Beginner Drum Lessons
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DRUM LESSONS
by Casey Tuck
Drum teachers can be found all over including at music stores, teaching out of their personal homes, and some are even willing to visit your home. Tip- A key point to remember before choosing a drum instructor, is that not all great drummers make great teachers. A teacher not only needs to know his drumming skills, but should be able to communicate the knowledge well. They should be patient like any kind of teacher and be able recognize how each student learns best.
What to expect from your drum lessons
A typical drum lesson will probably go a little like this: half the drum lessons will focus on the technical skills: correct hand technique (probably the most important thing you will ever learn as a drummer), and learning to read music (some teachers will place more emphasis on reading than others- some might not teach it at all) through single snare drum, marching-style playing, which provides the foundation for drumset playing.
The rest of the time will probably be devoted to the drumset, learning coordination, speed, and grooves in a variety of musical styles, as well as ear training. Many teachers will use popular songs and recordings to illustrate all of these things. Tip one of the best ways to learn is by studying the greats and figuring out what makes them so terrific.
Every teacher is going to do things a little differently, according to their own personal style, and according to the wants and needs of the student. Some might concentrate more on hand technique in the beginning, some might emphasize reading, others might spend more time on learning to play by ear. Tip- The one thing that will remain constant, however, is that no matter how good the teacher, real improvement can only happen with hard work and practice on the part of the student. Even the best teachers can only lead you to the water, they can’t make you drink.
Equipment, GEARING UP
What you’ll need to get started:
1) Drumsticks
Sticks are available at any music store for around $5 a pair. They come in an endless variety of sizes, weights, and styles. Beginners should go with a middleweight stick like a 5A or 7A, and eventually you’ll figure out what type of sticks feels best in your hands and best suits the style of music you want to play. It’s a personal thing! A stick that one drummer is comfortable using might not work for someone else.
Zildjian DIP Drumsticks, Nylon 5A
Verve 7A Wood Tip Drum Sticks 7A
Zildjian Drum Stick Bag
2) Drums/Cymbals
A beginning drummer should start out with either a 4-piece kit (consisting of a bass drum, snare drum, a mounted tom-tom, and a floor tom) or a 5-piece (one extra mounted tom). Fortunately, most of the major drum companies make excellent quality entry-level drums for reasonable prices. Expect to pay somewhere in between $300 and $700 for a decent beginner’s kit. Most music stores sell used equipment, which is also an option worth looking into. Recommended brands include Pearl, Tama, Yamaha, or Premier, who all make great sounding kits for beginners. Equipment by some of the lesser-known names tends to be flimsy and unreliable, and you’ll probably find yourself spending the money on an upgrade soon after anyway.
Barrington Primary 5 Piece Drumset With Cymbals & Throne Black
Pulse Pro Drum Set, Wine Red
Pulse 5-Piece Pro Junior Kit, Blue
Universal Percussion UP197 Round Double-Braced Drum Throne
Tip- Parents buying drums for their kid will have to decide what kind of investment they want to make- if you think he/she is going to stick with it for a while, then it’s definitely worth paying for a decent kit- it will save you money in the long run. And hey, isn’t the little tyke worth it?
Drum Set For Children
Ultimate Beginner Series - Drum Basics
Pulse Pro Drum Set, Silver Metallic
Snare Drum Kit
Drums generally don’t come with cymbals, so you’re also going to need a pair of Hi-Hats (they come in pairs), a ride cymbal, and one crash cymbal to start. They generally follow the same rules as drums- stick with the two biggest name brands in cymbals, Zildjian or Sabian, who both make excellent entry-level cymbals (try Zildjian’s Scimitar or ZXT series, or Sabian’s B8-Pro series). Hi-Hats will require a Hi-Hat stand, and the cymbals will all require stands as well, but most new drumsets include all of this hardware.
3) Practice Pad
Every drummer should own one. Most of us don’t have the luxury of a sound-proof room to rock out in late into the night, so a quiet practice pad is a way to practice to your heart’s content without bothering your neighbors/parents/roommates. The Real Feel Practice Pads are excellent and cost around $20 to $30.
Drum One SilentOnes Practice Pads
Cost
Most teachers will offer one hour or half hour lessons, and their fee will depend on factors such as their experience level, whether they are coming to you as opposed to you coming to them, whether they teach in a music store, etc. Group drum lessons are perhaps less common than they might be with other instrument lessons, because it is more difficult and chaotic to have multiple drumsets in a room than it is to fit in a few guitar players. Some teachers might charge as low as $15-20/hr, and other more experienced teachers could charge $50-100. However- it is always best to try a lesson or two and then decide if you want to continue, and remember that you’re not obligated to continue lessons if you don’t feel the teacher is right for you. It’s not mandatory that you be best buddies, but it’s usually easier to learn when personalities mesh. Some students will learn better in an easygoing and relaxed environment, and others prefer a more intense and disciplined style. Go with what works for you
WAX ON , WAX OFF:
ADVICE FOR STARTING OUT
Remember that as with any artist, even the best of drummers are always learning and improving. Learn the basic essentials first and build yourself a solid foundation, and you’ll find that everything afterwards will come to you much easier. Wear earplugs. Be patient, and practice hard. There aren’t any shortcuts. That insane drummer you just saw on MTV rocking out from behind that enormous drum kit, who made it all look so easy, probably spent many long hours sweating it out on a practice pad to get where they are today.
Most importantly, have fun! Sure there’s a lot of hard work involved, but there’s an incredible amount of joy and fulfillment to gain from it. It’s my opinion that there are few feelings in life that compare to the rush one gets from drumming, whether onstage in front of a crowd, listening back to that great take in the recording studio, or just being alone in the practice room, losing yourself in the groove. Good luck! |
