Teachers' List

The Teachers in our list are each qualified in one or more of the following categories:

1. Certified PPBSO Drumming Judges

2. PPBSO Apprentice Judges

3. Certified PDQB instructors/examiners

4. Department of National Defence Regular Forces Drumming Qualification Level 6 B

Snare Drumming Teachers

Chris Bell

Brief Bio:

  • Professional solo drummer

  • Grade 1 band experience

  • Certified PPBSO drumming judge

Scope of Practice:

  • Chris teaches the Rob Roy Pipe Band in Kingston.

  • Chris will teach small numbers of individuals that are not members of the band and is comfortable teaching any amateur grades and any bands from grade 5 - 2.

  • Chris is available for drum score compositions.

  • Chris prefers to teach in person.

Full Biography

Location: Kingston Ontario

contact: Chris.bell20@gmail.com

Dan Bist

Brief Bio:

  • Professional Snare Drummer

  • Certified PPBSO Drumming and Ensemble Judge

  • Composer of scores for snare, voiced midsection, and pipes.

  • Has performed and competed with bands at all grade levels during his playing career.

  • Played in 2007 Grade 1 World Champion Drum Corps under l/d Drew Duthart

  • Played in 2008 Grade 2 North American Champion Drum Corps under l/d Graham Kirkwood

  • Lead Drummer of 2011 Grade 3 PPBSO Champion Supreme drum corps

  • Solo finalist in the Gold Medal contest at MHAF Winter Storm in 2011

Full Bio Here

Scope of Practice:

  • All grades: Individuals, Snare corps, Full drum corps, Full band ensemble,

  • Offerings: , Individual lessons, Group lessons, Workshops, Score writing

  • Common topics: Rhythmic grids and metric accents, Playing technique and rudiments, Music reading/writing, Detailed listening and ensemble, Score writing / composition, Forming routines to maximize performance

LOCATION: Barrie, ON

  • Has worked with students and bands throughout Simcoe County and the GTA

Preferred Contact Information:

  • Email: dbist@hotmail.com

Blair Brown

Brief Bio:

  • Certified PPBSO/BCPA Drumming Judge

  • 3x Grade 1 World Pipe Band Champion

  • 4x Grade 1 World Drum Corps Champion

  • Consistent prize winner at the World Solo Drumming Championships

  • Full time Professional Drumming Instructor

Full Bio: blairbrownpercussion.com

Scope of Practice:

  • In person, or online solo lessons.

  • In person, or online clinics, and band workshops.

  • Custom music composition

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Contact Information: blairbrownpercussion.com

Graham Brown

Brief Bio:

  • Professional Snare Drummer

  • Certified PPBSO Drumming Judge

  • 3 Grade 1 World Championships

  • 4 Grade 1 World Drum Corps Championships

  • Grade 1 Lead Drummer

  • Full time drumming instructor at St. Thomas Episcopal School

Full Bio: https://www.gbpercussion.com/about

Scope of Practice:

  • In person, or online solo lessons.

  • In person, or online clinics, and band workshops.

  • Custom music composition

Contact Information: https://www.gbpercussion.com/contact

Hugh Cameron

Brief Bio:

  • Retired professional solo drummer

  • Extensive grade 1 band experience

  • Certified PPBSO drumming judge

  • RSPBA Advanced Certificate 1981

Full Bio: https://www.cameronsdrumming.com/about-hugh/

Scope of Practice:

  • Has developed a comprehensive program for teaching at all levels

  • Specializes in teaching beginners and any individual motivated to improving their personal playing

  • prefers to teach in person, and does a limited amount of online teaching

Location: Wellesley, Ontario

Contact Information:

Dave Coleman

Brief Bio:

  • Drumming experience in all grade levels of competitive pipe bands.

