Professional Studies 1
Student number: 25100909
Assignment code: SHR4C007R~001
Research Portfolio: Session Drummer
Qualifications/experience required
There is no clear, set path to become a session drummer. However, studying for a degree at a conservatoire is a useful starting point as it presents opportunities for session musicians to prepare for a professional life. Here they will learn vital skills, both musical and professional, and gain invaluable networking opportunities. However, according to a report commissioned by the Musicians’ Union (DHA Communications, 2012) 40% of working session musicians graduated from a conservatoire (61% having initially embarked on degree).
This is significant because it shows that a music degree is no longer seen as essential for a successful and fulfilling career in the music industry. Their influence is threatened by the potential for online learning, in addition to the relatively high cost of further musical education fees.
Proven experience performing with other musicians is vital, as it shows that you know how to collaborate and adapt. It also demonstrates an existing professional network (UK Music, 2015)
Arguably the ability to read music is also key because it gives you the ability learn songs quicker and more effectively. Sight reading has the added benefit of making you more flexible and able to adapt to people who might learn music differently. For example, some musicians prefer learning by sheet notation and might want the session drummer to play the written drum part. It also enables participation in more formal ensembles including orchestras and big bands. A session drummer is a freelance musician, and therefore the more musical skills they have, the more employment opportunities will be available to them. They need to be able to work efficiently, as time is often money in the music industry, and the sooner they can lay down a track, the better.
Knowledge, skills and personal qualities
A session drummer should also have experience in playing a wide range of musical styles. This develops a creativity that can be applied when playing and collaborating. In short, it keeps options open and which increases employability (Roslin, 2016).
Good musicianship is the ability to contribute positively to a piece of music in a way that feels right personally, whilst benefitting the musical environment, and it is crucial. It demonstrates an understanding of the different musical elements of a piece (e.g structure and dynamics), and the ability to use these to positively affect the artist’s intentions. Drummers should be particularly sensitive to group dynamics, using intentional eye contact and by playing sensitively (and initially quietly). When constantly playing with other musicians, you must learn to stay in time, adapting your playing whilst reacting to extreme changes.
Good networking skills are important- luckily your fellow musicians should have the same things in common as you, so this should be relatively easy.
A session drummer should be easy to work with, display a positive attitude and be reliable. A positive attitude can be effective when responding to feedback and in communicating. It can be invaluable in problem solving, restoring a sense of calm in difficult group situations, and bring everybody together. Also, it makes collaborating effective: when everyone is thinking positively it can lead to creativity and trust within in the group, leading to a more positive environment. Reliability means arriving on time and responding to queries promptly. Punctuality will not only make your life easier, but it will prove to other musicians that you take your job seriously (from Berklee, College of Music website).
Duties and Responsibilities
As session drummer you must also learn how to manage yourself as a freelancer. This means everything from keeping accounts of incoming payments and outgoing expenses, to managing the way that you interact with the music profession.
You must be an effective communicator as well as a skilled musician. You must learn to respond quickly to the demands of the job, whether that is as a reliable and personable member of a team, or as an efficient and productive social media manager. The range and scope of duties and responsibilities is wide.
Preparation and constructive practise are important in the days and weeks before a gig or studio session. A decent sleep the night before is vital, as is having gear prepared and neatly packed ready for swift transit to the venue.
Arrive early, at least two hours before the start time, not only to allow for precise equipment set up, but also to give the sound engineer the chance to make sure that noise levels are balanced, including in-ear monitors. Additionally, it makes other people (particularly the sound engineer) feel more confident about the performance as they have more time to do their job properly. Reacting positively to other musicians in the band, from responding to their suggestions to making some of your own, will boost morale. A warmup with drumsticks and pads should release any nervous tension.
Financial and Legal issues
Earnings fluctuate from high-paying events and tours to a low-paid studio session. There could also be instances where there is little to no work. For this reason, drummers often supplement their income by teaching, casual work or through other business ventures on the side to try to maintain financial stability.
Drumming is an expensive profession: a good quality drum kit costs upwards of £2,000 and needs to be maintained with anything from new drumheads to cymbal upgrades. Ear protection should be taken seriously: a good quality set of headphones cost over £100, sticks must be constantly replaced, drum cases are vital. All kit must be maintained and upgraded, leading to a lack of disposable income. As drummers are self-employed, they must also budget for tax and national insurance expenses. They also have additional costs like travel expenses and performance fees. Below are some examples of typical billable expenses, and fees, taken from The Musician’s Union:
Travel costs
| Distance fees | 13.23 per hour |
| Fuel fees | 56p per mile |
Costs for rehearsing and performing (casual stage rates)
Single performance fee (max 3 hours) with rehearsal on same day
| Venue capacity less than 200 | £189.55 per musician |
| Venue capcity more than 200 | £211.60 per musician |
Single performance fee (2 performances plus a single rehearsal)
| Venue capacity less than 200 | £333.40 per musician |
| Venue capacity more than 200 | £371.20 per musician |
Additional rehearsals
| On the same day | Half a performance fee |
| On another day | A full performance fee |
As it is unusual for drummers to participate in composition, the theoretical musical elements like lyrics, melody and harmony which can be involved with copyright issues, normally do not affect them. However, if they do contribute to musical parts of the piece including rhythm and structure, there is a possibility for negotiating on copyright, although it is not definite. Sometimes the drum part is the most significant and it is what is to makes the song sound memorable to listeners. For example, in ‘50 ways to leave your Lover’ by Paul Simon, although the music and lyrics were written by the songwriter, the main drum groove is something that makes the song unique. Arguably drummer Steve Gadd should have been entitled to more royalties, but under industry conventions at the time he would have been paid a flat fee as a session drummer
However, while the drummer may have composed the drum part and impacted the song’s structure, they probably had little input into other elements like melody or harmony. Any song’s composer would feel entitled to their song’s rights, regardless of any later groove additions. Therefore, some drummers are learning more melodic instruments like piano to compose their own material.
