Conference Speaker - Disability Advocate - Professional Drummer

Andrew Hewitt, dubbed as "Australia's most inspirational drummer", is starting to become one of the most talked about drummers on the national and international drumming and disability communities.

He was born with Cerebral Palsy, which restricts movement in his arms and legs, which forces him to use a wheelchair. This has made drumming a very serious challenge.

Despite this, over the past 20 years Andrew has worked successfully as a Performing Artist, Drum set Clinician, Motivational Speaker, Workshop Facilitator, and Disability Advocate.

Awakenings Festival, Horsham, Victoria, October 2008

It all started in 1980 when his parents got him a drum kit for Christmas thinking it would be a good form of physical exercise.

Over the years as Andrew grew, he could never participate in schools sports or any other physical activities, drums became his major passion.

Andrew played in his first band in North-West Tasmania in the late 80s.
Moved to Melbourne in 1992, and then Sydney in 2001.

He was determined to never let his disability stop him from achieving a much greater success.

After 30 years, Andrew is still hard at it.

Since 2004, Andrew has been constantly travelling around Australia performing at various disability events, expos, and conferences.

Andrew also runs a drum and percussion workshop program for people with disabilities to help them find their own creative element.

Andrew says “My workshops are to give people hope. If I can give 1 person a little joy, or 1 parent some hope, my job is done. The expressions on participants faces says it all. Sheer Happiness!!! I have had people after my workshops wanting to go buy a drum kit and give it a go for themselves.”

He has definitely made his mark on a global scale, with articles in drumming magazines from all over the world, such as: Modern Drummer (USA), DRUM! (USA), Rhythm (UK), The Black Page (Canada), and Australian’s own Drum scene.

Randwick TAFE, Sydney, May 2009

Sydney Opera House, Sydney, December 2005

For the past 8 years, Andrew has been continuously involved within the Australian disability arts sector, and has been involved with organizations around Australia such as Club Wild and is in close connection with Accessible Arts NSW.

He has made various TV appearances such as Monique Wright's Everyday People segment on Channel 7's Sunrise program, Tim Bailey's Channel 10 Sydney Weather in December 2005, promoting the Club Wild shows at the Sydney Opera House.

Andrew performed with Melbourne band Bipolar Bears at the Sydney Opera House in 2004 and 2005 for Club Wild's disability friendly dance party events.

In February 2007, Andrew released his debut DVD worldwide through US organisation "Alternatives in Music".

The DVD although short has received some rave reviews from across the globe, including a 3 stars out of 5 in UK drum magazine Rhythm. The DVD is entitled simply, "Alternatives in Music presents Andrew Hewitt" and runs for 15 minutes, during which it tells Andrew's story of a drummer with Cerebral Palsy, and how he has stopped at nothing to get to the goals he has set.

It was filmed at Billy Hyde Drumcraft, and produced by US film producer Anthony Allen who came to Australia to film a number of Australian drummers for various website projects he had going at the time.

March 2008 saw Andrew perform blistering solo performances at High Beam Global in Adelaide, part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival.

High Beam Global showcases all artists with disabilities from all over the world.

Andrew performed 5 times in 3 days, ranging from drum and percussion workshops to night club solo performances.

Toward the end of 2008, Andrew was the guest of honour at The Centre for Cerebral Palsy’s CP Awareness Week in Perth - Western Australia, and the Awakenings Festival in Horsham - Victoria, where he held his specialised drum and percussion workshops, and some solo performances. The Perth gigs ended with a band spot with local Perth band “The Healy’s”.

Adelaide Fringe Festival, Adelaide, March 2008

Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week, Perth, August 2008

Australia's Ultimate Drummers Weekend, Melbourne, July 2009

Roland V-Drum Festival, Sydney, August 2010

In July 2009, Andrew performed at Australia’s Ultimate Drummers’ Weekend in Melbourne at Darebin Arts Centre. The weekend was organised by Frank Corniola, Drumtek and Drum scene Magazine, and featured such artists from all over the world as: Dom Famularo, Thomas Pridgen, Virgil Donati, Pete Lockett and Ronald Bruner Jr.