  • Certified ACPBA drumming judge, 1980

  • Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 6 Certificate in Scottish Pipe Band Drumming (2018)

  • Snare Drumming Assessor, Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB), 2019

  • Full Bio here


Scope of Practice:

  • Has developed a comprehensive program for teaching at all levels

  • Specializes in teaching intermediate level drummers

  • Available to teach individuals and band workshops in person or online

  • Custom music composition

Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick

Contact Information: drdjc.gm@gmail.com

Steven Hill

Brief Bio:

  • Professional Solo Drummer

  • Extensive grade 1 band experience including leading drummer. Steven has played the leading drum in every grade giving him insight into the unique needs of each grade.

  • Certified PPBSO drumming & ensemble judge

  • Currently plays with Peel Police Pipe Band

  • Full bio


Scope of Practice

  • Does regular workshops with bands in the Windsor Detroit area.

  • Prefers teaching in person but does teach online.

Location: Detroit/Windsor Area

Contact Information Here

Mike Hunter

Brief Bio:

  • Professional Snare Drummer

  • Certified PPBSO Drumming Judge

  • 3 time Grade 1 World Drum Corps Champion with Shotts & Dykehead PB

  • Former Leading Drummer of 78th Fraser Highlanders PB

  • Extensive experience at building and developing drum corps

  • Full Bio here


Michael Specializes in Workshops that Facilitate Drum Corps / Band Development:

    • Effective Drum Corps Management

    • Preparing for Competition

    • Developing a Great Ensemble Sound

    • Musical Drum Score Compositions

Contact Information:

  • Contact Michael Hunter <MHunter@mcw.com>

Graham Kirkwood

Brief Bio:

  • Professional Snare Drummer

  • Certified PPBSO Drumming Judge

  • Extensive experience developing drum corps in various grades

  • Extensive grade 1 band experience including former leading drummer of the Grade 1 Peel Police Pipe Band

  • Full bio

Scope of Practice:

  • Although Graham has taught both solo and band drumming for some time, he is unavailable to teach at present. He encourages any individuals seeking solo drumming instruction or pipe band drum corps instruction to contact a professional drumming teacher, such as those mentioned in the PPBSO Drumming Teachers’ List on this webpage.

Brian McCue

Brief Bio:

  • Former professional percussionist with Orchestra London

  • Grade 1 band experience under Drew Duthart with the Toronto Police Pipe Band.

  • Lead drummer Toronto Police Pipe Band grade 2 and grade 3

  • Certified PPBSO drumming Judge

  • Holds a Masters Degree in music (percussion) from McGill University

  • Full time professional drumming instructor at St. Andrew's College in Aurora Ontario

  • Has contributed to the development of the Cadet Pipe Band Training program and has 33 years experience as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

  • Full Bio here

Scope of Practice:

  • Primarily teaches at St. Andrew's College

  • Teaches individuals and does workshops

  • Teaches in person and online

Location: Aurora Ontario (North of Toronto)

Contact information:

Scott Nicholson

Brief Bio:

  • Professional solo drummer

  • Extensive grade 1 band experience

  • Certified PPBSO drumming judge

Scope of Practice:

  • Teaches the Kingston Police Pipe Band

  • Teaches all levels from beginners to advanced

  • Prefers to teach in person

  • Currently the band is active and accepting new drummers that have experience. We will start our beginners program in the fall of 2022. Please contact us for more information.

Location: Kingston, Ontario

Contact Information:

Alan Savage

Brief Bio:

  • Professional Snare Drummer

  • Certified PPBSO Drumming Judge

  • 1 x World Pipe Band Championship (Grade 1)

  • 1 x World Drum Corps Championship (Grade 1)

  • Former leading drummer of the Grade 1 Toronto Police Pipe Band

  • Formerly a consistent prize winner in Open Solo competition

  • Author of 2 instructional books for pipe band drumming

  • Full bio

Scope of Practice:

  • I support this teacher's web page but due to professional and family responsibilities, I am unavailable to teach or do workshops at this time. I encourage all individuals seeking to learn pipe band drumming to contact any qualified professional instructor.

