Make Your Own Cymbal

Dave is not only a master cymbal-smith; but a great teacher too. The session was relaxed, informative and lots of fun. My 11 year old son did the course and was able to produce a professional quality cymbal in the 3 hours. Admittedly he has experience with tools and metal work beyond his young age; but it proved that this course in reach for someone of that age; who has a good level of tool confidence and interest in creative arts. Would HIGHLY recommend! I will also be going back to do this.

The cymbal making experience was a great and really fun. David is super knowledgeable, relaxed and willing to impart his skills and experience. Over all I had a fantastic time, learned a lot about the cymbal making process and proudly walked away with something I had created and can use for years to come. Would recommend to any percussionist or anyone who likes learning new skills.

I couldn't recommend this more to any drummer or person interested in how cymbals are made. Dave was an incredible teacher, a fantastic host and truly fascinating! It was by far one of the most interesting days I have had this year and the cymbal i walked away with sounds unreal! I have now used it at several gigs and could not be happier with the end product. Knowing (that with Dave's guidance) I made this myself is amazing and its something i will treasure. Thanks Dave, i will be coming back!

Tea, hammers, B20, sound waves, tighten, loosen, squish metal, lathing, spiderland and a lot more all in around 3 hours! I’d highly recommend it, especially coming away with a unique cymbal at a very reasonable price.

Dave is an awesome instructor and it was a great way to spend a day. He was equally accommodating to me (a non-drummer) as my partner (a new excited drummer).

I really enjoyed this genuinely enriching experience. Dave is an excellent teacher. He is generous with his knowledge, adaptable to your level, and provides a comfortable environment to learn in. I found the pace of the experience just right, with theory and hands on work combined in such a way that I felt I learned a huge amount in a short space of time. Also... you get a cymbal at the end of it. Highly recommended, thanks Dave!

Had the best time learning how to make a cymbal

This was the best experience my husband had. He is a drummer and he ws explained everything from start to finish. Brilliant host, relaxed environment and would definitely go back. Thank you David

What a great day. Dave is a great guy clearly knows his stuff and we made an excellent cymbal! Thoroughly enjoyed every minute would defo recommend

Not only was Dave good company and very welcoming but he's a fantastic teacher too.

I thoroughly enjoyed my cymbal making session with David. He's a really interesting and easy going host who is more than happy to answer questions, share his many years of knowledge and make sure your cymbal is exactly what you want.

I had a great 3hours with Dave. The process is very hands on and you really feel a sense of an achievement at the end. The process is fascinating and I will definitely be booking again.

In a workshop on the outskirts of Bristol Dave was kind enough to share his knowledge. Over 10 years, Dave has become a leading international cymbalsmith and tours the world sharing his finely honed skills.
He wants to build a community. For the time I was with him, I felt part of that community. He is one of the greatest teachers of his craft.
At the end of my time with him I came away with a beautiful sounding 16 inch crash symbol, which I had made under his skilled guidance.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with an excellent, dedicated and skilled host. I had so much fun learning and creating a unique cymbal. Although going in with an open mind the course was shaped to accommodate my hope and wish to create a cymbal to suit my existing setup not ruling out learning any of the techniques within the frame of the course. Keen on the subject of making your own cymbal and drumming I feel someone whose merely interested in crafting would also enjoy the experience. Big thanks

This surpassed every expectation I had. I expected it to be fun but to probably come away with something not that great sounding. I was so wrong! Dave is so knowledgeable and such a good teacher that you can quickly create a truly great sounding cymbal. If you are a drummer this is a must. Or a must have gift for the drummer in your life. On top of walking away with a cymbal the session gives a deeper understanding of how and why your cymbals sound the way they do. I’ll be going back for sure.

This course was given to me as a birthday present - a surprise. I had no idea what I was going to do. I've drummed since I was a kid and love to play. So being able to learn how to make my own cymbal from one of the very few independent makers in the world was fantastic. I'm not an expert in the details of cymbals and therefore learnt a huge amount from a relaxed and welcoming host. To leave at the end of the session with a great sounding cymbal for my kit was the icing on the cake. Excellent!

Had a great time on this informative and interesting experience. The host was welcoming and calmly took me through the process. Plenty of coffee breaks and chances to rest up before getting back to the cymbal.

The sound of the cymbal I ended up with is actually really good. The cost of the course is easily what the cymbal would be worth in a shop. We were able to achieve a (to me!) surprisingly professional finish on it.

Dave was a great teacher, his workshop was well equipped and safe, and the afternoon was honestly incredible.
Starting with a 16” b20 blank, he showed me how to hammer and gave feedback as I went, so I did the work whilst he supported. We then took it to the lathe to finish which was damn cool.
Highly recommend, a great way to spend an afternoon and utterly surreal to walk away with a cymbal of my own creation.

What a fantastic experience. Dave is clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about his craft and it was a fascinating insight into the cymbal making process. Not only that, but he was very generous with his time.

I came away with a truly unique instrument which I'll hopefully enjoy using for many years, and the desire to go back again in future and make another...

Great experience. Dave is super knowledgable, encouraging and patient. I learnt lots and left with a cymbal I'm very happy with. A really fun thing to do!

I had a fantastic time making a 16” crash with Dave Collingwood. He was insightful, patient and professional. The communication throughout (from first booking to completing the cymbal) was great.

On the day, everything was well explained and he took the time to answer my questions. PPE was provided by Dave too.

Getting hands-on making a cymbal under the guidance of such an expert was an amazing experience.

I had a great time with Dave making my own cymbal. I emailed him before asking if we could upgrade to a 21" ride instead of 16" crash. He was very accommodating and enthusiastic so I paid the extra cost for materials and more of his time and we made a ride cymbal, which I'm super happy with.

Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend!

Awesome experience, highly recommend!!

I had a brilliant time cymbal making with Dave; a really warm host and thoughtful instructor. Dave tried to cater to me at every opportunity whilst offering his experience. I definitely plan on booking something in with him in the near future. Thanks to Dave for a great session.

Huge thanks to Dave for a fantastic afternoon! Learned so much and had a great time in the process, highly recommended!