We are really pleased to announce Mark Whitlam will be joining the tutors this year, predominantly as a jazz specialist

Mark puts versatility and musicality at the centre of his playing. This, paired with a tasteful groove and natural affinity for swing, has allowed him to work in a diverse musical situations, from West End theatre shows to sharing the stage with the London Community Gospel Choir.

He has performed with Clare Teal, 2008 BBC 2 Jazz Award winner Jake McMurchie (Get The Blessing, Super Furry Animals), Anders Olinder (Glenn Hughes), Ben Waghorn (Portishead, Kasabian), Goldfrapp session guitarist Andrew “Murph” Murphy and has performed on the Jazz Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2008.

Recent recording work on Benjamin Brunel’s album “Famous For Being Famous” has received national radio airplay on BBC 3 Late Lounge and has received accolades from BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson’s “Introducing…” show. Mark is currently busy touring with the highly respected UK saxophonist Kevin Figes, promoting his latest albums, in venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall and one of Europe’s finest jazz haunts, The 606 Club in London.

Mark is also a committed educator and tutors on the drum faculty at BIMM Bristol, teaching on their Professional Diploma and Degree courses, and also privately from his Bath-based studio (that’s Bath in the West Country, not as in foam bubbles, loofas etc). Mark is delighted to endorse Bosphorus cymbals.

Erik Stams (BMus-hons) has been a professional musician for over 20 years. He is currently performing, recording and teaching in London and South Wales.

Erik began playing drums at the age of ten. After graduating from New York’s Fiorello Laguardia High School of Music and Art and the Performing Arts (FAME) under Justin Dicciocio, he studied drum-kit, percussion and general music at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, privately with the legendary Henry Adler (author of Buddy Rich’s Snare Drum Rudiments and Louie Bellson’s Modern Reading Text in 4/4), Walter Garces and briefly with Jerry Gonzalez (the Fort Apache Band). Erik honed his craft performing, recording and touring in and around NYC, specializing in Funk, Reggae, Jazz, Ska and Rock. He can be heard on various albums, film soundtracks (Francis Ford Coppola’s New York Stories, Dust on the Wings – Australia, The Inbetweeners) and television commercials.

Erik settled in London after a tour of Japan with Walter Schreifels of Quicksand and Rival Schools (Island Records) in 1996. Since then he has performed in and around the UK with American saxophonist Butch Thomas (Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Jaco Pastorius), disco-diva Viola Wills, Ensemble Bash, the Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Stu Hamm (Steve Vai, Joe Satriani), Julian Crampton, Drill Queen, Jamie Lawson , Monkjack and War Machines of Love (with former New Model Army guitarist Adrian Portas).

Erik writes and teaches diploma and degree level courses at Drumtech and Thames Valley University (London), privately in Cardiff, conducts workshops and master-classes, contributes articles for Rhythm, Drummer, and Percussioni (Italy) magazines and has recorded several educational play-along cd’s (Rhythm/Drumtech/Total Guitar).

James is Head of Drums at BIMM, Bristol as well as holding the drum seat for Malachai.

With Malachai he’s played the largest venues in the UK (including 3 sell out nights art Brixton Academy, Manchester Apollo, Royal Festival Hall), recorded sessions for Annie Mack, Zane Lowe and Gilles Peterson (Radio 1) at the world famous Maida Vale studios, performed live sessions on Radio 6 Music, played live on Lily Allen’s BBC TV programme and last summer played 02 Festival (Hyde Park), Glastonbury, Massive Attacks Meltdown Fest and many others…..

The Rhythm Course is great fun and run by a great team, it’s one of the highlights of my year!! See you at the bar!!

Colin Woolway has been playing and teaching drums professionally for 35 years. During those years he has done every kind of gig from Olympic stadiums with Suzi Quatro to scout huts and muddy gardens with hundred year old music hall acts.

He is best known these days as the founder of the Drumsense Teaching programme, and the author of Drumsense Volumes 1 and 2. Colin regularly presents clinics. masterclasses and lectures, and this is his 5th year at Bath.

Colin is a long time endorser of Sonor drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and Aquarian heads. .