Drums

How To Meet Parents’ And Students’ Expectations As A Drum Lessons Teacher

How To Meet Parents’ And Students’ Expectations As A Drum Lessons Teacher

You’ve shown great potential. You addressed all concerns and questions well. You’ve gained their trust. Your rate is reasonable. You’re a great match. “You’re hired!”. A student or parent’s pursuit in finding and selecting a drum lessons teacher does not end when you hear these words.

It is one thing to make an impression. Now the ball is in your hands on how you would play to meet their expectations. Parents will always be on the lookout if they’re getting their money’s worth. And a student’s performance will reflect if the learning sessions with you are really worth their while.

The following guidelines can help you size-up and manage the expectations of both parents and students:

1. Discipline. Responsibility. Role Model. Students not only pick-up drumming skills. Life skills like discipline and responsibility are also imbibed by the student while you are teaching drum lessons. Singapore teachers are expected to be role models. They expect you to come prepared, be on time, and maximize teaching sessions.

2. Patience and Positivity. Learning a new skill can be comparable to a toddler who is just taking his first step. A teacher’s role is to assure his student that you’ve got his back. You will patiently guide him in each wobbly step that he takes. In playing the drums, coordination is crucial. Yet, one does not always get it right the first time. As a teacher, you’ve got to enforce a positive attitude so that your student would be motivated in this pursuit.

3. Friendship, Fun and Excitement. Forming a student-teacher bond of friendship is actually healthy. This positive interaction could make your learning sessions more fun and exciting for your students. But of course, it should be within the bounds of professionalism and respect.

4. Tuned-in to Trends. The drum is a musical instrument that is very much present in contemporary music. Thus, your student will expect that he will be learning some current music. Of course, the rudiments of drum lessons will be there, but think of creative ways wherein you can incorporate it into the type of music that will get your students excited.

5. Plan and Purpose. ‘Why do I have to repeat this over and over?’ ‘Why am I still playing on slow tempo’? Students may lose interest when things do not make sense. Or they may lose patience when they feel they’re stuck at a certain level. As a teacher, you’ve got to let them see the big picture. Give them a roadmap as to where a certain lesson level leads to. Explain to them the plan and purpose of a particular lesson, and stress the importance of not going astray or taking short cuts.

It’s a must for a teacher to have a game plan on how a student can achieve and meet learning objectives. Each student has its own learning abilities. Thus, in teaching drum students, avoid a cut-and-paste lesson plan. A somewhat customized method would work in the best interest of the student. The credibility and fulfillment of your teaching career is affirmed and goes in full circle when you meet or surpass the expectations of your students and also their parents.

Advantages of Drum Lessons at School vs. Home

Advantages of Drum Lessons at School vs. Home

 

Drums are really one of the most popular instruments around the world, as well as one of the oldest. You can learn drums from different sources, but in the end, everyone requires a good teacher to progress further and learn the correct techniques. If you are seriously considering an option between learning in a school and taking private drum lessons, check out the following advantages of both options before making a decision.

Learning at school

  • You will usually be provided with a soundproof studio which will not disturb the neighbours. If your neighbours are not musical, and sometimes even if they are, they might not want to hear you beating away on your drum at all hours. Then, there is always the problem of the very young and very old complaining about it. If you take classes at school, there is no such problem. In many institutes, you can even practice after class for a while, taking care of your problem.
  • By joining a music academy, you will save money on buying your own equipment, especially if your school offers practice rooms. Even if you prefer to buy your equipment in order to practise at home, you will still be saving money on accessories, music sheets and other materials that the school usually provides.
  • A reputed music school will ensure that their drum teachers are certified and it will not be your responsibility to ascertain that your teacher is qualified enough to teach drums. Since this is a major concern for most music students, it can come as a huge relief to have it taken care of by a trusted organisation.
  • Drums are an instrument that can take up a lot of space, depending on the type of music you want to play. If you are living in a small flat, you might not have the space for setting up your instruments. Joining a music academy solves this problem for you.

