Chris Quinlan f.dip.a

Chris Quinlan is host of the award winning television show "Melbourne Musos - The Drum Show", one of the longest running musical education shows on free to air Australian TV having reached its 900th episode November 2023.

He was nominated for Australian of the Year in 2013 and listed on Modern Drummer Magazine's exclusive International Drummers Register in 2015, as well as making appearances on the American Cable Television Show "Drum Talk TV".

Chris is the original author of the ANZCA now Melbourne Musos Drumset Curriculum, written in 1995, it was the first syllabus of its kind written for the Drumset in Australasia.

It is the original Syllabus used for ANZCA Examinations for which Chris was an Examiner/Syllabus Co-ordinator and Board Director from 1993-2009.

He received a Fellowship Diploma in Composition (f.dip.a) in 2005 for this work and subsequent book series.

The Curriculum has been used throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia and covers Preliminary Grades through to Performer Diplomas equivalent to Tertiary and Post Graduate Levels. It is tried tested, proven.

The syllabus has been endorsed by drumming greats Dom Famularo, Billy Cobham as well as The Percussive Arts Society of Australia (PAS).

Chris has played professionally since the 1970's, having grown up surrounded with the Irish folk music being played in his father's hotel. For most of the late 70's, he was a part of the Melbourne Jazz Scene, carving out a life as the typical starving muso! He started teaching in 1978.

He has been the Lead drummer for the City of Essendon Brass Band (1989-94) which involved ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day Marches as well as National Band Championships which required strong reading and technical skills.

As leader of "The Instrumentaale" (1995-99) playing the technically demanding music of Frank Zappa, Chris had the opportunity to play and guest with many local and international musicians which included performances nationally and internationally.

With the "Melbourne Musos TV Show (The Drum Show)" and his writings for Beat and Mixdown Magazines, Chris has interviewed acclaimed musicians such as Terry Bozzio, Dom Famularo, Billy Cobham, Denis Chambers, Steve Smith, Chad Wackerman, David Jones, Virgil Donati as well as members of Jethro Tull, Alice Cooper and Frank Zappa bands.

Chris has also played many and varied productions which have required strong reading skills such as Little Shop of Horrors, The Wiz, Flower Drum Song, Kismet amongst others.

Having taught Drums and Guitar since 1978, he has seen many of his students become established musicians and qualified teachers in their own right. Many are currently advertising on this website.

Chris has been teaching from his Seabrook (an enclave wedged between Altona Meadows & Point Cook) based teaching/recording studio since 1996, where he produces his TV Show, with many excerpts, clips and full episodes available on his website and YouTube.(www.youtube.com/melbournemusos)

Chris was also an executive producer at The Alex Theatre St. Kilda where his show "Melbourne Musos Facechook Live" was the first show launching a new initiative for the Live Music and the Arts during the Covid-19 restrictions in 2020/21.

As of 2023, both TV Shows Chris produces were nominated for awards, Melbourne Musos for best Community Music Program and Impromptu_TV for Outstanding Creative Achievement.

Melbourne Musos in particular clicked over the 900th episode mark in November 2023.

All styles of music are taught with patience, humour and an attention to detail.

All books written by Chris are provided inclusive of tuition fees.

Chris is endorsed by DW Drums, Meinl Cymbals, Evans Drumheads and ProMark Drumsticks.