Jonathan Beament

Jon started playing drums in the uk, from a very early age…

25 years of drumming and still going strong…!

“Jon has been banging on things ever since he was born… when he was just a baby he used to arrange biscuit and cake tins on chairs – to build his own make-shift drum set…!” – Jon’s mother

Well, finally his parents gave in and bought him his first drum kit when he was just 8 years old – a classic Premier Club kit (now considered a vintage / retro).

Soon Jon had learnt everything his teacher could teach him, and through high school he was in great demand to play drums & percussion in ensembles for various jazz and orchestral concerts, theatre productions and performed with many other students playing in jazz and rock/pop bands around town.

Towards the end of high school, Jon joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) cadet corps and this is where he learned the invaluable technical skills of military drum rudiments in the marching band where he moved up the ranks to Sergeant, Lead Drummer and he was responsible for training a drum corps of 12 drummers.

“The discipline of the military was a blessing in disguise, because learning the fundamental drumming techniques, rudiments and other necessary skills such as stick control and performance / show skills etc. are difficult to learn without focus and lots of self-discipline… and they are so important!”

Since graduating with honours from university, Jon has been playing and teaching professionally all over the world…

It was in the USA and Latin America where Jon fell in love with Latin and Afro-Cuban music;

“... the music itself is so percussive due to the African influences and from a drummer’s perpective, the rhythms are so different, and complex compared to standard drumming (eg. Rock, Jazz, Funk etc.)...”

It was just the challenge that Jon needed… and he has never looked back!

Jon migrated to Australia from London in 2002 and he has been playing in a number of local Jazz, Funk and Latin bands. When he is not rehearsing or performing, he enjoys teaching drum kit and percussion lessons to students of ages and abilities in and around Sydney.

Why not learn something new…?

Contact Jon today for a chat and find out how he can help you become the best drummer you can be…!