Not much — if you've got these basics, you're good to go:

• 🥁 A drum kit — acoustic or electronic, any size or level is fine
• 💻 A computer, laptop, or smartphone — with a working camera (PC, Mac, or mobile all work great)
• 🎧 Headphones or earbuds — these really help with audio quality during the session
• 🌐 Google Meet — no download needed, it runs straight in your browser
• 💡 decent lighting — just make sure I can see you and your kit clearly!

Hi, I'm Ric Chandler — a professional drummer, producer, composer, and educator with over 36 years of experience playing, touring, and recording around the world.

Throughout my career I've had the privilege of working with five No.1-selling artists worldwide, including Gary Numan, Calvin Harris, and Modern English, and performed on iconic television shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Top of the Pops, and Friday Night Live. I've also appeared at drum clinics and major events alongside legendary drummers like Billy Cobham, and have endorsed Pearl Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth Drumsticks throughout my career.

But beyond the stages and studios, teaching has always been close to my heart. I've spoken and performed at drum clinics and schools around the world, and everything I've experienced in my career — the musicality, the mindset, the real-world knowledge — is exactly what I bring into every coaching session.

That's why I created Drum Academy 1:1 Coaching. Not to teach you theory in a vacuum, but to give you the skills, confidence, and understanding that actually move you forward as a drummer — whether you're just starting out on your journey or chasing something bigger. 🥁

Absolutely! You don't need years of experience to benefit from coaching — in fact, getting guidance early on is one of the best things you can do as a drummer.

As long as you can play a basic 4/4 beat, have a feel for simple drum fills, and have a genuine love for drumming — you're ready. We'll take it from exactly where you are and build from there.

It's simple — here's what to expect:

1 - Check your email 📩
You'll receive a booking receipt and purchase confirmation with a link to set up your coaching account.

2 - Log into your coaching account
You'll see your upcoming session(s) listed there.

3 - Book your session time
Click the View Product button and choose a time that works for you.

4 - Tell me what you want to work on
Use the Add Item button to share what you'd like to cover or learn — the more detail the better!

5 - You're all set! ✅
You'll receive a session confirmation email with your Google Meet link and all the details you need.

Yes, absolutely — life happens! Just give me at least 48 hours' notice and I'll get you moved to a new slot, no problem.

Rescheduling or cancellations made within 48 hours of your session unfortunately can't be refunded or transferred. However, if something unexpected comes up, reach out and I'll always do my best to help where I can.

It depends on which session you book!

• 🕐 30-minute sessions ($85) — focused and fast, perfect for working on something specific
• 🕑 60-minute sessions ($150) — fully recorded so you can rewatch everything we covered, plus you'll receive music manuscripts with written drum notation and notes to guide your practice between lessons

The recording from your 60-minute session will be sent to you afterwards so you've always got it to hand. 🎬

Absolutely — in fact, the majority of drummers I work with are self-taught, so you're in very good company!

Bad habits are completely normal and nothing to worry about. The truth is, most self-taught players have them — and they haven't stopped you from getting this far, which already says a lot about your dedication.

My approach is a gentle one. I won't stop you mid-beat and make you feel self-conscious about your technique. Instead I quietly take note of anything that might be holding you back and naturally work it into the session — so before you know it, things are improving without it ever feeling like a correction.

I have students right now who came to me with ingrained habits and are playing better than they ever thought possible. You could be next. 🥁

I want booking to be as easy as possible, so I accept a wide range of payment options:

• 💳 All major credit and debit cards
• 📱 Apple Pay and Google Pay
• 💰 PayPal
• 🛍️ Klarna and Afterpay — prefer to spread the cost? No problem at all, both are available at checkout!

All payments are processed securely, so you can book with complete confidence. If you ever have any issues at checkout just reach out and I'm here to help you. 😊

First of all — that feeling is completely normal, and I want you to know that every single drummer I've ever coached has felt exactly the same way before their first session. You are not alone in this!

Here's what you can genuinely expect from the moment we start:

A zero-judgement zone. My job isn't to critique you — it's to understand where you are right now and help you move forward from there. There's no right or wrong, no embarrassment, and absolutely no pressure.

I've spent 36 years playing alongside some of the world's greatest musicians, and the one thing that experience has taught me above everything else is that every drummer — at every level — is always a work in progress. Including me!

So come as you are, play how you play, and let's just have a great session together. You might just surprise yourself. Ric 🥁

Great question — and honestly, it depends on a few things personal to you:

Your goals — if you're working towards something specific like playing live, joining a band, or reaching a professional level, more frequent sessions will get you there faster. If you're drumming purely for the love of it, a more relaxed pace works perfectly too.

Your practice time — the more you can put in between sessions, the more we can cover together. There's no point rushing ahead if the material from the last session hasn't had time to sink in!

Your budget — coaching is an investment, and I want it to work for you practically as well as musically.

Here's what I generally recommend:

• 🎯 Non-professional players — weekly sessions are the perfect starting point. It keeps you engaged, focused and making real progress. Once we find your rhythm we can adjust from there.
• ⚡ Professional players — weekly or more frequent sessions work best. You have the practice time and the drive to move fast, and we can make the most of that together.

One thing I've learned from years of coaching is that having a regular schedule makes a huge difference. Students who book consistently stay engaged, stay motivated, and improve far more quickly than those without a set routine. Without structure, it's very easy to keep meaning to book and never quite getting around to it — and that's time you could have spent behind the kit! 😊