Learning at home

  • You don’t really have to leave home in order to learn the drums and you can do other things immediately before and after lessons. You can stay within your own comfortable home or room and enjoy the lesson in complete privacy without other students looking on. If privacy is important to you for enhancing your learning, choosing home lessons makes a lot of sense.
  • An obvious advantage of learning drums from the comfort of your home is that you avoid travelling. It is not always hectic or tiring, but for those who travel to work or school or college every day, it’s a big deal to be able to skip this and still get the musical education they desire.
  • If you are one of those who need to proceed at your own pace, then private lessons are the best option for you. You can set your own goals and deadlines and pursue your learning according to your comfort. You don’t need to consider other students and worry about catching up with others.

For students, the priority is to ensure that they receive good drum tutorials. Singapore has many places that offer both private lessons and lessons through an established music school. Check out your options and find one to suit your comfort.

Top Qualities Of Good Drummers You Can Develop From Drum Lessons (Part 2 of 2)

Top Qualities Of Good Drummers You Can Develop From Drum Lessons (Part 2 of 2)

Drummers are like ship captains.  Drummers steer the helm of the song’s beat, rhythm, and time. The drummer ensures a smooth sailing ride along the ebbs and flows of a song.  Drum lessons offer more than just a skill set of drumming techniques.  Great drumming stems from developing the proper attitude and habits essential in leading the band.

 

Skills Are Best, But Attitude Counts

Any band or music group wants to have a superbly talented and skilled drummer. However, this does not guarantee longevity nor success.  Band members would rather have a fairly good drummer that can work well with the group, than a drummer with an overbearing ‘superstar’ attitude.  A musician’s mental, psychological, and emotional well-being and behavior are the building blocks that lay the foundation for teamwork.  Indeed, teamwork trumps individual talent.

 

Top Qualities of Highly Effective Drummers as Highly Effective Team Players:

 

  1. Mental Attributes
  1. Concentration:  A drummer should be alert and focused on steering the course of the beat and timing of the song or music. Getting off course will lead to disastrous results.
  2. Imagination:  A drummer is required to be precise, but it doesn’t mean that there would be no room for improvisation.  Imagination brings a new flavor and style that could make your band stand out.
  3. Creativity:  It is a  ‘jamming of the minds’.  It is assimilating various musical ideas and styles.  An effective drummer can execute and drive these creative outbursts into a cohesive beat and rhythm.
  4. Memory:  A band has a playlist of songs at a particular gig. A drummer has to commit to memory on how a song sounds and how it should be played based on how the band rehearsed it. Memory is a skill learned through constant practice and discipline.

 

  1. Motivation and Attitude
  1. Practice / Learning / Improving:  All these do not end with your drum lessons.  In fact, a professional musician spends most of his waking hours practicing.  Learning is an endless process.  A musician should not stagnate; your style should always be evolving.  As you sharpen the saw and evolve creatively, your playing skills will drastically improve.
  2. Preparedness:  School’s out, but everyone is still expected to do their homework.  As a drummer, you are expected to know the song/s and bring your skills to the fore.
  3. Quality of Life:  Are you generally healthy and fit to play drums? Drumming is a highly physical activity and demands mental faculties too.  Your overall state of well-being is crucial for this job.
  4. Punctuality:  A drummer does not only keep time, he is expected to show-up on time.  Tardiness puts a strain on the band’s team spirit.  Waiting time is often a waste of time.  It sucks the energy out of its members.

 

In drum lessons, you will include discipline and habits that could mold your attitude highly effective drummer. The drummer is the heart behind the beat.  Your band needs you to pump and drive the beat and let the lifeblood of music flow.

Top Qualities Of Good Drummers You Can Develop From Drum Lessons (Part 1 of 2)

Top Qualities Of Good Drummers You Can Develop From Drum Lessons (Part 1 of 2)

An anonymous author uttered these words: “An excellent drummer can make a mediocre band sound great, and an average drummer can make a great band sound mediocre.” Hmmm…Did this quote just put pressure on you to persevere with your drum lessons? This quote about drummers may be overrated. But you could never deny the fact that a great drum playing keeps the music tight and solid.

If you were to audition as drummer of a band,, here is a checklist of the most sought-after qualities that make a good drummer:

What are the top qualities that make a great drummer?

