What makes Oscar’s story so compelling? Simply put, it’s a testament to the idea that dreams don’t just happen overnight. Rather, they take hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to weather the ups and downs of the journey. As we explore Oscar’s life and musical journey, we’ll celebrate his triumphs and learn from his challenges, all while gaining valuable insights into how to stay motivated and focused on our own goals.

Hitting the Right Note: The Journey of Oscar’s Passion for Music

Meet Oscar Evans, a 13-year-old drummer with a bright future ahead of him. His musical journey began at the young age of one when he would jam along to his sisters’ music on pans and buckets. Fast forward a few years, and he met his drum teacher, Nick Baker, who quickly recognised Oscar’s intense passion for music.

Despite his natural talent, however, Oscar has faced his fair share of challenges along the way. One of the more challenging ones for Oscar has been his battle with anxiety. While he loves to perform, the emotional toll of being on stage can be overwhelming at times.

But Oscar is a fighter, and he’s found ways to manage his anxiety and keep moving forward. He prepares thoroughly for performances, practices relentlessly, and seeks out supportive environments where he can feel safe to take risks. As he puts it, “Everyone has to learn to be ok with making mistakes and that it’s ok to not be perfect every time. I have to remember to be kind to myself when I do make mistakes because I find it really hard to not be perfect.” and that is an advice every musician should take into account. Through it all, he remains fiercely committed to his craft, and his dedication has paid off in spades. As Nick notes,

“Oscar’s drumming skills have definitely developed over time and his speed and creativity with Groove Patterns, Fills and orchestration sets him apart from the others I have taught.”

Believe and Achieve: Celebrating Accomplishments

Despite facing numerous challenges on his musical journey, Oscar’s love for music and drumming has always kept him going. From being self-taught until the age of 5 to starting structured drum lessons with Nick, he has overcome obstacles with determination and hard work. At first, it was challenging to relearn the basics and undo some habits he had developed, but he persevered and can now read music perfectly, a skill he wouldn’t have acquired if he hadn’t taken the time to do so.
Even though it can be frustrating to struggle with a difficult piece, especially when he’s already mastered songs from the previous grades, Oscar has learned to accept that progress takes time and patience. And as time went by, his achievements started to roll in.

Oscar’s hard work paid off and has since achieved his Grade 8, having completed his last Rockschool Drums exam in February 2023 in a digital recorded format. Being allowed to take it in his drum teacher’s studio, Oscar was able to overcome his nerves and complete the recording in a familiar setting, earning a well-deserved Distinction with a score of 94%. We congratulate Oscar on his remarkable achievement, and we are certain that many more successes and accolades are in store for him.

Between the Lines: a series of rapid-fire questions

We recently had the pleasure of having a chat with Oscar, alongside his mother, Jane, and his long-standing music teacher, Nick Baker. We asked Oscar a series of rapid-fire questions to get to know him better and learn about his musical journey. Here are his inspiring answers:

RSL: Oscar, when did you first discover your love for drums, and what inspired you to pursue it?
Oscar: When I was about a year old, my sisters were playing music at home and singing, and I just jammed along to that with them on pans because I wanted to join in with them. I picked it up from there.

RSL: What is the best thing about studying drums with your teacher, Nick?
Oscar: Nick, my teacher is really chill, he understands when I’m finding it tough and he makes me feel that he believes in me. He also encourages me to be the best version of me.

RSL: What do you enjoy most about studying the Rockschool Drums syllabus?
Oscar: I love the Rockschool syllabus because it introduced me to my favourite genre, rock music. The syllabus has a lot of great songs to choose from, and they’re fun to learn and play.

RSL: What technique did you find the most challenging while learning drums, and how did you overcome it?
Oscar: Triple base drum exercises in Grade 8. It was hard but I got through it by starting slow and building my way up. Eventually, I got there. It was sometimes hard to slow down because it felt like I was going backwards. But it did really help.

RSL: Do you think the Rockschool Drums syllabus allows for personal style and approach, and why?
Oscar: Yes, I really liked being able to improvise in the exam pieces with fills and drum solos and develop parts that allow you to be creative, whilst still doing an exam.

RSL: What’s your favourite track from the Rockschool Drums syllabus, and why?
Oscar: I love playing “Meet Darth Ear” because it’s fast-paced and has a lot of metal in it. The song has great build-ups, and it’s just really fun to play.

RSL: What genre of music do you feel most comfortable playing?
Oscar: I love playing hard rock or metal music. It’s fast and exciting, and it just feels good to play.

RSL: Do you have any pre-performance rituals or techniques that help you manage anxiety and nerves?
Oscar: I try to block everything out, don’t let it build up and then just do it. The more I put things off, the harder it is, so now I just try to go for it without thinking too much.

RSL: Can you share any tips or strategies for musicians dealing with performance anxiety or other mental health challenges?
Oscar: Know and prepare what you are going to perform, practise, start small and build up in steps. Give yourself a reward for the little steps rather than the end result. Be ok if it doesn’t go to plan or you make mistakes. Know and listen to your limits, don’t go over them at first. Don’t say yes to performing because you feel pressured. Perform when you want to and feel ready to.

