COACHING
& CAREER
ADVICE
with the inspiration,
techniques and
tools to succeed
Musicality – Technique/Ergonomics – Performance
Mastery of your instrument
Creativity - Unique voice
Career Support:
Mentoring – Guidance – Advice
Career tools – Industry connections
Expertise – Know-How – Inspiration
MORE
Musicality – Technique/Ergonomics – Performance
Mastery of your instrument
Creativity - Unique voice
Career Support:
Mentoring – Guidance – Advice
Career tools – Industry connections
Expertise – Know-How – Inspiration
MORE
ENQUIRE NOW & REQUEST YOUR INITIAL FREE ASSESSMENT
Evans Drum Heads
United Kingdom
ABOUT
FRANCIS
Drum Coach,
Mentor, Musician
SOME KEY INFORMATION
Who I am: A professional drum coach, mentor and musician with a 30 year international track record. I am based in West London and work in the UK and internationally.
You’ve probably heard about my track record as an educator and founder of Drumtech and Tech Music Schools. You can read testimonials on this website describing my passion for helping people develop as musicians and the huge numbers of my students who are enjoying success.
What I do: Uniquely, I straddle two different sectors: Music and entrepreneurship.
I offer unparalleled support, training, advice, knowledge and connections to musicians and music entrepreneurs wanting to make the changes necessary to bring about success. I am 100% dedicated to empowering and nurturing others and enabling them to succeed. In fact it’s my passion.
In 2021, in recognition of Francis’ special contribution to pop music education and the development of the world’s first graded pop music exams, Francis received an Honorary Fellowship from RSL Awards.
Here's a few career highlights:
The founder of the world-renowned Tech Music Schools (now part of the BIMM group) the first music school for pop & rock musicians in the UK
Established the leading brand in music education in Europe and trained many of the best musicians on the world music scene
Drum and music coach, training up-and-coming and successful drummers internationally
Created, developed and managed Tech Music Schools operating in 50 countries and sold in 2010
Business mentor and developer to musicians and entrepreneurs
Part of UCL Advances Mentoring team
Adviser to the Mayor of London's fund for young musicians
Honorary Doctor and a Fellow of the RSA (The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce)
Author of articles on entrepreneurship Éditions BGO
I am based in West London and work both in the UK and internationally.
'Working with Francis has made me a much better player. It has given me the skills to realise my musical ideas'Phil Selway - Radiohead
United Kingdom
DRUM
COACHING
“Your music, your drumming,
your future"
DRUM COACHING
It's all about you: Your music, your drumming and your future.
Enabling you to become the best drummer and musician you can be, achieve new goals, be creative, equip you to face new challenges better, take new directions.
To be a good drummer you have to be a good musician!
My approach to drum coaching is about empowering you, giving you the tools, techniques and creativity to be the best musician you can be.
It’s entirely supportive and also addresses approaches, physical techniques and ergonomics, musical concepts and knowledge. Importantly we’ll also work on how best to learn, practice and crucially, perform.
You will value and benefit from my expertise, knowledge and ability to get to the core of things and help make a substantial positive difference to your playing!
“Based in Scotland, I travel to London to have lessons with Francis Seriau. Francis has had such a positive impact on my drumming. He has coached and mentored me in a way that has made me a much more confident player as well as a better musician on the whole. The passion and enthusiasm Francis has for the drums inspires me each and every day to get to the next level. He cleverly combines simple ideas with an innovative twist that really helps bring the best out in me. He has helped me improve so much the way I sound, the way I feel and the way I learn. I highly recommend Francis to any drummer who thrives to play drums at a professional level. He will get you there.” Jordan Harvey
“Francis helped me to find the path to the place in music where I am today“Ash Soan – Adele, Seal, James Morrison, Robbie Williams
My one to one private lesson programme includes:
If you are a motivated and committed drummer and want to make some real changes to your playing, I’d love to work with you!
