1. A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF JEFF’S CAREER

Jeff describes his career from growing up in Hackney, East London to forming a band at his comprehensive school. He then goes on to describe how he played in studios and on adverts and various recording sessions for the likes of "Stretch", "Judie Tzuke", "The Climax Blues Band", "Def Leppard" to ultimately joining "Status Quo" on a full time basis in 1985 just after the "Live Aid" concert. He will also explode many of the myths associated with the music industry, showing the pupils that like any other business it is hard work, determination and a degree of luck that are the key ingredients for a successful career. He will also give away trade secrets with regard to Top of the Pops and other music programmes. Questions will be asked by Jeff throughout the demonstration and he will ask for audience involvement as much as possible.

2. A HISTORY OF THE DRUM Your pupils will learn how technological changes through the Centuries have led from animal skins being stretched out over hollow logs to modern plastic skinned drums, designed to stay in tune. Jeff will start with African drums and will be inviting pupils up to play various drums all through the session. From Africa he will demonstrate the old European military drums right through to the modern snare drum where he will demonstrate a few rudiments.

3. THE DRUM KIT In this section Jeff will explain each part of the modern day drum kit which will be set up behind him. He will then go through the different aspects of playing including independence in rhythms, tuning etc. He will then play a solo on the kit to show how versatile a drum kit can be. The results at times are breathtaking as Jeff demonstrates the skills of a professional musician.

4. FINALE After the solo section Jeff will invite up to 150 students to join him on selected percussion instruments. There will be two or three attempts at this until every-one has joined in. To round off the Masterclass there will be a "Question and Answer" session in which pupils will be encouraged to ask questions pertaining to drums, percussion and the music business.

The session lasts for 1 hour 30 minutes and can be performed in front of a maximum of 300 pupils. Jeff is also available for evening performances with a predominantly adult audience. He has a technician who works with him to set the equipment up and would normally arrive at the school an hour before the session commences. Jeff has recently decided to leave Status Quo after 15 years of touring and recording to concentrate full time on presenting these masterclasses. All in all the Masterclass is an experience that your pupils will find very enjoyable. It will also give them a rare opportunity to be involved with someone from an industry which is a little out of the ordinary. The Masterclass aims to encourage pupils to take up any instrument, not necessarily percussion, and as Jeff himself says "The whole idea of my Masterclass is to inspire the children to learn an instrument and if I achieve that, then my job is done."