Riccardo

Hello!

My name is Riccardo and I have been a professional drummer for 16 years. I offer drum lessons at my studio (Manor House) for both beginners and advanced drummers. I teach jazz, rock, funk, electronic and world music drumming. I am DBS checked and I am also available for online lessons.

I tailor the lessons to help all students reach their individual goals. Here are some topics we could cover during the lessons:

- Technique
- Drum rudiments
- Grooves/fills
- Independence/coordination
- Improvisation/soloing
- Repertoire
- Improve your time feeling
- Practice methods and tips
- Listening suggestions
- Sight-reading
- Music theory

I can help you prepare for graded exams by Rockschool, Trinity College, ABRSM, etc.

As I also play piano we can cover more subject areas which would help you understand better songs’ forms, harmony, how to communicate with other players and have a practical and “real life” experience.

My studio is fully equipped with a high-quality drum kit, an acoustic piano and a great sound system.

Rates:
30 minutes - £;30
45 minutes - £;35
60 minutes - £;40

(24h cancellation policy)

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with any questions you may have!

Hope to hear from you,
Riccardo


PERFORMING HIGHLIGHTS and COLLABORATIONS

Performing highlights include the Glastonbury Festival, Montreaux Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz, Ronnie Scott’s, The Jazz Cafe, Blue Note Milano, Eurosonic Noorderslag, Pizza Express Jazz Club, The Vortex Jazz Club, Tones On The Stones and MITO Milano.

He is currently part of the jazz/electronic duo project Moonfish along with the rising star artist Maria Chiara Argirò, the contemporary jazz quartet Dugong (which features some of the finest musicians Andrea Di Biase, Michele Caiati and Nicolò Ricci) and the new project by Maria Chiara Argirò for her album Forest City released by the LA-based record label Innovative Leisure (BADBADNOTGOOD).
He is a co-founder of Kino Trio, along with Bruno Heinen (professor at Trinity Laban) on piano and Michele Tacchi on electric bass. They released their critically acclaimed debut album Il Cielo Sopra Berlino in 2019 (Babel Label). Riccardo is also part of the multi-awarded Palestinian singer Reem Kelani’s band and the Future Changes Quartet led by the renowned Italian double bass player Paolino Dalla Porta (Pat Metheny, Oregon, Kenny Wheeler) which features also the multi-awarded Nicolò Ricci on tenor saxophone and the producer Dario Trapani on electric guitar. The debut album Moonlanding has been released in 2016 by Tuk Music (Paolo Fresu label).

Riccardo has released a single and two albums under his name: Camden Town, A Bird Told Me (pianist/composer) and Lux (drummer/composer) - released by Honolulu Records, a label founded together with seven musicians currently living in Milan, Brussels and Amsterdam. Camden Town (2020) is a continuation of the concept behind his first piano solo album A Bird Told Me (2018). Both the recordings have been tape-recorded on his grandfather`s piano in the North of Italy. Lux (2015) is a contemporary jazz album composed for a 6 piece band featuring some of the most talented young musicians from Italy.


EDUCATION

Riccardo (Verbania - Italy, 1986) approached music by studying piano at the age of 9. He began to study drums and percussions with Davide Merlino in 1999.
He graduated in Jazz (Bachelor`s Degree) with the highest honours at the Conservatory “G. Verdi” in Como. He achieved a Masters`s Degree in Jazz with the highest honours at the Conservatory “G. Verdi” in Milan.
He studied piano with Ramberto Ciammarughi (Miroslav Vitous, Randy Brecker, Vinnie Colaiuta) and drums with Fabrizio Sferra (Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Enrico Pieranunzi).
He attended many master classes and workshops such as Siena Jazz, Gregory Hutchinson, John Riley, Roberto Gatto, Massimo Manzi, Mike Manieri, Andrea Dulbecco, Matteo Moretti, Stefano Battaglia and Summer Jazz School di Fara Music.


AWARDS

Riccardo achieved the highest ranks in many Italian jazz contests. He won the first prize at Chicco Bettinardi Contest 2015, Jazz by the Pool Competition 2012, Contest Fara Music 2010 (winning a scholarship for best musician) and Concorso Percfest 2010. He won the second prize at Conad Jazz Contest 2015, Conad Jazz Contest 2014 and Conad Jazz Contest 2013 of Umbria Jazz, and at Jimmy Woode Contest of Tuscia in Jazz 2013.

Availability: To be agreed with the students.