1) Physical Technique

a) Body posture
i) A drummer should sit-up straight. Slouching is a no-no.
ii) A drummer’s stool should be set at the right, comfortable height. The height of your stool could help you set your body’s posture and movement.

b) Proper grip for drumsticks: In drum lessons, you will learn the different ways of holding a drumstick. Yet, all these stress on the correct grip. It will power-up your performance, allow bounce, movement, and control, and prevent muscle and hand injuries.

c) Developing muscle memory: Muscle memory is the level of playing where you can confidently say that you can ‘play a drum pattern in your sleep or with eyes closed’. It is ‘auto-programming’ your muscles to move by habit, without requiring too much thought or effort. This makes room for better executions of patterns, grooves, and frills. It also allows you to multi-task by focusing on your other roles as timekeeper or listening to the rhythm.

 

2) Skills Technique

a. Sticks and Pedals: A good drummer has marked a solid technique on how he handles sticks and how he attacks the pedals. As mentioned above, there are numerous grip techniques and pedal techniques that you can master over time. Use the best methods that work for you and what the song calls for.

b. Tempo : Songs have a wide range of tempo. A great drummer should be able to play at a speed required for by the song. A rock drummer may often play at full speed, but they can play rock ballads too.

c. Dynamics or volume: Drums are not always played at full volume. It takes a good drummer to know the right moments when to tone-up or tone-down.

d. Listening skills: Drummers actually don’t just bang to the beat of their own drum. They have to drive the beat. And at the same time, play in-sync with the rest of the band. Listening is crucial for you to able to do both.

e. Timing: Being touted as the ‘masters of timing’ may sound like a tall order for drummers. Yet, timing skills would really get you the job. Drummers are expected to have an ‘internal clock to keep the rhythm and tempo precise, steady, and flowing. Playing with the metronome is good to start with. However, a drummer should build inner confidence to carry the cudgels of driving and keeping time.

If you are an aspiring drummer, take your drum lessons to heart. You may be naturally gifted, but the above drumming skills are developed and honed through practice and discipline.

 

 

 

Beginner Drum Lessons for Children

Beginner Drum Lessons for Children

 

Very often, we think of having our children learn something but don’t give enough thought to the preparations. This is also true of music, and any form of musical instrument, especially drums. If you seek to learn drums or want your child to learn drumming, then first help him or her get interested in the world of music and drums. Here are a few things you ought to do before your child starts formal drum lessons.

Introduce the child to music

If you want your child to get interested in drums, it is important that you actively introduce them to good music. Take your child to concerts and explain the various types of music to them. Play music CDs often at your home and make sure that your child is exposed to different classical and modern music from a young age. In short, let the child know that there is a world out there and they too can be part of it, if they desire so.

Buy them a drum set

It can drive parents wild when their children are presented with toys or instruments that make a lot of noise, but if you want your child to become a drummer at a future date, there is no help for it. You have to buy them a set of drums when they are very young so they get used to it. The earlier they start banging on drums, the sooner they will develop a style of their own. At first, it will only seem like noise, but gradually they will start to develop a rhythm before even beginning formal drum tutorials.

Let them interact with other children

You can find some informal and fun musical activities for children in your neighbourhood and let your child interact with other musically inclined children. It is very possible that this kind of interaction will help them form friendships and relationships that will help them sustain their interest once they are old enough for formal lessons. It is also an excellent way to help them have fun while learning.

Make it fun

To get children interested in anything, you must make it fun for them. Don’t push your child to practice every day or interrupt them at every point to teach them proper technique. Let the child have fun with his or her drums and show their creativity all by themselves. It is also not a good idea to start formal lessons too early. Most drum teachers claim that 8 – 10 years of age is the best for children to start. Even after your child starts classes, don’t push him too far or it might turn them off music completely.

Get out of the world of music

It is unhealthy to ruin a child’s childhood by pushing them to study too hard at a young age, when they should be having a variety of experiences. Similarly, you must not push your kid too hard to practice their music either. Give them some space to have other experiences once in a while, so that they can return to their drumming, refreshed and motivated.

In the end, it is your child’s motivation, interest, talent and capacity for learning that will make a drummer out of him or her. You can only teach and inspire, and to find good drum teachers for them. You should take that role seriously, without being too heavy-handed about it.

Non-Technical Characteristics of a Great Drum teacher

Non-Technical Characteristics of a Great Drum teacher

Playing the drums has become an extremely popular musical choice both for adults and the youth today. Whether for personal indulgence or for playing professionally, many are going into formal drumming training. That is why the demand for drum teachers has also grown substantially.

