Alistair Wallis has been actively teaching in the Sydney scene for over 30 years. As a professional player across percussion and drums, and having worked in multiple disciplines from early music, Renaissance, Orchestral right through to the extremes of the Avant Garde and generally freelancing with everything in between, there isn’t much he hasn’t done.
All during this time, Alistair has been a highly active and consistent tutor, writer and arranger for percussion ensembles and as a recording artist. He has held long-term positions in many schools and teaching academies as well as running his own studio in Sydney and was also a contributing composer with works in the latest AMEB (Australian) percussion exam syllabus.
He has always been serious about the big block fundamentals and rudiment based approach to playing. You can learn fast if you do plenty of the right things. Your musical expression on drums doesn’t necessarily have to mean you need to have been doing it since the crib. What you put out there in your playing is a also direct result of any other instruments you might’ve played, (also, your life influences and passions and loves and what you pour into yourself!). Getting a great technical base will unlock that. It’s exactly the same as an art teacher showing you how to paint, not WHAT to paint and what to love.
Finding ways for every different personality type and learning brain has always been a passion. There is always a way through any learning situation and unlocking those pathways and finding that road to achievement is something that is the eternal ongoing challenge Alistair enjoys. As a dedicated professional in his field, there is much gratitude to the many students over time who, without their blood, sweat, and tears, there would be no volume of material and experiences and so it is largely from there that maddrumming.com exists.