Matt Button

I am a friendly, patient and encouraging drum teacher based in Richmond, South West London, offering one-to-one drum lessons for beginners, children, teenagers, adult beginners and returning adults.

My lessons are designed to help students build confidence, rhythm, timing, coordination and musical enjoyment in a calm, supportive and structured way. Whether you are picking up drumsticks for the first time, coming back to drumming after years away, or looking for private drum lessons for your child, my aim is to make learning the drums feel enjoyable, practical and achievable from the very beginning.

I have many years’ playing and learning experience, from recording (I used to have my own recording and rehearsal studio) to playing live in a huge variety of venues. I started playing and learning in my teens and am comfortable across a wide range of modern styles – from rock to funk to blues and soul to jazz. That real-world experience shapes the way I teach. I focus on helping students play real grooves, practise with favourite songs, improve feel and timing, and understand what it actually feels like to be a drummer — not just someone doing exercises on a drum kit.

My approach is particularly suited to beginners and developing players who want lessons that are clear, relaxed and confidence-building. We work step by step on the essential foundations of drumming: basic beats, coordination, rhythm, timing, technique, fills, dynamics, groove and musicality. But everything is connected to real playing, real music and steady progress.

For younger students and teenagers, I aim to create lessons that feel positive, motivating and never intimidating. Students are encouraged to ask questions, make mistakes, try things out and gradually build the confidence to play along to music they enjoy. For parents, I offer a calm, professional and supportive learning environment where progress is built patiently and realistically.

For adult beginners and returning adults, I understand that starting or restarting an instrument can feel slightly daunting. Lessons are friendly, flexible and built around your goals — whether that means learning favourite songs, improving coordination, playing for enjoyment, developing better groove, or gaining the confidence to play with other musicians.

I teach in-person drum lessons from a dedicated teaching studio in Richmond, within easy reach of Kingston and the wider South West London area. Lessons are one-to-one, structured around each student’s level, confidence and musical interests.

I am also a Rockschool Associate Tutor, and can support students who may wish to work towards graded drum exams, while keeping the main focus on enjoyment, confidence, rhythm and practical musicianship.

Above all, I want students to feel that drumming is something they can do. With the right support, beginners can start playing simple beats, enjoying real songs and feeling like drummers much sooner than they may expect.