Marketing and Promotional aspects
Social media profiles need to be carefully constructed and positioned as part of a marketing plan. O’Relly, Larsen and Kubacki (2013) suggest that segmentation (the dividing of the potential market by age, gender, address etc) targeting (prioritizing certain segments) and positioning are key to a successful marketing strategy, whether that is a product or, in this case, an individual.
Profiles should be kept clean and simple, with all crucial contact information and links clearly visible as headings under your account page. Gigs should be clearly signposted to make information accessible for potential collaborators and audiences.
Interaction with followers is a keyway of building engagement. This is done by replying to comments or questions across different platforms. Being interactive with viewers is important because it shows that you are appreciative of their attention, and that you value their questions or recommendations. Eventually, a network will build, leading to growth in reach (Passman, 2023)
Additionally sharable video clips are a good way to build a following. This could be on a platform like YouTube: a vlog about the process of being a session musician on a performance day, for example. A vlog boosts popularity because it gives viewers a rare window into the lifestyle of a musician. This original content will entertain viewers, giving them more insight than they would usually gain during a live performance. Gradually, the posts will be shared across networks, social media presence will grow, and fanbase will increase.
Finally, to make your social media profile effective, advertise your gigs prominently and consistently. Be sure to tag fellow performers, who will in turn tag you back. By consistently advertising your shows, insisting that your followers are aware of your presence in the music industry, you will build a public consciousness of your growing presence, creating a snowball effect and growing your audience.
A social media platform is a two-way conversation, where creator and fans are interacting. It’s a process that requires staying in tune with the public and thinking about what you want to deliver and the positive impact you want it to have on other people. It is a process that requires consistent involvement from both creator and fan.
Intellectual and Personal challenges
Being a session drummer can be quite limiting. Without the experience of playing other instruments, particularly melodic ones, drummers can become pigeon-holed. This is problem because it makes them less employable as they only participate in one part of the music. The music industry is growing rapidly, and the market is becoming gradually more competitive, making it difficult for musicians to be seen. The growth of social media is creating more opportunities for music influencers but because there are so many, musicians are constantly having to adapt to these changes to make themselves unique. In reality drummers with similar talents struggle to get noticed in the industry as everyone races for the same opportunities.
According to drumstrive.org.uk salary is linked to popularity, advertising and ticket sales. This makes it hard to estimate actual numbers. The real money earnt is determined by playing in the right band. Drumstrive also states that a drummer’s average yearly earnings is between £29,000-£58,000, averaging around £33,000. However, the website also explained that starting salaries are often below £29,000 and that most drummers stay at this level for life.
Being a session drummer can also be mentally exhausting, as life is a constant hustle. Whether on tour, recording or playing, the next job is never secure. With no fixed rate of income, most of the time they must say yes to every offer, staying alert for the next booking. Downtime is rare, stress can be high, anxiety common:
“The industry is not an easy one to break into. While many amateur and semi-professional musicians are involved in music making for the sheer satisfaction derived from playing music and participating in the cultural life of their communities, economic success remains much more rare than one might expect.”(O’Relly et al, 2013)
Career-progression and development opportunities
There are several career progression opportunities for session drummers. One is to create your own online platform, such as an Instagram or YouTube channel. This is a brilliant opportunity to gradually grow in popularity and develop a unique style. From this, sponsorships and advertising work could potentially flow. An online presence gives more opportunities to be employed by different people, including managers, producers or band leaders.
As the music industry is developing, new styles of music are growing and blending, giving musicians opportunities to explore genres and find their own path. For example, thanks to Spotify the reach of Afrobeats is growing- a genre that grew from West African roots that has now exploded into popular culture, particularly in North America and Europe. An example is the partnership between Rema (a renowned artist within the Afro Beat community) and Selena Gomez, where Gomez featured on Rema’s track “Calm Down”. The song has west African rhythms, but we can also hear different genres within it such as traditional pop. Originally released in February 2022, it grew in popularity after the remix. By September 2022 it had entered the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at Number 3, and leading it to become the highest charting afrobeats song composed by an African artist.
Bibliography
Books:
O’Reilly, D et al (2013) Music, Markets and Consumption, Oxford, Goodfellow Publishers Limited
Passman, D et al. (2023) All you need to know about the music business, New York, Simon & Schuster
Weblinks:
Berklee Music College, Session Musician, available at https://online.berkleeedu/careers-in-music/roles/session-musician(accessed 15.12.2025)
E.Roslin (2016) Benefit of Playing Music with Others, available at
https://eliettesmusicacademy.com/blog/benefit-of-playing-music-with-others (accessed 20.12.2025)
J. Gromes (2023) Common Challenges in the Music industry and how to deal with them, available at
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/12/28/common-challenges-in-the-music-industry-and-how-to-deal-with-them/ (accessed 08.12.2025)
The Musician’s Union (2012) The Working Musician, available at
https://musiciansunion.org.uk/MusiciansUnion/media/resource/Guides%20and%20reports/Education/The-Working-Musician-report.pdf?ext=.pdf (accessed 10.12.2025)
UK Music (date unknown) Sessions Musician, available at
https://www.ukmusic.org/job-profiles/session-musician/#:~:text=How%20do%20I%20become%20a,www.musiciansunion.org.uk (accessed 10.12.2025)
