wales. I also performed with HAYLA during her time singing with Hot Jazz Biscuits.

My jazz credits include performances with Alan Barnes, Mike Walker, Stuart McCallum, Chris Illingworth, Nick Blacka, Taz Modi and Chip Wickham.

02 / TEACHING

Experience, shared.

Helping drummers
become musicians.

Teaching is a vocation for me. I want pupils to develop the listening, confidence and musical judgement to play well with others—and to grow as thoughtful, independent people.

I teach at Cheadle Hulme School, Hartford Church of England High School and my private studio. Former pupils have progressed to conservatoire study and professional music careers.

I keep learning too, through ongoing study with Rick Dior. My musical education includes an individual lesson with Peter Erskine at his Los Angeles home studio, teaching from Jim Chapin and Dom Famularo, and five years of study with Dave Hassell.

Explore my teaching at Hartford Drum Lessons

IN DEVELOPMENT

Useful Drum Videos

A new series of practical teaching videos, drawing on the questions, discoveries and musical challenges that come up at the kit. Alongside the videos, I’ll connect ideas to my practice tools where they help.

Videos will appear here as the series develops.
03 / PROJECTS & TOOLS

Ideas from behind the kit.

Made for drummers.

From the drum kit to the practice room: products and tools I’ve developed to make playing, learning and exploring rhythm easier.

BY HUGH LAWRENCE Playing · Teaching · Making

01

Jazz Brush Dock

A magnetic holder that gives your brushes a place in your setup.

Preparing for launch
02

Beat Writer

Write a groove, see the notation and hear it back. A tool for exploring ideas and practising.

Write & play a groove
03

Count-o-nome

A metronome for your practice sessions.

Set your practice tempo
04

Teaching software

I’m developing teaching software that brings lesson notes, practice resources and pupil progress together, connecting tools such as Beat Writer and Count-o-nome with the learning experience.

In development

KEEP IN TOUCH

Let’s talk music.

mrhughlawrence@gmail.com