Andy Gleadhill is a Multi Award Winning Musician, Author, Educator, Composer, Ethnomusicologist and Teacher Trainer.​

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“Andy Gleadhill is internationally acknowledged as a leading authority on teaching world music” (Or as I prefer to call it, The Music of Many Cultures) Music Teacher Magazine

"Good PD leaves you felling inspired but great PD leaves you with a fire in your belly! I absolutely loved every second of Andy Gleadhill's percussion workshop yesterday. As well as playing and learning so many different rhythms and pieces from around the world, Andy is an absolute fountain of knowledge, sharing his wisdom on different musical practices from so many cultures and corners of the world."
Collette Peoples, Head of Music, North London Collegiate School, Dubai. Delegate to Andy's "Teaching the World's Music" Professional Development Day at GEMS Wellington Academy, Dubai, November 2024. 

“Andy - the way you had our youngsters totally engaged and committed within minutes of meeting them was extraordinary. What a great day.”
Simon Leese, Principal, Prince of Wales Island International School, Penang, Malaysia on Andy's World Music Workshops for pupils.

"I honestly can’t recall the last time I felt this inspired to try something new in class”. Anne-marie, Primary School Music Teacher and Delegate the Scottish Association for Music Education Annual Conference on Andy's Teacher Development sessions. 

“On the 2nd and 3rd of October, the Green Hall came alive with the sounds of music! Pupils gathered for an incredible Percussion Workshop. This two-day event was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to participate and immerse themselves in the world of music, under the expert guidance of World Percussion specialist Andy Gleadhill, the atmosphere was electric, and the enthusiasm was contagious! 
Geraint Watkins, Director of Music, Marlborough College Malaysia.


Welcome  
Andy delivers Teacher Professional Development and Global Music Workshops to the worlds finest International Schools.

He has over 40 years’ experience as a professional musician playing with some of the leading Musicians, Artists and Orchestras in the world for live performances and film, television, and recording sessions covering all genres of music as well as playing in the orchestra for many of London’s West End Shows. He has a vast experience as a music educator and as a deliverer of music teacher development working at every level from early years to post graduate and beyond. He balances his work as a professional musician with delivering in-school world music workshops, training and professional development to both music teachers and generalist teachers around the world through his unique intensive training.  Andy has also been an Associate Senior Lecturer on the specialist Music PGCE courses at Bath Spa University for over 20 years.


​Latest news 2026/2027 

Andy will be touring South East Asia between Monday 28th of September and Friday 9th of October 2026 delivering his Global Music Workshops and Music Teacher Professional Development sessions to the finest International Schools in the region including his new EYFS workshop "Rhythm Explorers".  He already has workshops booked with International Schools in Bangkok, Penang and Singapore but there are still a few dates available so contact Andy to find out more. 

Andy will also be touring in Dubai and The Middle East between Monday 9th and Friday 20th of November 2026 so contact Andy for more details of how to book a day of World Music Workshops for your school! 
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Go to the CONTACT ANDY page to ask for further details.

Andy presented his "Teaching the Worlds Music"  seminar at the Music Teachers Association Annual Conference at the Warwick Schools Foundation UK on Friday 15th of May 2026 to excellent feedback from the delegates. Thanks for having me.

He appeared at the Music and Drama Expo in London between 11th and 14th February with an "Ask Andy" session answering teachers questions on teaching Global Music and all things Percussion at the Chamberlain Music Stand.  

Andy was in Guernsey and Alderney on the Channel Islands between February 4th to 8th delivering his fantastically successful bespoke transition music project to all the islands 600 year 6 pupils.

In 2027 Andy is organising global music percussion workshops and teacher professional development tours to South East Asia, Japan, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Stay tuned for further updates.

Andy is delighted to continue his work as Global Ambassador for Percussion Plus, the iconic British  Percussion company, helping to develop new and innovative percussion instruments and cementing the brand as the leading supplier of educational percussion. 

Andy continues to promote his role as "Head of Percussion" for ESTA Education teaching their Percussion based PG CERT and MA Courses with Chichester University.
 
Music Education 
As a music educationalist he has worked at every level of music education from early year’s settings to postgraduate teaching at Universities and Conservatoires.

He was for many years the Head of the Bristol Arts and Music Service, which he built into a leading music support service and where he pioneered the introduction of world music styles for class instrumental teaching, setting new standards in accessibility and inclusiveness. He was also the Founding Head of the music education hub "Bristol Plays Music" as well as being the Director of the Bristol Centre for Music and the Arts.

Andy has also worked as an Examiner for the Guildhall school of Music and Drama and Trinity College London and has served  as a Consultant and mentor for the ABRSM and RSL Awards (Rockschool). He has also written study pieces and examination syllabuses for the major music examination boards.

He holds a PGCert from Keele University U.K. The Certificate in Music Therapy (Distinction) Cert.MT and The Diploma in Sound Therapy (Distinction) Dip.ST and Diploma in Music (Distinction) Dip.Mus.  

Musician Drummer and Percussionist
As a Professional Musician Andy has played for some of the world’s leading artists for recordings, broadcasts as well as live shows. He has been the Drum Kit and/or Percussion chair for some of London's top West End Shows and has toured extensively both in the UK and overseas. 
 
Teacher Development and CPD
Andy is in great demand as a teacher trainer and delivers a wide range of workforce development and CPD to specialist and non-specialist teachers and musicians in all educational environments. He is an Associate Senior Lecturer at Bath Spa University Institute for Education where he teaches on the specialist Music PGCE courses.

Andy is also a Visiting Professor of Music at the Malaysian Music Teachers Training College. 
 
Books
Andy is the author of the highly acclaimed, award winning and best-selling “World-Class” music teaching guides and his books have been published on:

West African Djembe Drumming
West African Djembe Drumming Book Two
Indonesian Gamelan
Brazilian Samba
The Music of India
Steel Pans
Class Percussion
Composing with World Music
Percussion Buddies
Western Classical Music
Slap D'jembe
Slap D'jembe Two

To buy Andy's books search Andy Gleadhill in Amazon or go to:
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https://www.drumsforschools.com/?s=Gleadhill+book&post_type=product&dgwt_wcas=1

I am grateful for having such a wonderful career and so I support or am a member of the following Charities and Organisations:

All Andy's Books can be ordered from Amazon via this link: Amazon.co.uk : andy gleadhill

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