I have been playing drums since 1962, when I was coaxed away from my
    clarinet and piano by a well meaning Rock and Roller. I purchased
    my first kit from Ted Warren's in Old Ford Road (London). Suposedly
    once the property of Jack Parnell, (a good sales pitch anyway)
    It was an old Ajax four drum kit with black harlequin glitter
    finish and Rogers 'Swivomatic' fittings. The kit cost me £75
    (nearly three weeks wages then). I took about two months worth
    of weekly lessons in Wanstead with a classically trained drummer
    called George Scott. Regular readers of Rhythm magazine should
    note that this is where any similarity between Bob Armstrong's
    career and mine ends. (Steve White Teacher Man Rhythm
    October 2002 Pg.43). I then joined an agency called Band Wagon,
    and behold I was a drummer. I worked every week end for over twenty
    years, never knowing names, never asking. I have played many
    kinds of music, with musicians ranging from down right awful,
    to positively inspired, and the best of them had one thing in
    common, they constantly listened to and learned from other players,
    whilst continuously working to improve. Not persevering with
    my lessons when I was young, however, is something I regret.
    I would recommend any aspiring drummer to pursue their dream,
    but with one proviso; "Newb’ys" should always
    remember that whatever you might hear to the contrary these days,
    there are no shortcuts. Be aware that a good drummer never stops
    learning. For me this has always been part of the joy of music.
    Like all art music is constantly evolving, and the skills and
    techniques a player needs, change and grow with the music. My
    feelings have always been that while natural ability and raw
    talent may make that essential difference between simply a good
    drummer, and a brilliant drummer, without a sound basic training
    in the rudiments of playing, these are seldom fully realized.

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