Meet our music teachers

Alain co-founded Planet drum with Mirko Schmitt in 1997, after years playing drums and percussion in bands around the world. A Zildjian artist, he's an experienced sound engineer and producer, and has spent three decades teaching London's drummers. He's also founder of Rhythm.School, an online home for rhythm and drum education, sharing free lessons that take drummers from their first beat towards real fluency.

Vladimir studied classical piano before graduating from Belgrade's jazz guitar conservatory, and has performed at the Royal Festival Hall, Womad and the London Jazz Festival with artists including Cerys Matthews, John Reynolds and Paprika. He writes and produces his own music, sings and plays guitar in the Planet drum house band. He enjoys helping students bring together classical discipline and jazz freedom.

Louis has led workshops at Planet drum since 2002, sharing a passion for rhythm and musical exploration. He performs with the band Afrik Bawantu and finds constant inspiration in discovering new styles.

Teaching is central to his life: he enjoys guiding students of all ages and abilities, passing on the knowledge his own teachers gave him and continuing the tradition of percussive artistry.

Filippo joined Planet drum in 2017, having started drums at six and built a lifelong passion that took him from teenage gigging to a postgraduate degree in East London.

Now a London session drummer, he plays with Flying Tailor and Fjokra, and brings that experience into his teaching across drums, guitar, ukulele and music production, helping students grow their creativity and confidence.

Hear his podcast episode

Radovan is a Slovak multi-instrumentalist and drummer whose influences span jazz, funk, rock and electronic music. He began drumming at six and was touring nationally by thirteen. He has recorded at Abbey Road Studios, collaborated with artists including Liam Bailey and Kele Le Roc, and performed across Europe and beyond. Radovan has taught with Planet drum since 2018.

Valerio started playing drums and singing at the age of two, following his father, and was working professionally by eleven. He is our in-studio singing teacher, the in-person half of our singing offering, alongside his drum teaching.

After a Sound Engineering diploma in Rome he earned a BMus at ICMP in London, and works as a session drummer, musical director and sound engineer. He has taught at Planet drum since 2022.

Sebastien has taught at Planet drum since 2015. He trained at the National Conservatoire of Perpignan under André Mallau and performed widely with jazz, funk and rock bands.

During the final three years of his diploma he also taught in a French college, which deepened his love of education; sharing music with students of all ages is something he values deeply.

Keith has taught and rehearsed at Planet drum with his band since 2012. Originally from Dublin, he studied Jazz Performance at Newpark Music Centre before continuing at Trinity College of Music in London.

His drumming focuses on strong technique and musical awareness; rehearsing with a jazz group and exploring improvisation through recording and discussion is something he loves sharing with students.

Rastko is a drummer and percussionist from Belgrade, Serbia. He trained on scholarship at Berklee College of Music before moving to London, where he's immersed himself in music scenes as varied as jazz, pop and world music.

He's performed, recorded and toured extensively with groups including Paprika, Balkanatics, Forty Thieves Orkestar and Round Coloured Note, alongside songwriter Polly Paulusma, pan-flute virtuoso Damian Draghici and clarinetist Arun Ghosh. He's recorded for film and radio and appeared as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, drawing throughout on the rich rhythmic tradition of the Balkans.

Irene has taught singing for over ten years, working with all levels and especially beginners. She holds a BA (Hons) in Popular Music Performance, runs singing circles, and teaches online only, with flexible one-to-one lessons.

Starting from each student's favourite style, she guides them through new genres and techniques to build range, pitch and breathing and develop a strong, expressive voice.

Peter studied music at the Liszt Ferenc University in Budapest and brings over twenty years of teaching experience from Hungary and the UK.

He plays bass in the Planet drum house band, and as a working session musician has played with major Hungarian acts across jazz, funk, rock and metal. He helps students build technique, musicality and confidence.

Antonio is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer from Italy who joined Planet drum in 2019. He began classical guitar at six and later moved into jazz, blues and rock.

He financed a Paris cinema degree through his jazz and electronic project Aiguille, and since arriving in London in 2013 has developed new folk and electronic work that shapes his teaching.