In addition to the reviews below, you can also visit my TrustPilot page here - https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/jamessharpdrums.co.uk

"Brilliant - extremely patient and good-natured with a skill second to none. James taught my dad, my brother, my son and now me. I'm a middle-aged woman with very little time to practise at home - I've learnt so much over the past few months I wouldn't have thought it possible. He has a real passion for the drums, knows them inside out and all the history too! He teaches the individual - ensuring that he finds a way for YOU to learn something that you might find particularly tricky. Fantastic!"

Samantha, Totnes

"As my son's drum teacher, James has made a vital contribution to be him being accepted by the Junior Royal Academy of Music jazz course, and by the Purcell School. Under James' guidance he also achieved a distinction in Trinity grade 8 jazz drums. James is a great teacher; he is friendly, approachable and efficient."

Christine Thomas

"I've been learning with James for a while now and am more than happy to recommended him as a teacher. I'm an adult student and there's no pressure. He's always incredibly patient and happy to talk about the theory and history behind the drums as well as just getting on with exercises. The studio is well equipped and James has also been helpful with suggestions about music and random emailed questions outside of lessons."

Juliet, Ashburton

"I've been playing drums for nearly 30 years, but I know you never stop learning. I've found my lessons with James hugely beneficial, enabling me to draw on his vast experience - both as a teacher and a gigging musician - to critically assess my playing and to give me expert advice on how it can be improved. I trust his advice, I use it every time I pick up a pair of sticks and I'm a better player for it. Highly recommended."

Ronnie Jones

"Unlike a lot of music lessons we put our kids through, my son absolutely loves his drum lessons with James, and really looks forward to them. He used to have 30 min lessons but now has 1 hour because 'the lesson always goes too quick'. He's learning lots of different styles of drumming and is coming on really well, so thanks James."

Josephine Ash

"We met James through his teaching at Park School in Dartington. Our son Joel (now 10) has been learning drums with him regularly for a couple of years and is now studying for his Grade 3 exam. James is a kind and patient teacher who has the ability to engage and enrol his students in their playing and a love of rhythm. His approach is gentle but he always manages to keep moving forward. Joel is loving his lessons and he would not want to have any other teacher. On a wider note, James has also been instrumental in getting a brand new drumkit for school (along with skins and personal drumsticks for all the drum students) by instigating his own crowdfunded campaign and giving large anounts of time and effort to see it through successfully. No personal gain for him and a very kind gesture."

Toby Stevenson

"James has been a fantastic drum teacher for my son. He has taken him from a complete beginner to currently studying Rock School Grade 3. He creates a great learning atmosphere and my son always looks forward to the lessons. He is very experienced, extremely patient and loads of fun! I'd recommend James to anyone interested in playing drums."

Susan MacKellar

"James has been teaching my son (12) to play the drums for just over a year now and within this time I have seen my son's confidence and ability to play the drums grow. My son really enjoys the lessons with James and always looks forward to them. James helps him to understand and play proper techniques as well as providing lots of helpful advice for practice at home."

Danny, Totnes

"Our son Louis has been with James Sharp for 8 years now and how much he has progressed since he started with James is immeasurable. Louis is not the easiest boy to teach because he is not very keen on reading music, but James has always been extremely patient, very encouraging, and most importantly, a lot of fun. Louis can now play rock, jazz and pop, and he is able to jam with almost anybody in any genre. We have recommended James Sharp to many parents and they unanimously say their children thoroughly enjoy their lessons with him and that they show a steady progress. One parent said her son would take lessons with James everyday if they could afford it! James is also a very nice and really likable guy and if anyone is looking for an excellent drum teacher, he is definitely the one!"

Saori Costello

"James has taught both my daughters drumming. One is just starting, our other has been doing it for five years plus and as keen as ever to continue. He has had a flexible and effective approach , firstly with the basics, then detouring into the lower level of Graded Exams, then back to the Drumsense programme and working on specifics that the kids want to focus on. Helping with pieces that are to be performed at school or events has been useful but more importantly he has taught the building blocks for the kids to be able to tackle and work out pieces themselves. I had three years of lessons myself when I was a kid that were very effective for me but I can see with James that things have moved on in those decades. In our experience he is right up there and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend him."

Richard Daws

"Our son had his first lesson with James in 2011, age 8, when he could barely reach the pedals. In the years since, while other hobbies and interests have come and gone, playing the drums has remained constant and we credit James and his encouraging, supportive teaching approach for this. Lessons are challenging but fun, and James is at all times professional while taking a genuine interest in his students. He is extremely knowledgeable, imparts theory in a practical and accessible way, and has seemingly infinite patience.

We would recommend James without hesitation to aspiring drummers of any age."

Chloe & Julyan Harrison-Bayes

Longcombe, Totnes

"James has taught George the drums for years and successfully got him through grade 1 and 2 so far. He is kind, helpful and inspirational to George, who really enjoys his lessons with James. Hoping we can continue once George starts at BIG school! Highly recommended."

Lisa, Dartmouth

"James has been working at Park School since 2011 as a peripatetic drum tutor. In this time he has inspired numerous children with a unique mix of talent, humour, patience and proven teaching methods. He asks interesting questions about all of his students and passes on his own observations about the children's talents and how they learn best. He is flexible to all the changing situations that occur in the primary school curriculum. Alongside the individual lesson times, James has come into school assemblies to give demonstrations and to talk about the history of drumming. James brings vitality and humour to his classes; he is a very gifted, very energetic, very inspirational teacher, greatly liked and respected by all at our school, teachers, pupils and their parents."

Mark Maynard

Class teacher

Park School

"Over the last four and a half years, James Sharp has been teaching my son on the drums. Although he has been playing since he was 5 years old, my son continues to enjoy the drums and his lessons with James.

James is an approachable teacher with a very easy and patient manner, ideal for parents who would like their children to experience and enjoy playing the drums."

Amy Capron