About me...
Hi there, my name is Mike Heaton and I've been the drummer for Embrace for the last 17 years!! For a short summary about the bands achievements check lower on this page or for the full story go to www.embrace.co.uk.
Last year (2007) I began mentoring young bands and I really enjoyed helping young people starting out in music. So starting this May (2008) I've decided to begin giving private drum lessons. My teaching will primarily be aimed at beginners to intermediate players, as I feel these are the areas where my knowledge can be of best help. My theory being if you get it right at these stages you'll be well on your way to being a great player (with plenty of practice!) However I will take students as far as they find my help useful.
I don't have any formal grade qualifications and therefore will not be focussing on the grade exams. I believe the key to successful drumming is more in how you are taught to warm up, practice and play rather than how many pieces of paper you have! I have seen quite a few reasonably highly graded students who can perform any rudiment perfectly at speed, but not be able to hold down a steady groove! Timing is king for a band player!
My main area of expertise is rock/indie music however I'll willingly explore any other areas that students wish to investigate! Consider it an adventure for both of us!
I feel that my experiences gained from over 20 years of playing (12 professionally) gives me a good insight into what makes a good drummer and how best to approach the instrument. My aim is to hopefully help young drummers avoid the pitfalls and problems I've encountered over the years through things such as bad posture and general laziness when it comes to practise/playing!! Hindsight is a great thing to have and I'd like to pass mine on to help people starting out.
I am a member of the Musicians Union and am covered by them for £10,million of public liability insurance. I am also CRB checked. All certificates are on display.
Squirrel studios is located within half an hours drive of either Leeds, Bradford or Huddersfield.
Teaching
Aims and Objectives:
To boost confidence in the student and take them to their desired level of playing in the quickest (and least boring) way possible, without missing any detail.
I have recording facilities for both audio and video, which can be used by students at a very reasonable cost if they want to take away footage to view in their own time or possibly as part of a project.
Inside Music
During the course of a lesson I'm more than willing to answer questions students may have about the music business and how it works. If a student is part of a band that would like a more in depth insight into specific aspects of the industry then I can arrange separate sessions with the whole band to go through their queries in detail . The cost of the session would depend on the length and amount of information required. Please enquire below for any more info and rates.
A brief history of Embrace
Signed to Hut records ( subsiduary of Virgin records ) Oct 1996.
Recorded three albums for Hut:
The Good Will Out, No1, 1998
Drawn From Memory - No 8, 2000
If you've Never Been - No9, 2001
Moved to Independiente Records March 2002.
Out Of Nothing - No1, 2004
This New Day - No1, 2006
Also released:
Fireworks(singles collection) 1997-2002
Dry Kids (b-sides)
From these albums 21 singles have been released (18 of which were chart eligible) , 6 went in the top 10, 6 top 20 and 6 top 40. The highest position going to Natures Law, which reached no2 in March 2006.
We also recorded the official 2006 world cup song "World At Your Feet"
During this period Embrace have toured extensively both in the UK and round the world and sold over a million albums.
Drum tracks
If you are a solo singer /songwriter or a band without a drummer, I am happy to add live drums to your tracks. All you need to do is send your track that has preferably been recorded to a click and I'll lay down a drum track, either to your requirements or I can do what I think suits the track, the choice is yours. I can send you either a stereo track of the drums mixed by myself or dry for you. Alternatively I could also send you the separate multi-track WAVs for you to mix as you see fit.
I can also mix your entire track if you wish. For this you would need to be able to send all the separate parts/wavs. Examples of a few of mix’s I’ve done are below.
Cost
- Stereo drum track only ( up to 4 minutes ) either effected or dry £100
- Separate WAVS £100
- For a full mix of the track add £100 per track.