Meet the Tutors

Johnny’s number one passion is sharing his love of the drum kit and helping others discover what music can unlock in them. Drumming has been a huge part of his life for as long as he can remember. Introduced to the drums by his dad at age seven, Johnny joined his first band not long after and was performing at school assemblies and community events by the time he was nine.

Throughout his teens and twenties, drums became the centre of his world. Johnny went on to play in numerous original and cover bands, performing most weekends around the local scene and touring parts of New Zealand across a wide range of styles and genres.

In 2011, Johnny’s path took an unexpected turn when he suffered a serious workplace accident and lost three fingers on his right hand. Rather than ending his musical journey, the experience reshaped it. During recovery, Johnny discovered a genuine passion for teaching and mentoring, learning firsthand the power of adaptability, resilience, and mindset — lessons he now passes on to his students.

After completing a degree in photography and design, Johnny returned to his roots in music and founded Try Music in 2015. Since then, he has taught hundreds of students, worked as a drum tutor in local high schools, achieved a Distinction in Trinity Grade 8 Drums, and continued performing with a variety of musical projects.

Outside of teaching and playing, Johnny is a creative at heart. He loves travelling, playing golf, and creating photo and video content — often blending these interests. This creative mindset carries through into his teaching, where lessons are engaging, personalised, and focused on the individual.

Johnny’s philosophy is simple: music is about more than just notes and technique. It builds confidence, discipline, creativity, and social connection. Above all, it’s a powerful way for people to express themselves — and enjoy the process while they’re at it.

Cody began playing guitar at the age of 11 and has spent the last 4 years teaching both privately and in schools. He is also studying to become a full-time high-school teacher. In 2013 he achieved Grade 8 Trinity Guitar in Rock and Pop. 

Cody has a very modern and personal approach to teaching. There is no one path to becoming a good musician. That’s why Cody takes the time to create custom course content for each student based on what brings them the most success and joy. 

Cody has a lot of experience in music production and loves using this knowledge to record and produce music for my students outside of normal lesson times. He has played in many bands of varying genres over the years and aims to provide his students with the tools to help them branch out into performing and production.