Pro drummer to run public workshops

March 25th, 2013
[by David Armstrong]

Motueka-based professional drummer Gabor Irmalos is offering a workshop for people who have tried drumming and would like to know more, and even those who would like have a go for the first time.

Hungarian-born Gabor (pictured) arrived in Motueka last October and has begun teaching the art, following the internationally recognised Rock School syllabus, grades 1 to 8, which is also taught at Motueka High School.

But he wants to do more for the community than just private tuition, and has decided to try public workshops where people can come along and try their hand and see how good drumming is created.

The first workshop will be held on Saturday, April 6th, starting at 3.00pm, in the Salvation Army lounge, 6 Greenwood Street. A fee of $5.00 will cover room rental.

He will have two drum kits and two individual drums on hand, and will let the audience take turns using his gear. "Then I will discuss what to bring and what I can supply for the next workshop" if enough people are interested, he says.

Gabor graduated at Vasutas Music School, Budapest in 1991, then took private lessons with great Hungarian master drummers while drumming in a 24-member Latino band.

He played for original bands, and then worked for well-known Hungarian musical productions as a session drum player. There he learned a range of styles, including rock, jazz, dancing and blues.

In 2007 he moved to New Zealand (specifically Palmerston North), where he helped out drumming for a couple of bands and later toured the North Island with a Pink Floyd tribute band (see photo below). His band repertoire expanded to include Irish and jazz cover bands and progressive rock bands.

Gabor started teaching more seriously, and says the enthusiasm of his students amazed him so he decided to share his knowledge as much as he could. Eventually he was teaching 28 students a week at Manawatu College in Foxton, plus private tuition at home in the evenings.

He moved to Motueka, attracted by the strength of the community he had seen while holidaying here. He noted how much the people here and in Nelson appreciated music.

He has an electric drum set in his studio which can play backing tracks live with and without drums, which gives amazing results as students can hear how their playing fits in with a band.

"People who learn to manage the co-ordination of drum patterns also get better at organising their lives and studies, as it exercises brain co-ordination," he says.

"I am planning to get a bigger venue to let people bring their basic gear and provide some practice pads later on, as I would like to do workshops regularly, around every fifth or sixth weeks."

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