Dave J Mason is a professional drummer and entrepreneur from Bromsgrove in the West Midlands. After becoming a full time professional drummer at merely 18 years old, he is fast making a name for himself.

Dave has over 5 years full time drum teaching experience. He draws inspiration and techniques from such renowned UK mentors as Mal Garrett and Neil Bullock and MAD’s very own Mr Andy Edwards.

His performing credits are more than notable. His first touring band was Midas, a charting indie/electro band that parted ways in 2008. His current funk/hiphop outfit Cantaloop regularly packs out venues across the country. He’s even played with Mr Hudson, the Official UK Chart #2 and Q Breakthrough Act winner!

The true mark of any passionate drummer is total inability to stop tapping on things. (if you do this, it’s probably a good sign to start drumming!) In true drummer style, Dave’s early days were spent getting told off by parents, teachers, friends and pretty much anybody nearby for relentlessly tapping and banging on things.

“Anything that made a noise was prime target for a good rhythm.”

Not long after, his parents recognised his enthusiasm and generously signed him up for drumming lessons with a local teacher. He showed real promise for the instrument from the get go. It was during this time that he was introduced to the drumming of Steve Gadd and Billy Cobham; who to this day remain his two biggest inspirations.

Within a mere 3 years of playing he had taken and passed Grade 8. This is the highest attainable examination level. Soon after, he was accepted onto the music course at the prestigious local college in Kidderminster. It was here where he met his long term friend and mentor Andy Edwards.

The two joined forces in 2008 to form the Midland Academy of Drumming; a drum school with one simple principle. Rock solid drum tuition that’s just plain good fun.

Dave is now a busy full time drum teacher, performer and entrepreneur. As founder of the world’s fastest growing drum network the Drummer’s Database among other successful offshoots, his passion for the drum world & giving drum lessons is bigger than ever.

He has played with Official UK Chart #2 and Q Breakthrough Act winner Mr Hudson. He has also extensively toured the UK with his old charting indie/rock band Midas. During this time he played to crowds of over 10,000 people and shared the stage with such acts as Fightstar, Scouting for Girls, Elliot Minor, The Levellers, Go:Audio, We are the Ocean, The Mexicolas, Furthest Drive Home and Blakfish.

He now travels the country with his band Cantaloop performing to packed out venues hungry for a head full of heavy funk.

Marcus Allen is a professional drummer hailing from the West Midlands. Aside from his role giving drum lessons here at MAD he has also studied a BMus (Hons) Degree at the London College of Music. He’s even completed contracts for P&O and Norwegian Cruise Line. That’s right, he’s travelled the world playing drums and getting a tan! Jammy sod… He’s also worked with (and is still working for) multiple function bands and projects across the UK. His extensive musical history makes him a keen drum tutor.

Marcus specializes in many different areas of drum lessons including technique, sight reading, styles, co-ordination and improvisational skills. He has studied with some of the top UK drum teachers. These include Sebastiaan de Krom (Buddy Rich Award Winner), Elliott Henshaw (Shirley Bassey, Deep Purple, Tony Hadley, Tony Christie, Paul Anka, BBC Big Band, The Ronnie Scotts Big Band) and Andy Sturges (Paul Gilbert, Dave Martone).

Coming soon…

Coming soon…