We’ll start by assessing and understanding your abilities as a player, discussing your goals and ambitions. Then we’ll agree a clear plan to go forward.
| 1. | One to one private drum lessons both in West London, UK also in Besançon, east France. |
| 2. | Masterclasses internationally. |
Contact me for an informal chat:
'When it comes to drum teachers I consider Francis Seriau to be in the premier league. He has the ability to get to the source of any problem; be it technique, timing, creativity or helping you find a way to view things differently. Francis enables you to step up your playing and musicality to the next level with a very positive approach. Francis’s teaching has always always made a difference in my playing, and in my book, that’s what counts!'Wayne Proctor - Drummer & Producer (King King, Oli Brown, Aynsley Lister)
United Kingdom
CAREER
ADVICE
“Unless you know where
you are going you will end up
somewhere else"
CAREER ADVICE
“The world of music keeps changing and it's moving very fast. If you want to work and succeed as a professional musician you need to be an effective entrepreneur. Understanding business and the bigger picture, being equipped to seize the opportunities, making the right connections, – these are all essential for a lasting career - and they’re what I help provide.“
As I always say, “Unless you know where you are going you will end up somewhere else.“
I have coached and mentored drummers from at least 50 different countries and a large number of my students are enjoying real professional success.
We start by assessing your abilities and experience and by discussing your goals and ambitions. When you’re satisfied we’re on the same page, we agree a clear action plan and move things forward. Simple
And we meet either face to face or via Skype/Face-Time.
'The guidance and inspiration that I’ve drawn from Francis over the years have allowed me to access what I have inside my head and heart. This means as a musician I keep growing, progressing and ultimately being a better player.'Jason Cooper - The Cure
United Kingdom
SUCCESS
STORIES &
TESTIMONIALS
It's about you
and your success
SUCCESS STORIES & TESTIMONIALS
I’m very proud of my students’ achievements. Here is a selection.
Anthony Channer - Nerina Pallot, Melanie Blatt, Will Young
Aaron ‘Breakbeat’ Fagan - Chipmunk, N-Dubz, Estelle, David Sneddon, Kanye West, Brandy, Marlon Saunders, Will Smith, John Legend, Nate James, Beverly Knight, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly
Ashley Soan – Adele, Maverick Saber, Robbie Williams, Faithless, Squeeze, Del Amitri, Hear'Say, Lewis Taylor, Cher
Barry Van Zyl – Solo artist and producer and member of Johnny Clegg Band
Becky Jones - Emma Bunton, Carleen Andersen, Skunk Anansie, Saint Saviour
Ben Henshall - Towers of London
Ben Jones - Tricky
Bianca Glynn - Gareth Gates, Australian Pink Floyd Tribute Band
Bill Bruford – Yes, King Crimson, Earth Works
Bob Leith - The Cardiacs
Boris Le Gal – Chimp Spanner, Periphery, Neonfly
Brian Greene - George Benson, Cliff Richard
Carlos Hercules - George Michael, Beverley Knight, CJ Lewis, Lyndon David Hall
Claire Brock – Kelli Ali (Sneaker Pimps)
Dan Richards – One Direction
Dominic Greensmith - Reef, Kubb
Doug Fink - Noah and the Whale
Ed Drewitt (songwriter) – One Direction, The Wanted, Professor Green, Olly Murs
Ed O'Brien - Radiohead
Elliott Fyffe - Craig David, Blue, Ronan Keating, Lemar, Abs, George Benson
Ged Lynch - Black Grape, Peter Gabriel, Electronic, Public Enemy
Graham Godfrey – Michael Kiwanuku, Gabrielle, Soweto Kinch
Greg Haver - The Waterfront and albums for Tom Jones 'Reload', Manic Street Preachers 'Know your enemy', INME, Catatonia, Super Furry Animals, The feelers, Lost Prophets, The Checks, Breed 77, Melanie C, Carly Binding, Cosmic Rough Riders, Pluto
Hugo Burnham - Gang of Four, ABC
Jackson Leach - Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Richard Fleeshman
Jamiel Blake - Kelly Rowlands, All Saints, Jamelia
James Davis - Mungo Jerry
James Huiban - Marcel et Son Orchestre
Jason Cooper - The Cure
Jenifer Castillo - Boney M
Jesper Sommer - Celine Dion, Enrique Inglesias, Leona Lewis
Jin-Won Kim - Yun Do Hyun (Korea)
Jon Brookes - Charlatans
Jon Pick - Cars on Fire
Jonathan De'ath - Lyndon David Hall
Johann (Joe) Frank - Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, Steve Howe
Jon Donnelly - Saw Doctors
Julien Brown - A1, Will Young, Kylie Minogue, Romeo, Heather Small, Lyndon David Hall
Justin Welch - Elastica, Me Me Me
Kat Bax - Tricky
Kyle Hall – Goldheart Assembly
Laura Conway - Westlife, Kennedy
Laura Fares - Sam Sparro, Ricky Martin, Guy Chambers
Laurence Colbert - Supergrass, Ride, The Jesus and Mary Chain
Laurie Jenkins - Chaka Khan, Heather Small, Apes, Pigs and Spaceman
Leddra Chapman - Solo
Luke Bullen - KT Tunstall, Joe Strummer, Bryan Ferry, Billy Bragg, Cerys Matthews, UNKLE, Paul Heaton, Heather Nova.
