Bio
Hi! I'm Simon - a 32yr old professional drummer and drum tutor based in Newbury.
I've been playing the drums for over 20 years and have been teaching drums since 2017.
As an active, full-time professional musician, I bring real-world experience, industry insight and a passion for teaching to every lesson - helping my students of all ages and abilities develop solid technique, musical confidence and a genuine love for drumming.
For more live videos, content, and my gig calendar - visit my professional drummer website - SimonDaruvala.co.uk
I also run a Band Agency called Harrier Entertainment - providing Live Music for weddings and events, which can be viewed & booked here: HarrierEntertainment.co.uk
Teaching Career
Simon started teaching music in 2017 after graduating from The Academy of Contemporary Music. In 2018, he started working full-time for Rocksteady Music School - teaching rock-band workshops to over 300 schoolchildren per week across Hampshire.
After a few years, he moved completely to drum lessons, firstly with the Rock Project (2019) and Hogan Music (2020), and then with St Gabriels School in Newbury (2021), joining the school as their Drum Kit and Percussion Tutor. Later that same year, Simon joined Blessed Hugh Faringdon (School (Reading) as their Drum Kit tutor.
Alongside his school teaching, Simon continued to grow his private lesson student base around Newbury, and in 2023 was able to start teaching drum lessons from home, having invested in his own fully-soundproofed bespoke home studio.
Over the last 5 years, Simons gigging career has grown significantly, and as a result he now focusses entirely on private lessons rather than school teaching, to ensure enough time and care can be given to both sides of his work.
Performing Career
Simon started gigging professionally straight after graduating ACM - joining multiple functions bands (The McKeens, Various Artists and Chasing Jupiter) from 2017 onwards.
From 2022, Simon started performing at theatre shows - firstly with a Small Faces Musical called 'The All or Nothing Experience', followed by a huge variety of tribute acts from Celine Dion to Guns N Roses - travelling as far as Malta, Belgium & Germany to perform at concerts and tribute festivals.
From the beginning of 2025, Simon began performing Guest Entertainer contracts on cruise ships - firstly on Saga Cruises, and more recently with Fred Olsen, P&O, Princess, Cunard and Celebrity cruises, travelling all over Europe, The Americas and The Caribbean.
Alongside Simons teaching commitments, his performing work in 2026 includes cruise ship contracts with ODY•C, high-end corporate events with 'The In Thing' (10-piece showband), and theatre productions with leading tributes to Coldplay, Morgan Wallen and Lionel Richie.