RSL: What’s one piece of advice you would give to aspiring musicians?
Oscar: Start slowly because if you go straight to the end goal, you can get frustrated and won’t be able to do it well, or you could become disheartened and give up when you don’t need to give up. If you move slowly and be ok with moving slowly, you will eventually get there. Don’t give up no matter how hard it is.

Inspired by the work Oscar and his teacher, Nick, are doing together? You can find your own music teacher using our “Find a Teacher” tool:

Oscar was diagnosed with severe anxiety when he was eight years old after his school placement broke down due to his anxiety. He has been learning from home for nearly five years and currently has an Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) package, where his education and drum lessons are funded by Hertfordshire County Council. Oscar’s drum teacher, Nick Baker, has been a continuous source of support and encouragement throughout his journey.

Jane mentioned that drumming has been an important tool for Oscar to cope with anxiety, as it helps him relax and understand that achieving something takes time, dedication, commitment, and lots of mistakes. It also provides him with a vehicle to work through his worries, rationalise them, and learn ways to overcome them. Oscar’s desire to play the drums is so great that it motivates him to work through his issues, as not doing so would mean he couldn’t play or do the thing he loves.

Oscar hasn’t accessed regular school in five years, so learning to play the drums and the discipline of learning the instrument has been a vital part of his development that he has successfully accessed. Working through all his grades in a safe environment with a teacher he trusts, in a way that he can access, has provided him with an opportunity to achieve and succeed, and hold onto that success. Learning these life skills alone within drums is helping him transfer them to other areas of his life where he is not so enthusiastic about and does not provide that initial intense boost of desire that gets him over the first hurdle.

Oscar’s drum teacher, Nick Baker, explained that one of the key advantages of their teacher-student relationship is that Oscar’s passion for drumming enables them to maintain open and supportive lines of communication even on difficult or low-mood days. Nick has developed an approach that is centred around asking Oscar’s opinion and involving him in the decision-making process. By framing their lessons in terms of “What shall WE do today?” or “What would YOU like to do today?” and “Do YOU like this?” or “Shall WE have a go at this?”, Nick has found that Oscar feels less alone in accepting challenges and is more confident in his ability to overcome them.

“Whatever Oscar’s level of anxiety is before a drum lesson; I think it is always much reduced afterwards with the help of “Dr Drums” – Nick Baker

Music to Your Ears: Essential Advice for Young Musicians and Their Families

If you’re an aspiring musician at the start of your musical journey, or even if you’ve been playing for a while, you may have experienced moments of anxiety or self-doubt. You’re not alone. Even Oscar, a young drummer we spoke to, had to overcome these feelings to achieve his musical dreams.

The key is to take things at your own pace, accept that there will be ups and downs, and most importantly, enjoy the ride! Learning music should be a thrilling and exciting experience, not a stressful chore.

Based on our conversations with Oscar, his mother, and his drums teacher, we’ve put together a list of practical tips to help young musicians stay engaged and happy while learning music:

1. 01. Start small and take things slowly. It’s not a race, and you’ll get there eventually.
2. 02. Build up gradually and stay within your comfort zone. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve with practice and patience.
3. 03. Remember that bad days don’t define you or your potential as a musician. Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s part of the learning process.
4. 04. Embrace your mistakes, learn from them, and use them as an opportunity to improve.
5. 05. If you’re having a tough day, it’s okay to take a break and try again tomorrow.
6. 06. Know your limits and listen to your body. Don’t push yourself too hard at first.
7. 07. Find a teacher who understands you and your challenges, and who can support you on your musical journey.
8. 08. Work with your teacher to make your lessons fun and engaging, and express yourself through your music.
9. 09. Don’t feel pressured to perform until you’re ready. Only perform when you feel comfortable and confident.
10. 10. Celebrate every small achievement along the way. Give yourself a pat on the back for each step forward, rather than just focusing on the end goal.

Remember, learning music is an exciting and fulfilling experience, and with the right mindset and support, you can achieve your dreams. So, keep practicing, stay positive, and enjoy the journey!

Lessons Learned: Key Takeaways from Oscar’s Journey

As we come to the end of this article, we hope you’re feeling as inspired as we are by Oscar’s musical journey. Whether you’re a young musician just starting out or a seasoned pro, there’s always something to be learned from someone else’s experience.

One of the key takeaways from Oscar’s story is the importance of taking things at your own pace. It’s easy to get caught up in the end goal and forget to enjoy the journey along the way. But as Oscar himself reminds us, “if you move slowly and be okay with moving slowly, you will eventually get there.”

Another important lesson is to embrace your mistakes and use them as opportunities to learn and grow. As Oscar’s mother Jane puts it, “Mistakes are part of the learning process, and if you can embrace them, you can only get better.”

And finally, never give up on your dreams, no matter how hard things may seem. As Oscar himself says, “Don’t give up no matter how hard it is.” With perseverance, dedication, and the right mindset, anything is possible.

So, to all the young musicians out there, we encourage you to keep pursuing your dreams and never let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve them. With the right support and a passion for music, anything is possible.

We would like to extend special thanks to Oscar and Jane Evans, Nick Baker, and all the organisations who have supported the Evans family along the way.

Feeling inspired? You can discover more about Rockschool Drum Grades here: