Who I Am

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Who is Mickey Stewart…

The Chit Chat Version:

A mom and wife to pipers, teacher, drummer [just like you]…, extreme optimist, avid learner, creative, goofball, gratitude geek, part-time princess, pretend detective, sign seeker, time-traveller, billboard model, someone who is a lover of Christmas, irregular time-signatures and keep dog treats in every jacket pocket (I don’t have a dog).

The “As Professional As I Get” Version:

  • Drumming experience: 42 years
  • Course Creator: BodhránExpert Platinum Membership – Level 1 & Keepers Of the Rhythm (Level 2, 3 & 4) with students from 40+ countries
  • My YouTube videos are watched in every country in the world
  • 11 Time #1 International Best-Selling Author
  • Coach to world-class musicians and dancers (including 4x Grammy Nominee)
  • TV and Film Artist
  • Former Bodhrán maker
  • In the mid-90‘s I moved to Scotland to play snare with the Grade 1 Vale Of Atholl Pipe Band under Five-Time World Drum Corps Champion Jim King. During that time I recorded the album ‘Live ‘N Well’ with the Vale and performed throughout Scotland, England, Germany, Brittany, and the Czech Republic.
  • I teach a variety of percussion, (pipe band snare, bass, tenor, drum kit and bodhrán) at schools in Perthshire, Scotland.
  • Been running the drum programme at Ardvreck School since 2002, ran the Pipe Band Drumming programme at Morrison’s Academy for fourteen years and taught bodhrán at the prestigious Glenalmond College.
  • Bodhrán Instructor at the Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College in Cape Breton for over 25 years.
  • I have taught bodhrán to young, up and coming traditional musicians through the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama’s YouthWorks Program (now the Royal Conservatoire Of Scotland) and students of from ages 4 to 94 at summer programmes of the Pacific Institute Of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts on Vancouver Island, Canada and at numerous music camps throughout the UK and North America.
  • I believe teaching is my superpower with thousands of drum students having been through my classroom.


Hi, my name is Michelle Stewart, but most of my friends call me Mickey.

I am the creator and author of BodhránExpert.

I have personally taught thousands of people how to play this amazingly addictive instrument and I get to teach it all over the world.

During my 42 years of drumming I have learned the most from teaching itself.

I am so grateful I get to drum every day, teaching a variety of percussion, (pipe band snare, bass, tenor, drum kit and bodhrán) at schools in Perthshire, Scotland. I have been running the drum programme at Ardvreck School since 2002, ran the Pipe Band Drumming programme at Morrison’s Academy for fourteen years and taught bodhrán at the prestigious Glenalmond College. Some of my schools actually look like Scotland’s versions of Hogwarts.

My continued, focused work as an drumming educator is pretty much the coolest gig on the planet and I am constantly trying to figure out the fastest, easiest and most fun way to teach drumming.

I get to use my creativity and enthusiasm to teach and inspire others to freely express their talents in a fun and empowering way. If you’re one of my 16,ooo+ Subscribers or responsible for even a few of the TWO MILLION views on my YouTube channel, I’m glad you stopped by. Thank you for your support.

I have taught bodhrán to young, up and coming traditional musicians through the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama’s MusicWorks Program (now the Royal Conservatoire Of Scotland) and students of from ages 4 to 94 at summer programmes of the Pacific Institute Of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts on Vancouver Island, Canada and at numerous music camps throughout the UK and North America.

In 1997 I was asked to test the waters with a bodhrán workshop at the Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College in Cape Breton. The course was so overwhelmingly popular that bodhrán was made a full discipline the following year. I’ve now been teaching bodhrán at the Gaelic College for over 25 years and look forward to teaching there again in 2023.

After taking an intense week’s course at summer schools like the Gaelic College my students would often say, “I wish I could take you home with me.” If you’ve had any lessons at all you will know it is much easier to play with someone else. So, through my website, youtube and the power of video, my students can now ‘take me home’. This was the driving force behind BodhránExpert.

Since this site started I have developed two in-depth online training programmes. – BodhránExpert Platinum Membership – Level 1 and Keepers Of The Rhythm – Level 2, 3 & 4. My online students tell me it feels so much like I’m in the room with them they even talk back to the screen.

I started drumming 42 years ago as a snare drummer with the Sprigs Of Heather Pipe Band. I was selected to be part of the 1987 Canada Games Pipe Band and recorded my first album with them. At the age of sixteen I joined the Halifax Police Pipe Band (now the 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel).

In the mid-90‘s I moved to Scotland to play snare with the Grade 1 Vale Of Atholl Pipe Band under five-time World Drum Corps Champion Jim King. During that time I recorded the album ‘Live ‘N Well’ with the Vale and performed throughout Scotland, England, Germany, Brittany, and the Czech Republic.

After forty-two years of drumming I feel I have collected advice worthy to others. I try to keep a very open mind to bodhrán playing so please take what you find useful to you. There are different styles of playing, but it would be boring if we were all the same. Right? If you become a student of mine I hope that you will eventually take what you’ve learned and make it completely your own. Your musical influences will help you do this without you even realizing it.

After years of research, my husband, Mark, and I started our own bodhrán manufacturing business. Our Cape Breton Bodhráns have long been recognized for their high quality craftsmanship and sound. Our drums are played throughout Canada, United States, Scotland, Mexico, and Australia.

Handcrafted in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia since 1998, Cape Breton Bodhráns moved with us back to Crieff, Scotland, however we stopped making professional, tuneable bodhráns and tippers after teaching commitments, a new house build and other projects took us out of the workshop.

I live in the picturesque town of Crieff in Perthshire, Scotland with my husband of twenty-six years, Scottish musician and composer, Mark Stewart, along with our eighteen-year-old son, Cameron, who is also a piper.

I am proud to teach such enthusiastic students from all over the world. Drums are so fun that you never have to tell drummers to practice. In fact, you often have to tell them to stop.

Thank you for letting me into your screens, your homes and allowing me to be your teacher.

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Sandra Haxton April 20, 2013 at 3:03 pm

Hi! Please can you tell me if you teach privately and if so where you give lessons and the cost. I have had a bodhran collecting dust in my living room for too long!

Thank you

Sandra

Sandra Haxton April 20, 2013 at 3:04 pm

I would love to play it! Play it well! Sandra Haxton

Michael J Bacon December 1, 2013 at 5:13 pm

Ms. Stewart,

As a Percussive Arts Society member and volunteer, I am extending a hand of friendship to invite you to become a member of the world’s most amazing community of percussionists. I have scoured your website and videos at a blistering pace today and have embraced your style, teaching methods and warm personality. Have you heard of PAS and the PAS convention, PASIC? I attended a bodhran clinic a few years ago and just this past November and my eyes and ears were opened! I found your site and youtube videos in a google search. It would be a pleasure to see you perform and offer a clinic at PASIC soon. If a clinic event next year is not possible, I invite you to be my guest at PASIC as a member and come enjoy the sights and sounds of the most uplifiting percussion event on the planet.

Michael J Bacon
Percussionist since 1984
PAS member since 1995

Collin Wade November 4, 2015 at 3:13 pm

I’m wondering if you know any bodhran/percussionists on the West Coast of Canada (Greater Vancouver area) that may wish to work with our Celtic band.

any help would be appreciated!

Slainte!

MichelleStewart December 3, 2015 at 4:01 am

Hi Collin,
I’m sure we have a few out that way in the Platinum course. I’ll pass this along in our private Facebook group. Drummers are always looking for groups to play with so I’m sure we’ll find someone. – Michelle

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