Lyn Rees - Spencer Davies
Maki Takamiya - Solo artist Japan, signed to Virgin EMI/Toshiba
Mark Roberts - Massive Attack, Nenah Cherry, D'Ream
Martin Stewart - Joseph Washbourn (Toploader)
Marina Diamandis – Marina and the Diamonds
Matthieu Rabate - Vanessa Paradis, Indochine, Mylene Farmer and Guesh Patti, Patricia Kaas
Me'sha Bryan - Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music)
Mick Avory - The Kinks
Natalia Rizzini - K-SIS
Nathan Curran - Basement Jaxx, Reef, The Beautiful People
Nenad Gajin - Emma Bunton, Slobodan Trkukja, Mokhtar Samba, Bojan Z
Nick Francis – Goldheart Assembly
Nicolas Bastos - L'esprit du clan, Deep in Hate
Noel Watson - Carleen Anderson
Oli Saville - Pet Shop Boys, Smoke City, Basement Jaxx
Oli Steele - Monuments
Oscar Preciado - Breed 77
Pascal Consoli - Bjork, D'Influence Underworld
Pascal Delmas - Otis Grant
Paul Michiels – Soulsister
Phil Selway - Radiohead
Pik Withers - Dire Straits
Rachel Kern - Sugababes, Rachel Stevens
Raife Burchell - The Lightning Seeds, Ed Harcourt
Rami Abood - Courtney Love
Rat Scabies - The Damned
Richard Beasley - Gary Numan
Richard Norris - Neville Staple (The Specials)
Rick Goldstein - Bootleg Beatles
Rob Cieka - Boo Radleys
Robin Guy - Rachel Stamp
Roger O'Dell – Shakatak
Rufus Taylor - Brian May
Sandy Beales – One Direction
Sebastien Steinberg - Lily Allen, Brett Anderson
Simon Tellier – Tinchy Stryder, Christophe Willem
Stephen Simmonds - Groovejet, Lucie Diamond
Steve Sidelnyk – Tina Turner, Madonna, Annie Lenox, Seal, Hikara Utada, Rollingstones
Sigrey Rasmussen - Solo Artist
Stuart Cooper – Koopa
Tim Rickard - Boney M
Tim Price - Gary Moore, Jamelia
Tom Meadows - Lucie Silvas, Girls Aloud, Duffy
Francis Seriau is one of a kind and a real entrepreneur with a huge talent for sharing and guiding! His school "Drumtech" followed by Tech Music Schools, became one of the finest institutions. I fully endorse his projects and follow them closely, knowing that they are professional and unique.Manu Katche - Musician, Song writer, ECM artist, Television Host (Sting, Peter Gabriel, Jan Garbarek, Arte TV, M6)
Setting up Europe's most successful popular music school and managing it for 27 years requires dedication, hard work and imagination. Doing it in a foreign country and a foreign language tells you a lot about Francis Seriau, a native of France. Energetic and resourceful, Francis' proven track record indicates that whatever he turns his hand to next in the music business will probably be at least unusual, probably a surprise and certainly interesting. As an enabler and an expert in encouraging talent in others, Francis has the energy and resourcefulness to make the unexpected happen.Bill Bruford - (Yes, King Crimson, Earthworks). UK.
Francis Seriau is without doubt one of the pioneers of Contemporary Percussion education in the UK. His Drumtech school was the first of its kind in Britain. Zildjian has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Francis. We are proud to continue our relationship with him and wish him every success with his endeavours.Craigie Zildjian - Chief Executive Officer The Avedis Zildjian Company. US
'Protection Racket have had a long ongoing relationship with Francis and we are extremely grateful and proud of this. It all started with Drumtech and many or their students became Protection Racket customers or Endorsees. A true testament to the calibre of Francis’ institution!
We are delighted to continue working with Francis and support him his endavours. Francis is a true ambassador not only for Protection Racket, but for drumming and the music industry as a whole'.
Protection Racket