Doug Stronach

Brief Bio:

  • Grade 1 leading drummer and corps drummer

  • Certified judge

  • Certified PDQB Assessor and instructor

  • Over 30 years teaching experience

  • Authored instruction books on pipe band drumming

Full bio:

Scope of Practice:

  • Online solo and group lessons from beginner to advanced

  • Online and in-person workshops and band sessions

Contact Information:

Larry Willis

Brief Bio:

  • Retired lead drummer of Guelph Pipe Band and 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums

  • Extensive experience in all grades for over 50 years

  • Currently teaching grade 4 drum corps in Guelph and Teeswater Highlanders

  • Certified PPBSO drumming and ensemble judge

  • Full bio

Scope of Practice:

  • Will teach all levels from beginner to advanced in both solo and drum corps settings

  • Will write scores for both solo and corps works and enhance level as lessons progress

  • Prefer to teach in person but skype or zoom calls can be arranged

  • Will teach competitive or non-competitive corps to improve playing and knowledge of pipe band drumming

  • Will work with drum corps in a small group setting for reading, writing and tuning

  • Willing to travel reasonable distances to teach

Location: Walkerton, Ontario

Contact Information:

  • Email: mwi48th@gmail.com

  • Landline: 519-507-2622

Bass and Tenor Drumming Teachers

Jamie Alfred

Brief Bio:

  • Professional Solo Tenor & Bass Drummer

  • Certified PPBSO Bass & Tenor Drumming Judge

  • Extensive Grade 1 Experience

  • 2018 3B World Drum Corps Champion

  • 2019 Agnew Harrison Professional Bass Winner

Full Bio: http://www.flourishingrhythm.com

Scope of Practice:

  • In person & virtual - solo instruction for bass & tenor drummers of all levels

  • In person & virtual - band instruction for bass & tenor drummers

  • Custom music composition for bands & soloists

Location: Beeton, ON

Contact Information: flourishing.rhythm@gmail.com

Mike Cole

Brief Bio:

  • Certified EUSPBA and PPBSO B & T Drumming Judge

  • Professional solo bass drummer winning 2 Gold Medals at the Winter Storm event in Kansas City

  • Extensive pipe band experience, winning the 1998 Grade Two World Bass Title, and multiple North American titles in Grades One and Two.

  • Manufacturer of Twisted Thistle Pipe Band Bass Drum Sticks

  • Full bio here

Scope of practice:

  • Mike conducts workshops for Scottish Arts’ schools, focusing on fundamental to advanced technique, drum tuning and B&T score creation emphasising overall band sound.

Contact info: mike@twistedthistle.com

Kate Dudek

  • Certified PPBSO Tenor and Bass Drumming Judge

  • Professional Tenor Drummer since 2002

  • Member of Best Bass Section and Best Drum Corps (Grade 1) with 78th Fraser Highlanders at 2007 World Championships, additionally played with City of Regina Pipe Band (Grade 2) for many years.

  • Has been instructing, composing, and choreographing for tenor and bass drummers in private lessons and bands in Southern Ontario since 2008, supporting bands to win numerous awards - including the Guelph Pipe Band, Grade 3 North American Champions and Best Bass Section in 2019.

  • Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she has continued to work with the band midsections, running online practices via a combination of asynchronously recorded video/audio compilations and self-analysis over Zoom calls. All midsection players get to be the Ensemble Judge as they view an accurate integrated video with sound of the corps playing. This work transfers brilliantly to work with distance players and those who can not all meet regularly in person.

  • Kate specializes in composition/choreography of melodic, rhythmic, and harmonically relevant midsection scores for bands and players at all levels.

  • Location: Kitchener, ON

  • Full Bio & Contact info: https://www.katedudekdrumming.com/

Andrew Elliot

Brief Bio:

  • Certified PPBSO Bass & Tenor Drumming Judge

  • Full time professional drumming instructor at Saint Thomas Episcopal School.