Willing to travel: 3 miles

Experience: TEACHING TESTIMONIALS

Riccardo is a brilliant teacher. He listens to every detail and corrects everything that needs to. His lessons are interesting, structured and fun due to his passion and enthusiasm. He always tries to inspire me and stretch my abilities. He explains very well and makes sure I understand. Riccardo is also very encouraging and patient. He is not only a drummer, he is a musician.
Yuma

My 9-year-old son has been learning the drums with Riccardo for a few months now and we could not have a better teacher! Riccardo is very clear, calm and student focussed teacher which is exactly what Joe needs. He not only focuses on technique but also on the feel of the instrument, the posture and the musical taste of the student. He is always so patient and positive.
Riccardo is very proficient and versatile and teaches Joe to play different styles, which he can bring home to play with his brother who plays guitar. Joe has improved a lot and corrected embedded mistakes he developed from learning on his own.
It is hard to find a good music teacher, and Riccardo has exceeded my expectations. He is a professional jazz player and has a track record of teaching at very high level too. Riccardo’s enthusiasm for drumming really transpires through each lesson and is an inspiration for Joe. He is very reliable and responsive, which is great for parents. I could not recommend Riccardo enough!
Caroline McTurk

Riccardo is an exceptional musician, a patient teacher and an inspiration. My daughter attended one year of his drum tuition and he left an indelible mark. I highly recommend him to everyone.
Carmelo Carbotti

Riccardo has been a great teacher. He was very organised with his lessons and made me improve quickly. He was always ready to help me whenever I had doubts. He suggested loads of different music to listen to and to find inspiration from. He has been a guru in teaching me how to feel the music, the groove, the connection with the instrument and to develop the interplay with other musicians. He helped me to discover and find my own sound, which I am grateful for.
Loris Mazza

My encounter with Riccardo was first of all as an observer. I began to follow him as a member of the audience at his concerts and I always took home precious elements, sources of inspiration and practical tips for my work on the instrument. After choosing to study jazz drums at the Conservatory, I decided to spend a year developing my skills and started studying with him. Riccardo immediately conveyed his great passion and visceral love for this genre which has no bounds, especially today. Starting with technical studies on the instrument and listening to the giants of this genre, I began to reach my first goals and deepen my knowledge lesson after lesson. I was guided step by step without ever overlooking any of the basics of instrumental technique, of listening and interacting with improvised music; an interaction that inevitably involves the analysis of structures and interpretive styles. Riccardo is not just a drummer, he`s a full-fledged musician. He doesn’t stop at the physicality of the instrument but he uses its knowledge as his greatest asset to create and interact with music, to teach and pass on his knowledge, to give advice and suggest paths of work. This peculiar characteristic of his allowed me to study elements of jazz harmony and piano technique with him, both essential to study at the Conservatory. I infinitely thank Riccardo for everything he has taught me, for everything he teaches me and for everything he will teach me.
Andrea Cocco


TEACHING EXPERIENCES

- Riccardo has been teaching drums, percussion and piano privately since 2009.
- From 2016 to 2022, he taught drums at Harris City Academy (secondary school) in London (UK).
- In 2015, Riccardo taught drums and percussions at a secondary school in Verbania (Italy).
- From 2011 to 2015, he taught drums at the music school Ente Musicale di Verbania (Italy).
- In 2010, Riccardo taught drums and percussion at the music association Estro Armonico di Stresa (Italy).
- From 2008 to 2009 he taught drums and piano at the Cultural Association Oltremusica, Como (Italy).


SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

DUGONG, "Let The Good Be Good", Honolulu Records, 2022
MARIA CHIARA ARGIRO`, "Forest City", Innovative Leasure, 2022
MOONFISH, “Mahi Mahi”, Cavalo Records, 2021
MOONFISH, “Insomnia”, Cavalo Records, 2021
MOONFISH, “Drop of Water”, Cavalo Records, 2020
RICCARDO CHIABERTA, “Camden Town”, Honolulu Records, 2020
TOY SONG, “Quarter Life Crisis”, 2019
KETTLE OF KITES, “Arrows”, 2019
KINO TRIO, “Il Cielo Sopra Berlino”, Babel Label, 2019
RICCARDO CHIABERTA, “A Bird Told Me”, Honolulu Records, 2018.
DUGONG, “The Big Other”, Honolulu Records, 2018.
RCT, “Reality Control Test”, Honolulu Records, 2018.
GIOVANNI AGOSTI TRIO, “Stretching”, Honolulu Records, 2016.
PAOLINO DALLA PORTA FUTURE CHANGE 4ET, “Moonlanding”, Tuk Music, 2016.
RICCARDO CHIABERTA NIRGUNA, “Lux”, Honolulu Records, 2015.
SIMONE PRANDO, “/`kasa”, PSS!01, 2015.
MARCO GIONGRANDI SOARES, “Departures”, Honolulu Records, 2015.
COLLETTIVO T. MONK, “Ugly Beauty”, Honolulu Records. 2015.
DIMITRI GRECHI ESPINOZA, TITO MANGIALAJO RANTZER, “When We Forgot the Melody – Vol. 2”, Rudi records, 2014.
MU, “Nest of Giants”, Abeat records, 2014.
DUGONG, “Miscommunication”, Zone di Musica, 2013.
ZEITGEBER ENSEMBLE, “Resalio”, Dodicilune records, 2013.


ENDORSEMENTS

Riccardo is an endorser of Bosphorus Cymbals.

DBS Check: Yes

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