Pablo Retamales Bustamante
Drums / Percussion Teacher
Language: English/Spanish
Pablo Retamales is a professional drummer and music educator from Chile with extensive experience in both teaching and live performance. He has worked as a music teacher in several schools and has performed across a wide range of musical styles including jazz, rock, metal, and Latin music. Pablo has a particular interest in developing advanced double-kick drum techniques within metal drumming.
Specialties:
Rock
Metal
Latin
Funk
Big Band
Experience:
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Education
• Former music teacher at multiple schools in Chile
• Drummer – Metropolitan Big Band
• Percussionist – Symphonic Orchestra
• Long-term drum instructor in both Chile and New Zealand
Emilio Palazzolo
Guitar / Bass / Drums / Ukulele Teacher
Language: English/Spanish
Emilio Palazzolo is an experienced musician, educator, and music producer with a strong background in both performance and teaching. He has dedicated many years to music education, providing personalized lessons for students of different ages and skill levels. By incorporating the music students enjoy into the learning process, he combines technical training with practical musical application, making lessons both engaging and effective.
In addition to teaching, Emilio has extensive international performance experience. He has worked as a Showband bassist on cruise ships, touring across Europe, the United States, and Australia. Alongside his performance career, he is also active in music production and mixing, collaborating with singers and artists on recording projects. He is a highly skilled recording engineer, mixing engineer, and music producer.
Specialties:
Bass
Electric Guitar
Drums
Ukulele
Band Rehearsal
Music Production
Experience:
• Band and Instrument Teacher – Lewis Eady / Chirom Group (Auckland)
• Guitar Teacher – Multiple Music Schools in Sydney
• Showband Bassist – Cruise Lines (P&O / Cunard / Princess Cruises)
• Music Producer and Mixing Engineer
Ben Frater
Drum / Percussion Teacher
Language: English
Ben is an experienced professional musician and percussionist who graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Jazz Performance. He has been actively involved in the New Zealand music industry for many years, participating in numerous live performances, music festivals, studio recordings, and music video productions.
As a professional percussionist, Ben specializes in a wide range of percussion instruments including congas, bongos, and various studio percussion instruments, and has extensive experience in both live performance and recording environments. He has collaborated with international musicians and has also been involved in projects connected with Australia’s national radio station Triple J.
Ben’s teaching focuses on the balanced development of technical skills, musicality, and stage performance. Through structured and engaging lessons, he helps students build a strong musical foundation while developing confidence in both live performance and studio work.
Teaching Subjects:
• Drum Kit & Percussion
• Congas / Bongos / Auxiliary Percussion
• Jazz Performance & Improvisation
• Big Band & Ensemble Drumming
• Marching Snare Techniques
• Studio Recording & Session Musicianship
• Live Performance Preparation
Experience:
• Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Jazz Performance – University of Auckland
• Professional percussionist and session musician
• Extensive experience performing at music festivals and live events
• Participation in studio recordings and music video productions
• Collaborations with international musicians
Jialu Xing
Guitar / Bass Teacher
Language: English/Mandarin
Jialu Xing is a music educator, performer, and music producer with a strong foundation in music theory and multi-genre performance. He specializes in teaching electric guitar and bass while also working in songwriting, arrangement, and digital music production.
In addition to teaching, Jialu is active in the live performance scene, participating in livehouse shows and commercial performances. He also has extensive experience in music composition and production.
At iDRUMS Music Studio, he teaches guitar and bass to students of different levels and is responsible for organizing and directing band rehearsals as well as guiding students through recording sessions and practical studio work.
Specialties:
Bass
Guitar
Music Theory
Composition & Arrangement
Digital Music Production
Experience:
• Guitar / Bass Teacher – iDRUMS Music Studio
• Extensive stage experience in livehouse and commercial performances
• Cross-genre experience in songwriting and musical arrangement
• Proficient in DAW software including Cubase and Reaper
• Experienced with music plugins such as Kontakt and Neural DSP
• Knowledge of amplifier configuration, guitar circuitry, and live monitoring systems
Marcelo Gonzalez
Drum Teacher
Language: English/Spanish
Marcelo is a professional drummer from Argentina who has dedicated most of his life to rhythm and percussion. His musical background spans a wide range of styles including Funk, Jazz, Rock, Hard Rock, Punk, Metal, Progressive, Big Band Jazz, and Marching Percussion. He received over ten years of formal drum training, building a strong technical foundation for his performance and teaching. Marcelo is particularly skilled in marching snare performance and instruction, and has performed on the iDRUMS stage alongside renowned marching snare drummer Ralph Nader.