This was a very special performance on the main stage at the festival, featuring Dom Famularo and one of Dom’s students who flew out from the USA, Mike Mignogna. Mike has Cerebral Palsy similar to Andrew, and the 3 showed the audience just what can be done with a bit of determination. The performance was very well received by the audience, and got a standing ovation in a room of 500 people.

In August 2010, Andrew was invited to perform at the Roland V-Drum Festival 2010 at Carraigeworks at the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern. This performance featured a short clinic where I explained the advantages of electronics on drums for people with disabilities, and a few ways he utilises electronics to overcome physical challenges associated with his disability.

The festival ended with Andrew on stage with all of the performers from the day in an all-star jam... who included: Michael Schack (Germany), Karl Lewis (Savage Garden), Terapai Richmond (The Whitlams, Delta Goodrem), Simon Ayton (Roland), and Lucius Borich (COG).

2010 came to a close with Andrew performing at Central West Disability Expo in regional New South Wales at Orange, and in Parramatta’s Church Street Mall for International Day for People With A Disability.

Andrew's playing style is very much based on 70s rock, with a bit of a touch of new groove style rock thrown in for good measure. His influences are as follows:-

• Rick Allen (Def Leppard)


• John Bonham(Led Zeppelin)


• Animal (The Muppets)


• Carmine Appice


• Ian Paice (Deep Purple)


• Phill Rudd (AC/DC)


• Buddy Rich

Currently Andrew is an Australian endorsee for DW Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth drumsticks. He is also a member of the Vic Firth education program through Vic Firth USA.

Andrew also uses Roland V-Drum electronics exclusively.

Central West Disability Expo, Orange, October 2010

Parramatta Church St Mall, Sydney, December 2010

Andrew Hewitt is available for private drum tuition, drum and percussion workshop facilitation, conference keynote speaking and as a performing artist.

Andrew's Equipment

Electronic Drums: Roland TD-12KX
- for more info Click Here

A KD-120BK Mesh Kick Pad
B PD-85BK Mesh Tom Pad
C PD-105BK Mesh Snare Pad
D PD-85BK Mesh Tom Pad
E PD-105BK Mesh Floor Tom Pad

1 VH-11 Hi-Hat
2 CY-12R/C Cymbal Pad
3 CY-12R/C Cymbal Pad
4 CY-12R/C Cymbal Pad

Acoustic Drums: DW Pacific CX in Blue Onyx Finish (except where noted)

A 22x18 Bass Drum
B Sonor 10x5 Maple Snare in Orange Sunburst
C 14x5 Maple Snare
   Ludwig 1997 14x6.5 Black Beauty Snare
   Ludwig 1966 14x5 Supraphonic Snare
D 10x8 "Kick" Tom (triggered as a bass drum)
E 12x9 Tom
F 14x12 Floor Tom
G 16x14 Floor Tom
H Roland TD-8 VDrum Module

Cymbals: Zildjian
1 14" A Rock Hi-hat
2 16" Z Power Crash
3 17" A Custom Fast Crash
4 19" A Custom Projection Crash
5 20" A Medium Ride
6 14" Hi-hat
7 18" Impulse China

Hardware & Misc:

I DW 5000 Hi-hat Stand
J DW 5000 Bass Drum Pedal
K Pearl RH-2000 Remote Hi-hat Stand
L Pearl Roadmaster Drum Throne

Drums and Cymbals mounted on Pearl DR-503c Rack

Sticks: Vic Firth 5B & Vic Firth Rute 606 and Vic Firth Mallets
Electronics: Andrew Hewitt uses a Roland RT-10K drum trigger on kick, Roland RT-10S drum trigger on snare, and Roland RT-10T drum triggers on toms.