Jim Pearman started learning the cello at school when he was sixteen. He progressed very quickly and became principal cello of the Gloucestershire Schools Orchestra. He went on to become principal cello of the London Junior Orchestra while a student in London. While living in Belgium up to October 2005 he was a member of the Broucsella Symphony Orchestra (Brussels) and Akademos  (Ghent). Now he is a member of the Wyre Forest Symphony Orchestra.

He currently plays on a beautiful hand-made instrument by J B Lemoine of Antwerp.