Since moving to New Zealand in 2012, Marcelo has been actively involved in numerous live performances, including concerts, corporate events, and sports entertainment shows. He has also participated in recording projects, with some of his work available on Spotify. In addition, he performed in events associated with the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Marcelo is currently a snare drummer for the New Zealand Breakers Drumline, performing alongside professional drummers from New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
Specialties:
Funk
Rock
Metal
Big Band
Progressive
Marching Percussion
Experience:
• Professional drummer from Argentina
• Extensive experience performing at concerts, corporate events, and sports entertainment shows
• Recording projects released on Spotify (Byte Mi)
• Performer at events related to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Snare Drummer – New Zealand Breakers Drumline
Tristan Lu
Guitar / Bass Teacher
Language: English/Mandarin
Tristan Lu is a young guitarist and composer currently studying Jazz Guitar at the University of Auckland. His musical work focuses primarily on original solo guitar compositions that blend fingerstyle techniques, jazz harmony, and contemporary musical influences.
As both a performer and composer, Tristan has written and performed numerous original guitar pieces and has gained valuable experience in live performance and studio recording. Alongside performing, he is passionate about music education and is dedicated to helping students develop strong technical foundations while encouraging creativity and the development of their own musical voice.
Specialties:
Acoustic Guitar
Electric Guitar
Electric Bass
Fingerstyle Guitar
Composition & Songwriting
Music Theory
Experience:
• Jazz Guitar Major – University of Auckland
• Composer and performer of original solo guitar works
• Live performance and studio recording experience
• 2025 Natasha International Fingerstyle Guitar Competition - Top 20 Globally
• 2025 WAGF Fingerstyle Guitar Competition - Youth Group National Champion
Elio Tian
Percussion / Drums Teacher
Language: Mandarin
Elio Tian graduated from the Nanjing University of the Arts and is an experienced percussion educator with extensive background in both teaching and performance. She has been deeply involved in youth percussion education and ensemble direction for many years, developing strong expertise in percussion ensemble performance, orchestral percussion, and student training.
Elio has worked as a percussion instructor and ensemble director for several youth orchestras and percussion groups, guiding students to achieve outstanding results in arts festivals and percussion competitions. Her teaching focuses on building strong rhythmic foundations, ensemble awareness, and stage performance skills, helping students develop solid musical fundamentals while enhancing their overall performance abilities.
Specialties:
Percussion Ensemble
Orchestral Percussion
Drum Kit Performance
Youth Percussion Education
Stage Performance Training
Experience:
• Instructor for youth orchestras and percussion ensembles
• Former percussion teacher at international and bilingual schools
• Led students to multiple awards in arts festivals and percussion competitions
• Extensive experience in large-scale stage performances and ensemble productions
• Special Gold Award – Jiangsu Percussion Competition
Scott Ke
Drum Teacher
Language: English/Mandarin
Scott Ke is a professional drummer and music educator who graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Music in Performance and Studio Production, with a minor in Management.
He is an accomplished drum performer who has participated in numerous musical theatre productions and national brass band competitions. Scott was also accepted twice into the Berklee College of Music Jazz Drum program with high-value scholarships, demonstrating his outstanding musical ability.
Scott currently serves as the Head Percussionist of the St Kilda Brass Band and has been actively teaching drums since 2019. In addition to performance and education, he also has experience in music production and recording.
Specialties:
Drum Kit Performance
Musical Theatre Performance
Brass Band Percussion
Studio Recording & Production
Music Performance Training
Experience:
• Bachelor of Music – Performance & Studio Production, University of Otago
• Head Percussionist – St Kilda Brass Band
• Extensive experience in musical theatre productions
• Performer in national brass band competitions
Ringo Zhai （大宝）
Founder & Director
Drum Teacher
Language: Mandarin/English
Ringo Zhai is the founder and director of iDRUMS Music Studio, as well as a professional drummer and music educator. For many years, he has been dedicated to music performance, music education, and the development of modern music teaching systems.
After founding iDRUMS Music Studio, Ringo established a unique teaching philosophy that integrates professional training, stage performance experience, and international music examination systems. He also developed the iDRUMS curriculum, creating a structured learning environment that provides students with a clear path for musical growth. His teaching emphasizes rhythm fundamentals, musical expression, band collaboration, and stage performance skills. With nearly 20 years of teaching experience, he has trained many outstanding students, including successful performers and drum teachers.
As a drummer, Ringo has been actively involved in bands and live performances for many years. He previously served as the drummer of the band Big House, releasing the album “You” in 2013 and performing in multiple large-scale concerts and live house shows. He is currently the drummer of the New Zealand band A Stick and Honey. His musical approach focuses on improvisation and rhythmic structure, always serving the musical needs of the band.
Specialties:
Drum Performance
Band Rehearsal & Ensemble Training
Stage Performance Coaching
Music Education System Development
Experience:
• Founder & Director – iDRUMS Music Studio
• ADT (Associate Diploma in Teaching) – St Cecilia School of Music
• Drummer – Big House / A Stick and Honey
• Extensive experience in music teaching and live performance
• Developer of modern music education systems