The Team
Jonathon Tressler
Bachelor Music Arts(L7), Dip Tchg Lrn
Manager, Drum Kit & Percussion Teacher
Jonathon is an established drummer of 30 years and his career has included full-time teaching for over 20 years. Jonathon graduated from both the Christchurch Jazz School and Christchurch Teacher’s College, and has the qualifications to back up his experience. He is employed full time as an Itinerant Music Teacher with the Forte ITM’s attached to Hagley College and is currently teaching drums and percussion in eight Canterbury schools.
He also has experience in teaching primary and intermediate aged students, and in both public and private education establishments. Jonathon is passionate about quality drum kit education for New Zealand students. This passion led him to the UK where he met Drumsense founder Colin Woolway, and their connection led to Jonathon’s pioneering role bringing the Drumsense programme to NZ. As well as introducing Drumsense to New Zealand, he has trained and mentored many drum teachers around the country holding seminars and clinics in this method.
In recent years Jonathon has developed his skills in orchestral percussion playing with a focus on 4 mallet marimba. He has been refining these skills by playing percussion in a number of Brass bands and orchestras around Canterbury. This has enabled him to offer percussion lessons at The Beat Studios with a new purpose built percussion studio being added on beside the current drum studio at the start of 2017.
Ciaran Wright
Teacher
I have been playing drums since the age of 10. I was a student at beat studios from 2014 to 2021 working from grade 1 drums to completing my ATCL in percussion with distinction. I have since moved to UC to study a Bachelor of Music Majoring in Percussion performance. I have had experience in many ensembles Including the NZSO National Youth Orchestra, various Orchestras around Christchurch and I play in a band with friends from university.
I started Teaching Drums and Percussion at The Beat Studios in 2022 allowing me to do what I love, passing my knowledge on to others assisting them along their musical journey.
Ricardo Stuani
Teacher
Ricardo was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has been a drummer since he was thirteen. He has a Bachelor in Percussion and a Master in Music from the University of Sao Paulo. During this period he played in Symphonic Orchestras, Jazz and Rock Bands, and Percussion Ensembles in Latin America. After graduating, he moved to Europe where he studied drum kit performance at the Rotterdam Conservatorium in Holland.
Later, he moved to Portugal, where he taught and played drums full time. Ricardo's percussion and drums experience span for more than 30 years, and now he is doing a PhD in Music at Canterbury University, where he met Teacher Jonathon Tressler, who invited him to teach at The Beat Studios.
He has played a wide range of musical styles and he is excited to share this experience and his passion for music and drums with students at The Beat Studios.
