Drum Lessons

I. Listening

     Listening to music is a crucial part of your drum practice. I have had many drum students who do not listen to music on a regular basis. Remember that there are many different perspectives that you can take when listening to music. You can create foreground and background attention points when listening to the music. What are you most focused on when listening? There are many elements in the typical recording – vocals, guitars, bass, drumset, percussion, keyboards, horns, strings. In a lot of modern recordings there is also an abundance of ambiguous sounds – noise, distortion, samples. All of these specific sounds and instruments add up to an overall sound, a song, a melody, a groove, a message. My point in saying all of this is to remind you to that if you do not feel inspired by any particular music, try some different approaches to how you listen. Often you will find a way into enjoying music this way.  

     One of the main pursuits in our lesson time will be listening to and analyzing recorded drummers, rhythms, and songs. It will become a requirement for you to bring in some music that you want to understand more specifically.   

II. Discipline

    Regular practice is key for developing your muscles, coordination, hearing, and musicianship in general. I typically recommend that students start with 15-30 minutes of practice 5 days a week. If this is too little time for you and your musical goals, we will map out another plan accordingly. It is important that you challenge yourself by remaining aware of that inevitable drive to forget practice and just bang or bash the drums. For me the sign of musical development is not in what “new” beat or speed drumming you can pull out in a lesson as much as it is in your ability to focus on and to understand rhythm and practice. Practice often involves slowing things down, going through a beat one step at a time, and repeating a rhythm for an extended time. 

III. Getting Started

You will need the following to start :

1) Drumsticks – any pair will do. The main things to look for in drumsticks are length, shape of tip, and thickness. The 5A is a pretty standard model. 7A are thinner sticks with clearer definition on cymbals, better for quieter playing. Find some that feel comfortable to you.  

2) Practice Pad – this is especially important if you do not have a drumset already. A pad is very helpful for keeping practice quiet and for helping you to develop some arm, wrist, and finger strength with the drumsticks. 

3) A Notebook – any type will do. This helps us stay organized and provides you with a running log of practice material for each week. 

4) A Metronome – often despised, inevitably frustrating. A metronome helps your playing to become more grounded and solid by giving you a steady pulse to play along with. It is a very helpful tool for drummers. 

5) Drum Books – after our first meeting(s), I will recommend a book for us to work out of, determined based on your musical interests and goals.