Discussion
Been meaning to learn the drums for a while now, had a kit a few years ago and tried a bit of self teaching but didn't really get anywhere and ended up selling the kit for space. Recently picked up another kit for £50 so decided to have lessons this time.
Just finished the 1st one, absolutely loved it! Spent about an hour chatting and just doing some basic exercises so he can see where I am and where I want to go with it.
Second lesson on Monday! Can't wait!
Just finished the 1st one, absolutely loved it! Spent about an hour chatting and just doing some basic exercises so he can see where I am and where I want to go with it.
Second lesson on Monday! Can't wait!
I've been playing on and off for the last 30 years. Regret not setting out at the start with lessons, and getting the rudiments nailed, as it really helps when it comes to the showing off part of playing a drum kit.
However, I can keep a steady beat, which is basically what being a drummer is all about!
However, I can keep a steady beat, which is basically what being a drummer is all about!
300bhp/ton said:
Umm lessons, what are they? 
I took this view. I have been playing for over 30 years, and never had a lesson.I have been selected for session work/bands on the fact that I play my own style.
Each to their own mind, as I think when not taught you find differnet ways of doing the rudiments, which may lead to an interesting style.
ratbane said:
300bhp/ton said:
Umm lessons, what are they?
I took this view. I have been playing for over 30 years, and never had a lesson.I have been selected for session work/bands on the fact that I play my own style.
Each to their own mind, as I think when not taught you find differnet ways of doing the rudiments, which may lead to an interesting style.
The only thing you really get from drum lessons is technique, and to be fair that's something you can teach yourself but it's better to be supervised, I reckon, and to have someone around to offer encouragement (or shouting - whichever works)!
Developing your own style is IMO a matter of soaking up as much influence as you can and learning how to apply it to music. It's not something that can REALLY be taught, but a solid grounding in technique will help you figure out how some of the trickier aspects of drumming are performed and will enable you to pick them up more quickly. It also means you can play with proper dynamics and greater control. Alot of the time you can tell who has bothered to learn good technique and who hasn't just by listening to the way they play straight 16th notes. Or you can listen to the guys who only have three volume settings - Loud, medium and quiet.
Oh, and of course learning how to read music can be useful too.
Developing your own style is IMO a matter of soaking up as much influence as you can and learning how to apply it to music. It's not something that can REALLY be taught, but a solid grounding in technique will help you figure out how some of the trickier aspects of drumming are performed and will enable you to pick them up more quickly. It also means you can play with proper dynamics and greater control. Alot of the time you can tell who has bothered to learn good technique and who hasn't just by listening to the way they play straight 16th notes. Or you can listen to the guys who only have three volume settings - Loud, medium and quiet.
Oh, and of course learning how to read music can be useful too.
I've actually just starting teaching drums at a local youth initiative. I can't read music despite playing for 20 years on and off. I currently teach 3 or 4 kids during the session on a round robin basis.
I'm just taking them through the basics - grip, bass drum technique and basic hand techniques and now we're on to basic patterns with 1/4's and 8ths.
I'll tell you something, it's one of the hardest things to try and figure out why I do what I do and explain it to them - certainly a learning process for me but I love it - especially when they finelly "get" what I'm trying to teach them.
One thing that keeps coming up is from the parents who all say the kids show no sustained interest in anything but get them on the kit and you can't get the little sods off - they just do not give in.
Good luck with your lessons, it's the best instrument for me (but then I am biased! lol)
I'm just taking them through the basics - grip, bass drum technique and basic hand techniques and now we're on to basic patterns with 1/4's and 8ths.
I'll tell you something, it's one of the hardest things to try and figure out why I do what I do and explain it to them - certainly a learning process for me but I love it - especially when they finelly "get" what I'm trying to teach them.
One thing that keeps coming up is from the parents who all say the kids show no sustained interest in anything but get them on the kit and you can't get the little sods off - they just do not give in.
Good luck with your lessons, it's the best instrument for me (but then I am biased! lol)
drumsterphil said:
I'm just taking them through the basics - grip, bass drum technique and basic hand techniques and now we're on to basic patterns with 1/4's and 8ths.
Good stuff. I remember sitting at a pad for hours and hours under the watchful eye of my first drum teacher, literally just doing up strokes and down strokes, maybe a few rolls and paradiddles if I was LUCKY! I was eight years old at the time but I carried on taking lessons until I was fifteen - I must have had some bloody good teachers to make me stick with it!Had my second lesson now. Moved onto some basic fills and rhythms with variations on the hi-hat which I'd not done before.
For some people self teaching works very well, not for me though, I found myself just doing the same thing over and over and not really progressing or working on fundamentals such as playing with a click. Was finding I just didn't know how to take it forward. The lessons have so far pushed me further but not to a point where I can't manage things after a few tries which I'm happy with.
Played the clarinet for years when I was younger so I can already read music and know the theory behind it so hopefully I should progress pretty swiftly.
For some people self teaching works very well, not for me though, I found myself just doing the same thing over and over and not really progressing or working on fundamentals such as playing with a click. Was finding I just didn't know how to take it forward. The lessons have so far pushed me further but not to a point where I can't manage things after a few tries which I'm happy with.
Played the clarinet for years when I was younger so I can already read music and know the theory behind it so hopefully I should progress pretty swiftly.
CrabDan said:
Good stuff. I remember sitting at a pad for hours and hours under the watchful eye of my first drum teacher, literally just doing up strokes and down strokes, maybe a few rolls and paradiddles if I was LUCKY! I was eight years old at the time but I carried on taking lessons until I was fifteen - I must have had some bloody good teachers to make me stick with it!
All my kids want to be Dave Grohl! lol. Funny thing is I use a double-pedal on the kit and half of them now also want to be the next Gene Hoglan!...lolThe way I see it is that I couldn't play a paraddidle if one hit me (or not very well) but by teaching them a few patterns and playing along to songs it gets them interested - from there they can go and get professional tuition if they stick at it (I do this on a voluntary basis btw)
The Youth Initiative put on concerts and the kids will eventually get to play in front of an audience - as well as learning an instrument it's also about building their self confidence and self asteem (which is why I originally got involved).
Don't have kids myself, but if I did I'd have them learning an instrument - best thing I've ever done tbh.
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