As the showman-turned-tutor who guided many of Britian's top drummers through their first tentative flailings, Bob Armstrong is a top-grade drum teacher. And who better to interview him about his life's work than one of his own former pupils, steve white.

"Bob Armstrong, what a great name for a drum teacher", quipped Phil Gould, just one of a who's who of drummers who have made the district line pilgrimage to Hornchurch to study, sweat, absorb and dedicate themselves to the art of drumming under the watchful eye of one of the most highly regarded drum teachers this country has ever produced.

I've always been used to listening in Bob's company, desperate to soak up the linear phrasing, the Latin drum set applications, the Zen-like musicality of the Jim Blackley book and the subtle nuances of the up, down and Moeller technique. Now it was my turn to talk. I wanted to get to know the man who has given so much to the British drum community.

It was fascinating listening to the man I'm so used to listening to as he said his piece. Bob was my Angelo Dundee, in my corner always, through endless hours of practice and personal rejection after my gig with the Style Council went wrong; telling me to keep going, filling my head with positive thoughts and knowledge. The period I was immersing myself in Bob's teaching was one of the happiest times of my life. On a broader level, Bob Armstrong is a quiet, reflective, modest British drum treasure.

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This profile section is taken from the recent Rhythm Magazine article 'Teacher Man'. We would like to thank Rhythm Magazine for their kind permission to use the article. To find out more visit www.futurenet.co.uk