Drum teacher and musician Ashley Davies believes the two crucial characteristics of a good drummer are technique and feel. He says it is not what you play, but how you play it, and that feel is the spark that defines the great drummers.
“Feel and sound are the most important,” Ash says. “You practice technique to give you control over your fingers, wrists, arms and legs so that it becomes second nature and you don’t have to think about it while you’re playing.”
“When you’ve mastered technique for the style of drums/grooves/fills you want to play, it frees your mind and body up to allow you to get into what you’re playing; to get into the sound of the drums and bring out the feel of it, the music of it.”
This philosophy forms the basis of Ashley’s drum tuition and practice that he uses for all his students, whether through private lessons or at Emerson School, where he has taught drums for the past 24 years.
The music program at Emerson spans all year levels from Junior to Senior School.
“Some of my favourite career memories include breakthrough moments with Emerson students, where the challenge is being able to connect on an individual level with each student. If you get that connection, you get positive results,” Ash says.
“Emerson is doing important work in the community, and has a great culture of care, respect, love, development and improvement. The focus is on providing the best opportunity possible for each student which, in turn, will get the best out of them.”
Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Ashley studied drum tuition at school and has worked as a drummer for more than 40 years, performing and touring with various artists in Australia and internationally, including Matt Walker, The Models (ARIA hall of fame), Jeff Lang, Chris Whitley, Ben Waters, Jordie Lane, Rosie Flores, The Dingoes (ARIA hall of fame), Lisa Miller, Rob Snarski and Chris Wilson, to name a few.
Now based in Melbourne, Ashley is regarded as one of Australia’s most innovative drummers. In addition to his drum teaching commitments, he has played on more than 75 albums, recorded for film and television soundtracks as well as releasing seven solo albums and performed shows based on these records at festivals around Australia.
His love of drumming shines through every aspect of his music career from performing to teaching. “Drums are first and foremost a groove-oriented instrument but are also musically percussive. I encourage my students to think creatively on the drum kit and learn various styles of drumming to improvise and enhance one’s own individual style,” he says.
“Making the drums sound good makes the musicians you’re playing with sound good, and that makes the music you perform together sound even better.”
More information about Ashley Davies is available at his website.
[interviewed April 2026]