  • Extensive Grade 1 Band experience including 4 x Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championships with Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band

  • Professional solo bass & tenor drummer winning the Canadian, American and North American Championships as well as 8-time winner of the MHAF gold medal in Kansas City.

  • Manufacturer of ACE bass and tenor drum sticks

Scope of Practice:

  • In person or online teaching.

  • Individual lessons or band workshops

Location: Houston, Texas

Full bio, Website and Contact Information: https://www.ace-percussion.com/about

Tyler Fry

  • Certified PPBSO Tenor and Bass Drumming Judge

  • Tyler is internationally recognized as the leading percussionist of a generation in the art of pipe band tenor drumming. He has won every major professional solo tenor drumming event in North America; and he is the three-time winner of the Grade One World Bass Section/Midsection Championship with the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band of Toronto, countless Scottish, British, European and World band and drum corps titles with Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band and the Spirit of Scotland Pipe Band under the leadership of the legendary Jim Kilpatrick.

  • Tyler conducts masterclasses and seminars worldwide, presenting and commentating at major events, and performing regularly on international tours with the Red Hot Chili Pipers.

  • Meanwhile, he runs his company, TyFry Ltd, making world class percussion products and also works as a busy real estate agent in Houston, Texas.

  • Tyler is happy to present workshops on topics such as:

    • Rhythmic grids

    • Tone and Tuning for Bass and Tenor Drummers

    • Harmonic Voicing

    • Beginner Flourish Rudiments

  • Location: Houston, Texas, USA

  • Contact information: https://tyfry.com/contact/

Kyle Heaney

Brief Bio:

  • Certified PPBSO Bass & Tenor Drumming Judge

  • Extensive Grade 1 Band experience including:

  • 3 x Grade 1 World Pipe Band Champion

  • 2 x Grade 1 World Drum Corps Champion

  • 1 x Worlds Best Bass Section Grade 1

  • Professional solo tenor drummer and consistent prize winner throughout North America


Scope of Practice:

  • In person or online teaching.

  • Individual lessons, Sectional or Band Workshops


Location: Toronto, Ontario

Contact Information: heaney.kyle@gmail.com

Reagan Jones

Brief Bio:

  • Professional solo bass drummer

  • Extensive grade 1 band experience

  • Certified PPBSO bass & tenor drumming judge

  • Full Bio

Scope of Practice:

  • Teaches individuals and bands

  • Teaches in person and online

  • Focuses on improving technique, reading music, writing music and flourishing.

Location: Lindsay, Ontario

Contact Information:

Ryan Robertson

Brief Bio

  • Certified PPBSO Bass & Tenor Drumming Judge

  • Extensive Grade 1 Experience

  • Accomplished professional solo Bass and Tenor drummer; winner of various North American Championships, Champion Supreme, Agnew-Harrison invitational, MHAF silver medal for tenor and bass.

  • Grade 3B World drum corps Champion

  • Full bio


  • I support this teacher's web page but due to professional and family responsibilities, I am unavailable to teach or do workshops at this time. I encourage all individuals seeking to learn pipe band drumming to contact any qualified professional instructor

Johnny Rowe

Brief Bio:

  • Certified PPBSO bass and tenor drumming judge.

  • Professional solo bass drummer winning 4 Ontario Champion Supreme awards.

  • Extensive Grade 1 band experience including Best Bass-section and 'World Championship Drum Corps' titles

  • Full Bio Here

Scope of practice:

  • Prefers to teach in person but can do online consultation.

  • Lessons focus on technique, tuning, contest preparation, and score execution.

  • Prefers to teach beginner or intermediate level students with some experience and basic knowledge of the rudiments.

  • Offers ensemble workshops for grade 3, 4 and 5 bands.

Location: Caledonia, Ontario

Owner of Caledonia Drum Studio

Contact: bigjohnnyrowe@gmail.com

See Johnny's Intro to Bass Drumming video here