Illawarra Drum & Music Academy
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About Us
Drum, guitar, bass and piano lessons in the Illawarra. Built for the brain in front of you.
- General Info
If your child has tried music lessons before and quit, or you're an adult who finally wants to learn properly, this is the studio built around the way the brain in front of you actually learns.
Drum, guitar, bass and piano tuition for students from Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and across the Illawarra. Twenty years teaching, thirty years performing.
Why families come to us: Specialist in ADHD, autism and neurodivergent learners. Lessons designed around how the brain actually works. Customised plans, structured progress, no shame, no pressure to fit a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Professional Certificate in Neurodivergent-Affirming Practices. NDIS plan-managed and self-managed welcome. DVA participants welcome.
Who we teach: Kindergarten to HSC; adult beginners at any age; returning musicians coming back after years away; singer-songwriters writing their first songs; HSC music students preparing for performance and composition. Instruments: Drums (primary specialty), guitar, bass, piano, vocals (alongside instrument), studio recording for HSC composition and developing artists. Credentials no other music teacher in this region has: Author of Drums for the ADHD Brain and Drums for the ADHD Adult (2026) — the first published methodology on ADHD-specific drum education; Creator of the Rhythm Focus Method™ — our proprietary teaching system for neurodivergent learners; taught Neve van Boxsel, drummer of Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, 2024 ARIA Breakthrough Artist of the Year; Professional Certificate in Neurodivergent-Affirming Practices; 45+ verified reviews, 9 years on Yellow Pages; 20+ years teaching, 30+ years performing professionally.
The Complete Musician Experience: Optional 10-week program. Drums, guitar, bass, and a real studio recording. Students walk away with a finished song they can keep forever. Available alongside regular weekly lessons. First lesson is no-obligation. Come in, play, talk through goals. If it's not the right fit, no follow-up booking required. Most enquiries get a response within 24 hours. Gift certificates available — three, five or ten lesson packs. Perfect for birthdays, Christmas, or someone who has always wanted to start. Studio in Flinders, Shellharbour. Online lessons available. Call John on 0402 860 719 or book at illawarradrum.com.au.
- Accreditations
Over 20 Years of Professional, Teaching & Performing Experience- Email Business
- Payment method
- debit, cash
- Service Notes
- In-person at our Flinders studio. Online lessons available. NDIS plan-managed and self-managed welcome. DVA participants welcome. Studio access from Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Albion Park and Dapto.
- Other Links
- Category
- Keywords
- ADHD Music Teacher Wollongong, Autism Music Teacher Illawarra, Bass Lessons Wollongong, DVA Music Lessons, Drum Lessons Illawarra, Drum Lessons Kiama, Drum Lessons Shellharbour, Drum Lessons Wollongong, Drum Teacher Shellharbour, Guitar Lessons Wollongong, HSC Music Tutor Wollongong, Music Lessons Illawarra, Music Teacher Flinders Nsw, NDIS Music Lessons Wollongong, Neurodivergent Music Lessons, Piano Lessons Wollongong, Rhythm Focus Method
FAQs
How do we contact you?
Call us at 0402 860 719.
What are your business hours?
We are available by appointment from Monday to Friday.
Where are you located?
We are located in Flinders NSW 2529.
My child has tried music lessons before and stopped. Can you help?
Yes - this is the studio that exists for exactly that. Most of our students arrived after one or two prior attempts didn't stick. The Rhythm Focus Method is built around the specific reasons neurodivergent kids tend to disengage from traditional lessons.
Do you work with NDIS or DVA participants?
Yes. Professional Certificate in Neurodivergent-Affirming Practices. Works with plan-managed and self-managed NDIS participants, and DVA participants. Lessons can be billed against capacity building goals including community participation, self-regulation, and skill development. Get in touch to discuss your plan.
Reviews
02/26/2023
Thankyou John best drum teacher ever.Everything is structured in a way to make you succeed in a very non threatening way.So talented drummer are you it's all fun.
02/26/2023
The lessons John teaches are helpful and easy to understand. You will feel comfortable in learning about the drums and mistakes are always taken as a learning opportunity!
02/25/2023
My son has been going to drumming lessons for a year now and he has progressed so much. He loves it and the way John tailors each lesson to accommodate how he's progressing and what he is interested in just encourages my son more. They've also created a few recordings to bring home of drum and guitar sequences that are fantastic and makes my son so proud. Thanks John!
02/24/2023
My sons skills have come leaps and bounds since having his drumming lessons with John. Highly recommended
02/24/2023
I thoroughly enjoyed my lessons with John. They were relaxed and fun. He had a very relatable way of explaining concepts and appeared to have a great depth of knowledge on the technical side of things. Could not recommend him more highly.
02/23/2023
Great instructor, 10 out of 10. Highly recommend him. Not only does he teach me but my 2 sons too
02/23/2023
My son has been going to drum lessons for 15+ years, John is an excellent teacher that cares about his students. He is always flexible when it comes to scheduling lessons as well. I could not recommend him highly enough.
02/23/2023
I have been a student for 15+ years, started as a child. Could not recommend a better teacher. From fundamentals to letting be grow into my own style there hasn’t been a bad moment.
02/22/2023
My son has been learning with John for 3 years since he was 3 years old. John has been nothing but amazing and patient with my energetic, and sometimes cheeky, little boy. He is now able to read music and play both drums and guitar. As I have already tried other music teachers/companies in the area, I would highly recommend John as the most experienced, flexible and fun, as he is genuinely a lovely person and great teacher.
02/22/2023
John has been a great teacher, supportive and easy going in the years that he has been teaching my son. Could not recommend John highly enough!!!