Getting Started with Drums: A Beginner’s Guide to Lessons
Peter has been a teacher and drummer for over 30 years.
He has been teaching with Imagine Music Inc for over 10 years.
I decided to interview Peter about drums lessons to inform anyone new to drumming what to expect.
Here is what I found out in my interview with Peter:
Jennifer: What can a beginner expect in their first lesson? And during their first month of lessons?
Peter: Fun! Learning to keep a basic beat, being able to play around the drum kit and learning the parts. The best thing is when the student learns the four basic beats to play in a band and ultimately can play to recordings.
Jennifer: Do you need to practice and How much time should you spend practicing?
Peter: Practice is necessary to improve. When you get better it becomes more fun as you can do so much more! Depending on your age, practice should be 20 – 30 min. a day for 4 days a week. As I said, the more you practice, the better you get, and the more fun it is!
Jennifer: I am often asked “Should we buy or rent?”
Peter: Renting has become very popular. Electronic kits and acoustic kits can be rented monthly. Electronic kits are much easier on parents and the neighbour’s ears. 😊 To rent first is a great option especially for the young student who might start on a small drum set and move into a bigger drum set. It’s also a great option if you aren’t sure if the student will really like the instrument.
Jennifer: Are there different sizes? What do you need in a drum set?
Peter: Acoustic kits can be of various sizes. Electric kits are usually a standard set up: three tom pads, a snare drum pad, a kick pedal pad, ride cymbal, crash cymbal and hi hat.
Jennifer: What is the most challenging part of learning the drums?
Peter: Anyone can learn to play the drums. However, everyone’s skill level can be different. It really depends on the student. The more a student practices or plays, the better the student becomes. It’s like a sport, the more you put in, the more you get out.