 

It is relatively easy now to find technically skilled drum instructors, who can dazzle you with their techniques and flair. So how do you make the choice, when it is hard to differentiate one from the other?Music teachers, particularly drumming coaches, nowadays should not only teach, but also inspire and motivate. These traits are even more needed when teaching the youth, where attention span is very short and they have a lot of other distractions.

 

Technical skills being equal, you must distinguish your coaches by these characteristics:

 

  1. Organized

Schedules are kept, reminders are always responded to, important things are documented, papers and forms properly filed and tucked away. Being organized projects professionalism, and professionalism means you deliver results. This attribute brings confidence to whatever you do.

 

And that confidence will rub off on the student, allowing him to learn and perform much better. You will be more productive and learn faster knowing your teacher can quickly provide anything you need for the lessons.

 

  1. Sociable

Your drum teacher should be approachable and should make you feel always welcome. They should not be intimidating, so you feel comfortable asking them questions, and you will not be hesitant to give them suggestions. A sense of humor helps too.

 

Being sociable may also extend to your family. Your teacher should be able to communicate to your Mom or Dad about your progress, or how your parents can help you advance in your learning.

 

  1. Creative

The drumming sessions should always excite you, you should always look forward to it, and it should not bore you. A creative and inventive teacher will make sure you feel this way. They may use diagrams and pictures, videos, maybe even games, to deliver the lesson to you.

 

  1. Inspiring

If your teacher does not motivate you, then the lessons will seem like a drudge. And that is a sure way for you to lose interest and fail. Your teachers should have several schemes to lift you up, motivate you, and arouse your interest to learn, practice, and experiment on the drums. They should be good at psychologizing their learners and understand how they learn. They should be able to inspire you to reach your best potential.

 

  1. Well-informed

They do not need to know everything about drumming, but they should be able to find the information you need, and impart them effectively to you. They should also be current and up to date regarding trends and developments not only in drumming, but in the music industry in general.

 

  1. Committed

They must share your dedication to your craft, and should not be easily discouraged or dissuaded from your goals.

 

Drumming is extremely methodical, and drum teachers tend to become technical in their teaching. There is nothing wrong with that, but it greatly helps that you also see in them the characteristics mentioned above.

Qualities Required of Good Drum Teachers

Qualities Required of Good Drum Teachers

 

Getting a good teacher is an important step towards learning music. While many people start off strumming, humming and banging on their own, you can only learn good technique with the help of a good teacher. Learning from good drum teachers will help you develop your skill in various ways. The challenge lies in finding a teacher who is good as well as suitable for you.

Accreditation

Your teacher should be able to teach you, so they should be knowledgeable in the techniques and be able to motivate you to perform well. Unless your teacher is famous or well-known in musical circles, it is impossible to just guess what their level of learning is. Certification is a good way of understanding how far the person has progressed in their learning of drums and how they can help you learn the same. Ask to see their certificates from any reputed musical institute or university before hiring them.

Performance experience

If your teacher cannot provide certificates, it does not mean that they are to be completely written off. There are other ways to check their proficiency. Investigate their background and check whether they have given any performances. This is very important because if you have high aspirations of your drumming career, you will require a teacher who knows the ropes and understands the stress and feel of giving public performances. If possible, go and attend a couple of performances by the prospective teacher so you can make up your own mind on their skill.

General musical knowledge

Expect more from your teacher. It is not enough to just understand how drums should be played. Only if the teacher understands musical concepts and has interests in various fields of music or even has tried their hand at song-writing, they will be able to give you an all-round education. The more musical skill sets your teacher has, the better their ability to share their knowledge with you and expose you to the musical world properly.

Aware of current trends

It is essential that a good drum teacher should also be aware of and interested in current trends in music. While modern music is often sometimes easily dismissed by purists, most students really only get into music and are motivated to learn after listening to the latest music by their favourite artistes. Your teacher needs to be able to tune in to what interests you so that they can make drum tutorials more interesting and motivating for you.

Suitability

You will need to feel good about your lessons and about practising what you learn. Only a teacher who motivates you and understands your limitations can help you with this. A teacher who makes drum lessons unbearable or keeps pointing out your faults will only undermine your confidence. Choose a teacher who knows how to teach as well as how to drum. A good teacher will make you enjoy learning, inspire you to do better and gradually make you push your limits towards perfection. If your teacher does not do this, then you should find one who does.

