A Dojo U DRUMMING Exclusive
Learning to Win – the Ravara Drum Corps Way
October 25–November 29, 2026
Sundays, 4–5 p.m. Eastern
For drummers of all levels, including beginners.
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Build your control. Bring stronger playing back to your corps.
What could you do with better rudimental control, a wider musical vocabulary, and a clearer idea of what to practise each week?
Join Matthew Shaw for six live classes exploring the methods, music and experience behind the Ravara Drum Corps. You’ll work through practical exercises, explore new scores, take on manageable weekly homework, and have plenty of time to ask Matthew your questions.
Whether you play snare, tenor or bass, you’ll find ideas you can put to work in your own playing — and bring back to the corps that counts on you.
Make your practice time count
Finding time to practise is one thing. Knowing what to work on when you finally get your sticks out is another.
This series gives you practical exercises and small weekly tasks to work on between classes. You’ll explore rudiments through real drum scores, practise reading and learning music, and discover ideas drawn from a wider range of musical influences.
The aim is to help you develop greater control and confidence in your own playing. That experience can then support the music and teaching you already work with in your corps.
You don’t need to change your corps’ style or stop learning from your lead drummer. Building your own skills is another way to make their teaching count — and become someone your corps can rely on.
Learn from Matthew Shaw and the Ravara Drum Corps
Matthew knows what it takes to develop as a player and help a drum corps progress.
He started drumming at 12 with Upper Crossgare Pipe Band before joining Ravara in 2010. In his first year with the band, he was part of its Grade 2 world-title-winning line-up. He made his Grade 1 debut in 2012 and took over Ravara’s drum corps in 2018.
In 2019, the corps won the Grade 2 world drumming title. After Matthew’s first Grade 1 season as lead drummer in 2025, the corps placed in the top six at two major championships in 2026.
Matthew has also taught drummers who have progressed from Grade 4 to Grade 1. Across these six sessions, he’ll share practical teaching ideas and musical influences drawn from Ravara’s history — from the Bobby Rea era to the present day.
You’ll get a closer look at the thinking behind the music, with exercises and scores you can use to develop your own playing.
Your six-week programme
Every session runs on Sunday from 4–5 p.m. Eastern.
- October 25 — Play with musicality and impact
Explore how to make your drumming dynamic and exciting while remaining sympathetic to the pipe melody. - November 1 — Discover a wider range of influences
Explore a style of drum scores shaped by more than 30 years of musical influences. - November 8 — Learn Ravara’s music
Work with some of Ravara’s older and latest tunes, including Pachelbel’s Canon. - November 15 — Make rudiments musical
Explore how drum scores can make learning new rudiments more enjoyable and engaging. - November 22 — Develop a mindset for progress
Look at the mindset that can help you keep learning and working towards your potential. - November 29 — Build confidence and encourage others
Explore ways to develop your confidence and help the people around you grow, too.
Put the ideas to work in your own playing
You don’t need hours of extra practice to get started. A few focused minutes each day, alongside the weekly class, can give you a manageable way to work on what you’ve learned.
The important part is putting the ideas into practice. Use the exercises, work through the scores, and bring your questions to class. The more you engage with the material, the more you can get out of it.
And if you miss a class, you can catch up using the class recordings.
Here's what to expect from the course:
Practical rudiment work
Build control through focused exercises you can use in your regular practice.
Weekly homework tasks
Leave each class with manageable work to put into practice before the next session.
Direct access to Matthew
Ask questions about the techniques and ideas covered in class.
New scores and musical influences
Explore different approaches to drumming while developing your reading and learning skills.
Demonstrations from Matthew and his corps
See how the techniques are applied in music.
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30-day money-back guarantee after your first payment: If you’re not satisfied within 30 days after your first payment, Dojo will cancel your membership and refund that payment.
