Studio Hire
WARREN MEE – ACADEMY DRUM TUTOR
Warren is a professional drummer and tutor and also the founder and owner of the Academy of Rock. He has 40 years of experience playing in live bands, and is currently the drummer with A Band Called Malice, a renowned tribute band to The Jam, who perform at venues across the UK every week. Over the years, he has also played in many other bands, including tribute bands to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, 80’s / 90’s bands and various function bands, duo’s and originals bands.
Warren has been teaching drums since 2008 and has Distinctions in both Grade 8 Drums and Music Educator City & Guilds and has taught over 300 students. He also has a high success rate in preparing students for grades and has taken many students from complete beginners through to Grade 8 and beyond. Warren also teaches at various schools, as well as the Academy of Rock.
NIGEL PRETTY – SENIOR DRUM TUTOR
Nige is a drum tutor with a long experience of live performing, and you’ll often find him out gigging around the area. He is also a bit of a legend on the keyboard and all round great musician, who gravitates towards rock / blues / jazz / latin.
As a tutor, Nige prefers to teach by ear / demonstration, as oppose to reading music…… so if reading music is not your thing, and you wish to learn by doing / watching, then Nige is your man.
Jonah is one of our own. He spent the last 7 years having lessons with us and reached his Grade 8 in Drums. He showed so much promise that we offered him a position as a Junior Tutor. Since then, with his knowledge, calm demeanour, patience and the great rapport he builds up with his students, Jonah has gone from strength to strength and has become a popular tutor and is particularly popular with younger students.
In addition, Jonah is currently in a covers band and has experience performing to live audiences.
JONAH SIMPSON – JUNIOR DRUM TUTOR
MELANIE REID (Dip TCL, PGCe, ASHAH, ASHPH) – ACADEMY VOCAL TUTOR
When it comes to vocals, Opera is the top of the tree….. and Melanie is a brilliant and experienced, super-qualified opera trained vocalist and has had many professional engagements within Opera, Operetta, Oratorio, Cabaret, Ensembles, Recitals and Masterclasses. Whatever level or genre of music or technique you wish to learn, whether its opera, soul, jazz, metal, swing, crooning, folk etc, Mel has got it covered.
Her qualifications extend from Trinity Diplomas in Music Therapy & Performing to Trinity College of Music Post Graduate Certificate (TCM) Distinctions. Mel has an extensive experience in teaching throughout many schools and education establishments within London, and has been working from the Academy of Rock since 2013
JAMES BURNS – GUITAR TUTOR
James is a guitar tutor with over 15 years of experience, and has much live experience in multiple bands. He comes from good stock and was brought up on guitar with his dad, Vinny being the guitarist in bands such as Dare, Ultravox, Asia & Ten.
He has been tutoring with us since 2021 and is adept at all styles
OLLY EVANS – GUITAR TUTOR
Olly is a graduate of BIMM Bristol and a former cruise ship musician. He currently writes and performs his own alt-rock music. He has been playing guitar since 2012 and has achieved a degree in Professional Musicianship, and most recently achieved his Grade 8 Vocals certificate.
He began teaching for us in 2023 and is keen to pass on his musical knowledge to others.
Sean Thornton– BASS GUITAR TUTOR
Sean started playing and studying the bass guitar whilst at secondary school and has since become an accomplished, experience performer, and has gained an in-depth knowledge in many different musical genres. He is well known on the local music scene and is one of the
area’s finest bassists. He joined us as a tutor in early 2023 with a goal to teach and promote bass playing. Bass guitar is the foundation of any band and is often overlooked and underrated. Sean aims to change all that!!
LEWIS HAYNES – GUITAR TUTOR
Lewis is a Grade 8 qualified guitarist and has over 10 years experience performing in live bands. He is also a very gifted vocalist and fronts his originals band – GÜNK – along with the popular Rage Against the Machine / Audio Slave Tribute – AUDIORAGE. He has been teaching for over 5 years and has gained an in depth knowledge of theory and techniques and styles.