Like any other musical instrument, drumming requires patience and a lot of hard work. A teacher who can provide a safe and clean space for learning is essential since most people don’t really have a good place to bang on drums without annoying the neighbours. Having drum lessons that are fun and help you do better is also important.

What Drum Lessons Should You Take

What Drum Lessons Should You Take

You may be a beginner, or you already have some experience, or you may even be considered adept at playing the drums. But whatever level your skill is, you should not discount the possibility of getting drum lessons. Apart from constant practice, taking lessons in drumming is a sure way to increase your abilities in drumming, and it will also broaden your repertoire and add to your techniques.

 

But where, and what mode of lesson should you take? In this article you will find three kinds of lessons that you can take up. Read each one, the pros and the cons, and decide for yourself which fits your style best.

 

  • Videos

Music stores are crawling with instructional videos in DVDs, and they are not too expensive. Not all of them though are good, or can help you, or even fit your style. Fortunately most of them have accompanying literatures to help you decide which one to purchase. Better yet, ask the store’s resident specialist in drums.

 

Drum lessons in DVD form are very good if you want to go through the course at a pace that you can control. You can stop and come back to a lesson anytime you want, and you can even play it repeatedly as much as you want or need. You can also watch the video at the comfort of your own home, or even share it with your friends! The downside though is that it is not interactive, and the information shared is one way, so it does not keep track of your progress, nor help you focus on one particular drumming skill set.

 

  • Private Lessons

There are a lot of private drumming tutors that offer their services. It is quite easy to locate one, and you can choose if you want them to go to your house, or have your practice in their studios. This is an excellent choice for students who want more interaction, since the teacher is physically present and can readily assess and correct your weaknesses.

However, private lessons can be expensive in the long run as compared to other options. There is also a risk that your private tutor will not live up to your standards or expectations, and still you have to pay them for services already rendered. If you are on a tight budget, this option may not be the right one for you

 

  • Online Tutorials

The online world is already swarming with online lessons in drumming, and it is not difficult to find them. There are even a lot of free lessons online, but be wary of these offerings. Most probably, these free online lessons are very basic and not in-depth. They will only teach you the basic skills, and their websites are flooded with ads that only distract you from your purpose.

 

There are respectable and decent online sites though, like that offers comprehensive lessons for a very small fee. And because of the quality of their materials and lessons, it is well worth your money. You will also be properly guided by competent instructors, and they even offer money-back guarantees. This is also probably the best option since it is in multimedia form, and can be accessed anywhere with Internet connection.

 

Your drumming skills need continuous learning and improvement, and drum lessons will definitely help you in that area. If you have the time and resources, you can try each mode mentioned above to see where you feel most comfortable. What is important is that your skills continue improving, and you become a better drummer!

Drum Teachers: How to Adapt Your Lessons for Advanced Students

Drum Teachers: How to Adapt Your Lessons for Advanced Students

Many teachers may be under the impression that it is much easier to teach more advanced students than it is to start from scratch with a beginner student. Although this is true in some aspects, it is very important that drum teachers adapt their lessons to ensure that their advanced students are making the most of their teaching time. It is not enough to simply expect them to get along with minimal guidance! Let’s have a look at some of the ways we can adapt our lessons…

Student involvement

One of the best aspects to teaching with more advanced drummers is that you can have much more of a reciprocal relationship with your student which should mean a higher level of learning satisfaction from them and a more enjoyable experience for you as the teacher.

Ways to get your students more involved:

• Ask them to bring in some music that they are interested in playing
• Asking how they would prefer your lessons to be structured
• Get their feedback on what they think they need to improve on
• Make informed decisions together on whether to take grade exams
• Perform together

Focus on performance

Once your students have acquired all necessary skills, you should start tailoring your drum lessons to start focusing on performance technique. You want to inspire them to drum with panache and grow in confidence with their drumming. Why not put a date in the diary where they can perform in public? If you play another instrument, you should arrange for your student to play with you. Many drummers aspire to accompany a band – if your students are looking to join a group, it will be well worth your time to do some research and use your musical contacts to arrange for them to audition.

Progress is everything

As your students are already at a high ability in their drumming, it will be worth your time to encourage them to take their talent further. If they haven’t yet attempted to take any grade examinations, it’s a great idea to advocate for them acquiring these qualifications so they can prove that they are at a certain standard.

