Meet the Thirst Music team
We're proud of each and everyone of our team! Here are their portfolios...Our drum tutors
Wayne Mahy
Director/Head of Drums
Wayne started playing drums at the age of 19 when a friend introduced him to the instrument. Over the next five years, he performed in various bands as well as playing in his church in Guernsey, Channel Islands.
In September 2004, Wayne moved to the UK to study drums and percussion full time at Tech Music School (formerly Drumtech) in Acton, London.
He gained the Diploma in Popular Music Performance, a qualification which is accredited by Thames Valley University. While in London, Wayne studied under some of the best session/freelance drummers in the UK, such as Francis Seriau (Founder of Drumtech), Mick Morena and Erik Stams (as seen teaching Aled Jones on the BBC programme Play it Again).
After graduating, Wayne moved to Southampton and started to teach drums on a part-time basis to students in the surrounding region. He also got involved in local Jazz/Funk band Manuka Honey, playing gigs in Southampton.
Wayne now lives in Guernsey and teaches drums professionally. In 2008, he set up DrumWorks providing drum lessons to over one hundred students per week. Since then, he has entered many students for exams all of whom have achieved success and have continued to become stronger musicians.
With a view to meeting demand for tuition in other popular musical instruments in Guernsey, in February 2013 Thirst Music School was born. In 2020, Wayne achieved the RSL Level 6 Professional Diploma (Creative Enterprise) and continually looks to improve his skills both as a musician and an educator.
Felix Rice
Drum Tutor
Felix enjoyed playing musical instruments from an early age. Beginning with the violin during primary school, he then found a love for the percussive side of music and also began learning orchestral percussion. During secondary school, Felix continued to explore his interest in rhythmic instruments, transitioning to learn the drum kit along side general percussion. By the end of secondary school, Felix had gained a Grade 8 qualification in both percussion and the drum kit, awarded by the Trinity and Rockschool examination boards respectively.
Felix has gained experience playing in various wind bands, orchestras and jazz bands with the Guernsey Music Service. He has also enjoyed gigging as a member of jazz band ‘All That Jazz‘, with whom he played at various private events. The band also performed as finalists in the Specsavers ‘Reach for a Star’ competition in 2011.
After attending university for 3 years, Felix is now enjoying spreading his love and knowledge for the drum kit in order to help his students be the best drummers they can be.
Michael Davies
Drum / Music Production Tutor
Michael started drumming at the age of 7. After working his way up to achieving grade 8 with Distinction, he gained four years of teaching experience at Thirst during which time he also achieved a Distinction for the Level 4 Diploma in Performance. Michael then headed off to the University of Nottingham where he achieved a first class honours degree in Music and Music Technology specialising in performance and recording. Additionally, Michael has grades in music theory as well as extensive experience in numerous bands, ranging all the way from jazz to folk, to heavy metal. His bands won both the first 2016 Thirst Battle of the School Bands and the Nottingham Band Society 2023 Battle of the Bands. You can see a photo of him playing drums in the Thirst Battle of the School Bands on the wall in the reception of Thirst! Michael loves helping people learn, teaching them how to play to their full potential and has a 100% pass rate for his students who have taken graded exams. His passion for music has led him to pursue a career in teaching, performance, recording and mixing. Although drums are his main instrument, Michael also plays guitar, bass, piano and occasionally sings.
Jaeden Mordecai
Drum Tutor
Jaeden grew up surrounded by music, listening to a variety of genres from pop to rock to heavy metal. He started playing drums at the age of 11 when he first laid his eyes on the drum kit at high school and he began having lessons with Wayne. He went on to achieve a distinction at Grade 8 and fell in love with playing, learning and later, teaching.
Over the last few years, Jaeden has played in a variety of bands including The Guernsey Grammar School’s Show band (while studying A-Level Music). Currently he drums for Neon Fire, a Brit-Pop style band who play for local weddings, shows and in venues across the island.
Having completed his A-Levels, Jaeden now enjoys spreading the knowledge and enjoyment that drumming and music offer, helping his students find freedom and happiness in playing an instrument.