Status Quo Drummer.Pub
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Beat It ! MUSIC students got ‘down, down, deeper and down’ with a master class in percussion with a legend from the Quo. UPILS from Haughton Academy, Darlington, Jeff started playing when he was nine, on pots and pans rocked to a new beat after a drumming session to begin with, as his parents couldn’t afford a drum kit. P with rock musician Jeff Rich. “But it was all I wanted to do so I practised every day, More than 100 Year 8, 9 and 10 students took part in the saved up for a kit and went out and got myself into the workshop, which saw them accompany the world famous music business,” he told students. “It’s all about drummer in a rhythm-based jamming session. determination; if you want to do it, just go for it.” Jeff, 63, of Hackney, London, who played drums with Jeff, who has played with rock band Queen, backed Status Quo from 1986 to 2000 and recorded 14 albums singer Elton John and drummed live with bands Stretch, with the band, said: “When my own children were younger Climax Blues Band, Judi Tzuke and Def Leppard, also I was invited to go to their school to talk about what dad gave pupils a master class in the history of the drum, from did for a job and it all really spiralled from there. its origins as hollowed out tree trunks to modern day “I’ve now been to over 7,000 schools throughout the UK, synthetic materials. delivering my own unique drum workshop, and hopefully Haughton Academy music teacher Lisa Armstrong said: inspiring the kids along the way to live their dream just “It has been great to have Jeff here today. like I did.” “We are always looking for ways to engage our students in different aspects of music, especially percussion, so to have a live musician playing in school and for them to see the different spectrum of instruments within the genre, really helps to inspire both those pupils who are musically-minded and those who may not be natural percussion players.” Following a quick question and answer session with Jeff, young musicians Kieran Raine and Alex Robinson were given the opportunity to play on his own personal drum kit. Kieran, 14, of Darlington, who has been drumming for 12 months, reaching Grade 2, said: “I love playing the drums; it’s a great release from everything and a good way to let off steam. Jeff is a brilliant drummer; I’d love to be as good as him one day.” Grade 4 drummer Alex, 14, of Darlington, who also plays the electric guitar, added: “It’s was amazing to play on Jeff’s kit. I’d love to be like him and play with a great band when I’m older.” www.educationvillage.org.uk .