Occasionally, a student will come your way who is obviously in command of a prodigious drumming talent. It lies with you, as their teacher, to make suggestions to them regarding auditioning for music college or to become more heavily involved in performances and bands. Obviously, you shouldn’t push your students in the direction of anything they are reluctant to do but there is no harm in recognizing great talent when it comes your way! Do your best to inspire and encourage your students to continuing getting better, acquire new skills and grow in self-confidence. The rewards are huge if you are prepared to put the effort in!

It should be clear that you definitely need to adapt your drum lessons for your more advanced students as they will struggle to progress if you leave them to get along without any specialized teaching from you. Make sure to get them more involved with the content and direction of your lessons and be sure to focus on performance and progress.

Analyzing the skill levels of your students should be done in a careful and systematic manner. Intuition is a good thing to have for a music teacher but a little help from math and science will also go a long way. Try to find help online on how to do this properly. With drum lessons, students should definitely feel that they are progressing and advancing in skills and knowledge and that a professional is handling their training.

Drum Teachers: Ever Considered Teaching at Your Students’ Homes?

Drum Teachers: Ever Considered Teaching at Your Students’ Homes?

Teaching at your students’ homes instead of at a school is a great way to work flexibly, earn more money and be able to work for yourself. Increasing numbers of drum teachers are turning to this way of working for these very reasons. Let’s have a look at some of the pros and cons to teaching your students at their home.

 

Flexibility

When you teach music at a school, you are immediately hemmed in to the restrictions hoisted upon you by the school, such as a set timetable and a set pay structure. In addition, you are obviously restricted to only teaching students of school age who attend that school. As soon as you decide to start teaching at your students’ homes, you have the freedom and flexibility to teach whoever you like at whatever time you like, for whatever fee you like! What could be better? This flexibility will be especially beneficial for teachers who are keen to teach adults during the day and are willing to travel between students.

 

Pay benefits

You can often command a higher fee as a drum teacher who teaches in students’ homes as many people will pay more for the convenience of their tutor coming to them. It is certainly also worth bearing in mind your travel costs and time too when you are negotiating your fee. You’ll generally be able to charge more than you would teaching at a school as you’ll probably be teaching older students and there will be no school taking a cut of your wage.

 

Less stability

One thing to bear in mind if you decide to quit your school and teach at your students’ homes is that your ready-made client base of school children will disappear and so you will have to find and keep your own clients. This can be quite daunting when you first start out on your own but if you are well organized, you should be able to do well. It’s worth mentioning to any students and their parents that you already teach that you are moving from the school but would still like to continue teaching them – chances are, they will decide to stick with you and take advantage of the convenience of having lessons within their own home.

Once you have a few loyal students, you will find that your reputation will increase just by word-of-mouth and the students will be knocking down your door trying to get lessons! A good idea would be to create your own website which contains your experience and up-to-date contact details so any would-be students can get in contact with you quickly to arrange lessons. It may even be worth doing deals (such as buy 10 lessons for the price of 9) in order to entice students if you find it difficult to start with.

 

Be prepared

Teaching drum lessons at your students’ homes instead of within the traditional setting of a school is a great way for a teacher to work flexibly and potentially earn more money. Before you make the break, ensure that you have a strategy to entice in new students so you don’t miss the stability of teaching in a school.

There is, of course, the option of both teaching privately and teaching in a school. It is just a matter of scheduling carefully so as not to over load yourself. There is no sense in earning loads of money if in the end you won’t have the time to enjoy or spend it as you please. Remember your health is still more important than any riches in the world. Good luck making the right decision!

Drum Lessons: The Differences Between Learning as a Child And Learning as an Adult

Drum Lessons: The Differences Between Learning as a Child And Learning as an Adult

As you would expect, there will be huge differences in your lessons if you’re learning to play the drums as a child or if you’re learning as an adult. This is exactly how it should be; children and adults have totally different learning needs and styles and their drum lessons should cater to that. It’s important to find a teacher who has experience teaching at whatever age and ability you are so you can make sure that you’re getting the most from your lessons.

