To reach your full potential, you’ll need to be taught by great tutors. At WaterBear we have some of the best tutors and mentors in the UK today. As working professionals, the tutoring and visiting faculty team may be subject to occasional change and availability may vary. Our visiting faculty also bring a wealth of experience in the form of in-class masterclasses and Q&A sessions throughout the year.
Eddy Thrower, sponsored by Tama Star Drums, is the drummer of rock band Lower Than Atlantis. He is also a session drummer, a tutor, and the creator of a successful YouTube channel. Over the years he has worked with many artists such as Linkin Park, One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, and Blink 182. He has performed at many festivals including Leeds and Download and has undertaken work for TV adverts and film.
South Welsh Bardd and musician, Jade Williams is a professional session singer, songwriter, lyricist, MD and original artist in several projects (playlisted on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Wales). With a classical background in pianoforte and as a lyrical soprano, Jade is a National Eisteddfod and Urdd winner, a Wells Cathedral School Specialist Vocalist, and a London College of Music alumna. She has since worked with top producers such as Chris Kimsey (Rolling Stones, Peter Frampton), Jim Lowe (Stereophonics, The Charlatans), and Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, Jamie Webster), recording in renowned studios like Abbey Road, RAK, Eastcote, and Air.
Her live session work credits include The Brits, BBC Orchestra: Friday Night is Music Night, BBC, ITV, Paris Paloma (Kelly Clarkson Show, Vevo, RAK), LCV choir and Some Voices Company Choir. Jade is also a choir leader/MD, regularly appearing at legendary venues such as The Troxy with Some Voices (“the coolest choir in London” – Time Out). She has also extensively toured the UK and Europe, fronting the band Du Bellows – “There is a cosmic counterpoint alive and well here” – Jimmy Page and has a flourishing solo career project, Jade Like The Stone (BBC Radio Wales playlisted).
Bruce has had 11 top forty hits and a number 1 album with Little Angels. He’s toured with Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Van Halen, and opened for Guns N’ Roses on their first UK shows. Bruce was a founder of the BIMM group of colleges, leaving in 2012 for the Little Angels reunion at Download Festival and UK tour. He has negotiated several university partnerships and written many validated degree courses, with thousands of undergraduates studying those courses still. He holds an MA in Education Management. Bruce is a serial entrepreneur, has raised millions of pounds in start-up capital and has grown, and successfully exited, several high value businesses.
Glover, a recording artist, session musician, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, record producer, and mix engineer, is the owner of Sheffield-based recording studio, Tesla Studios. He is the host and producer of the podcast ‘I Wish I Wrote that Song’ and as a professional session musician has toured worldwide, playing major music festivals and support shows with artists such as Bob Dylan and Richard Ashcroft. As a producer, Glover has also worked with artists such as Self Esteem, Slow Club, Charles Watson, The Hosts, Michael Malarkey and Ed Cosens, and as keyboard player and occasional guitarist with Tiny Dancers, was signed to Parlophone and Warner Chapell Publishing. He has writing credits on two top 40 chart singles, production credits on a 2022 Mercury Nominated album, won the Guardian Song of the Year in 2021 and number 2 on the NME’s Song of the Year, and Album of the Day on BBC 6 Music.
Mat Welsh is a multi-talented musician, designer, and creative visionary from Sheffield, England, best known as the rhythm guitarist and founding member of the critically acclaimed metalcore band While She Sleeps. Beyond his powerful guitar work and songwriting contributions, Mat plays a vital role behind the scenes as the band’s manager and a driving force in their visual and production identity.
Since forming While She Sleeps in 2006, Mat has been instrumental in shaping the band’s sound and ethos. Renowned for blending aggressive metalcore with melodic and politically charged anthems, the band has carved out a unique place in the UK heavy music scene, earning Kerrang! and Metal Hammer awards along the way. Mat’s songwriting credits span across all of the band’s records, from their breakout The North Stands for Nothing EP to fan-favorite albums like This Is the Six, You Are We, and Sleeps Society.
Outside of music, Mat is also a skilled graphic designer and production designer. His creative input extends to album artwork, merchandise, stage setups, and the band’s overall visual branding, making him a rare example of an artist deeply involved in every aspect of their craft. His design style often merges gritty DIY aesthetics with modern, striking visuals—mirroring the band’s independent ethos.
As a band manager, Mat has helped steer While She Sleeps through the highs and lows of the music industry, including a major shift toward self-releasing music and building a direct-to-fan platform through the Sleeps Society, a fan-funded initiative that redefined the band’s relationship with their audience.
Whether on stage delivering ferocious live performances, behind the scenes managing strategy, or designing the visuals that define While She Sleeps’ identity, Mat Welsh continues to push creative boundaries and exemplify what it means to be a modern artist in control of their vision.
Adam has played for many top-level bands and artists including Freak Power, Will Young, Martha Reeves, Sam Brown, Phil Hilborne, Richie Kotzen, Jose Feliciano, Carl Verheyen and Jason Derulo. He was a regular contributor to Rhythm magazine for over 15 years and as a drum tutor, has guided the development of many hundreds of students, both privately and at various renowned music institutions. With over 20 years’ experience in music education, Adam held successive positions as Principal of two of the UK’s largest private music education colleges, before co-founding WaterBear with Bruce Dickinson.
Kieron Pepper is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, known primarily for his work as the original live drummer for The Prodigy (1997-2007). He’s also a member of The Radiophonic Workshop, bass player for Britpop legends Sleeper and co-writer/producer for a variety of acts from Wargasm (UK) to Alabama 3. Always looking out for top quality artists and bands, his passion within music education has always been mentoring and supporting the driven and talented. At WaterBear he is the Director of Artist Development and works closely alongside friends from over 20 years in the music industry.
Aidan’s playing has received plaudits from some of the world’s greatest bassists including Nathan East and Leland Sklar. He has played all over the world, performing in a diverse range of settings from rock to jazz bands, classical orchestras and most things in between. He has taught bass for over twenty years, specialising in theory and technique. He’s also had transcriptions featured in various bass magazines internationally.
Sophie is a musician, content creator and social media influencer based in the UK and has been playing guitar and singing for over a decade. Since graduating from music college in 2017, Sophie’s career started off heavily focused around tuition and live performance. In 2019 Sophie’s work became a lot more online-focused, working hard to grow a social media following, she has since received sponsorships and work with brands such as PRS Guitars, D’Addario, EVH Gear, BOSS FX, Roland, Positive Grid and more. Sophie released her debut single ‘Tranquility’ in 2021.
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