So, what can you expect as a child beginning lessons?
More structure
Children are often less focused and more easily distracted than adults so it’s important that lessons are carefully structured. There should be appropriate time allocated to practice and, just as importantly, time allocated for fun playing! This is especially important when playing an instrument such as the drums; although careful practice is needed to master the skills and techniques, it’s important to let younger students have fun and really let go with the instrument so they stay engaged in their learning.
Teacher-led direction
Hand-in-hand with the above point is the fact that younger students will need a more teacher-led approach during their drum lessons. Children, naturally, are more focused on the ‘here and now’ rather than looking forward to their future so it’s important that the teacher is heavily involved when decisions need to be made about their musical direction. Say, for instance, the child is an excellent drummer but is lacking the discipline or motivation to commit to grade exams – it is important that the teacher encourages and recommends a new approach in the child’s learning so they will be able to take the exams in the future, rather than just letting the opportunity slip away.

 

What about adult lessons?
Student-led lessons
Adults are naturally more self-confident and assertive than children and it is therefore natural that they will take much more of a role in determining the direction of their lessons. If an adult decides that they would rather play the drums for pleasure rather than obtaining grade qualifications, their teacher should respect this decision and they should work together to plan lessons accordingly. It would be a great idea for the student to bring in some music that they would like to play which could then help to set the tone of the lessons. There is generally a lot more freedom when teaching adults.
Less enforced discipline
Most children require a little enforced discipline to study effectively, whether it’s at school or during their music lessons. Discipline enforced by the teacher is a great tool for learning as it will ensure that the child both pays attention during the lessons and practices once they get home. Generally, it’s a different story for an adult student who will have decided to take up the drums purely because they want to, rather than being pushed into lessons by a parent. There should be little to no difficulty with adult students not wanting to practice or not taking part fully in the lesson.

 

It’s clear that there are a few big differences in drum lessons for adults and those for children; it’s important to ensure that you employ the right teacher who will get the best from you whatever your age.

 

Is It Better to Take Drum Lessons at School or at Home

Is It Better to Take Drum Lessons at School or at Home

New drum students often stop to consider where the best place to learn their instrument is – school or home? There are certainly benefits to both locations but also some practicalities to consider when you are making your decision. Let’s have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of taking your drum lessons at school or at home…

 

Facilities

Unless you’re blessed with a top-notch music studio at home, it is unlikely that you will have the same great facilities that are present in most schools. Schools often have their own music department which hosts sound-proof music rooms and great equipment for students to make use of during their lessons and free time. One of the biggest drawbacks to playing the drums is the fact that the kit is so large and, obviously, quite loud once you get started! If you are living in a small house or perhaps have a parent who works from home, your lessons are unlikely to be very popular with the rest of your family due to both space and noise issues.

 

Practice makes perfect

If you do have the space to have your drum lessons at home then you will certainly be able to reap some benefits. You are much more likely to practice your drumming if your drum kit is at home right in front of you waiting to be used. It’s really easy to practice whenever you want and there will be no one else arguing that it’s ‘their turn’ (unless you have a sibling who wants to have a go!). It takes much more discipline to commit yourself to practicing if you have to drag yourself away from your friends and go to your school music room. Additionally, if you want to play at school you will be expected to share the drum kit with other students who are learning so it may not always be too easy to practice whenever you want.

 

Band involvement

Regardless of whether you take your lessons at school or at home, it is a great idea to lend your new drumming skills to a band – obviously, the best place to get involved is at school with other like-minded musicians who have the same free time as you. Being in a band is a great way to practice your drumming and to get another perspective on the instrument outside of your lessons. If you’re taking your lessons at home but your parents are unhappy with you practicing all the time due to noise issues, band practice is a great way to get the best of both home and school drumming.

When you decide to start drumming, it’s important to consider where the best place to take your drum lessons will be. School lessons are great if you don’t have the space or facilities at home to learn but you have to make sure that you are disciplined enough to commit to practicing even when you’d rather be having fun with your friends at break time. Wherever you take your lessons, you’ll find a happy medium being involved with a band.

Taking up drum lessons is a great way to improve your musicality as well as your personality. Physically, you improve your coordination. You get your blood flowing with the constant beating with your drums sticks. Your heart benefits from the exercise and you sweat out those extra pounds. Drumming is rarely a solo thing so you get to interact frequently with various band members for practice, gigs or just to hang out and have fun. All in all, a win win situation for you or your child.