Getting Started
I often get the most questions about how to prepare students at home for their lessons and how to instill and maintain a good practice routine.
As a teacher, I believe it's highly important to keep the lessons organized and well thought out to keep the student progressing in a forward direction. This is a concept that definitely yields results. While I believe in a fun and interactive teaching experience, I do not believe in teaching without any direction or concept.
If you are starting lessons for the first time, this is an entire list of the items needed.
1. 12" Practice pad. "Real Feel" is the most popular choice. Aquarian "Red" practice pad is another good choice.
3. Snare drum stand - holds the practice pad in place
4. Music Stand
5. Drum Throne
6. Drumsticks. Professional grade drumsticks are a MUST and they do not cost much. 5A wood tip is an excellent reliable size for most students.
7. Binder
8. Metronome. Korg makes excellent hand-held metronomes (MA-30) I also highly recommend the "Pro Metronome" app, free on the app store.
9. Drum Books: I will recommend on a per-student basis on which drum books to purchase as he/she develops.
Not every single item listed here is required to begin, but rather a comprehensive guide for a fully productive environment. If there are budget concerns, let me know so I can make the proper recommendations for you.
Download a guide here
dlv_practice_item_sheet.pdf
As a teacher, I believe it's highly important to keep the lessons organized and well thought out to keep the student progressing in a forward direction. This is a concept that definitely yields results. While I believe in a fun and interactive teaching experience, I do not believe in teaching without any direction or concept.
If you are starting lessons for the first time, this is an entire list of the items needed.
1. 12" Practice pad. "Real Feel" is the most popular choice. Aquarian "Red" practice pad is another good choice.
3. Snare drum stand - holds the practice pad in place
4. Music Stand
5. Drum Throne
6. Drumsticks. Professional grade drumsticks are a MUST and they do not cost much. 5A wood tip is an excellent reliable size for most students.
7. Binder
8. Metronome. Korg makes excellent hand-held metronomes (MA-30) I also highly recommend the "Pro Metronome" app, free on the app store.
9. Drum Books: I will recommend on a per-student basis on which drum books to purchase as he/she develops.
Not every single item listed here is required to begin, but rather a comprehensive guide for a fully productive environment. If there are budget concerns, let me know so I can make the proper recommendations for you.
Download a guide here
dlv_practice_item_sheet.pdf
FAQ's
Q: Do I need a full drum set to take drum lessons?
A: No. You do not need a full drum set to start drum lessons. Students can start lessons by using a practice pad. This is a small dinner plate sized pad that costs $20-$30 that is used for practicing basic drum rhythms.
Q: How long does it take to learn an instrument?
A: There is no set answer of how long it takes to learn an instrument. With regular practice a basic level of playing can be accomplished in a few months. Most of my students take lessons on a long term basis because they feel improvement and find the lessons to be valuable and productive.
Q: I don't have any musical background or ability; can I still help my child practice?
A: Yes! Even if you don't have a musical background you can still ask for advice on how to help your child practice. By simply monitoring that they are doing exercises a certain number of times per day the student will progress. Many parents occasionally sit in on their child's music lesson to get an idea of the proper way a song should sound or how the student should be positioning their hands.
Q: What is the best age to start drum lessons?
A: There is no definite answer, and exceptions are made all of the time. However, somewhere around the age of 7 is considered optimum, because of the ability to be more patient and to follow a structure. Also, the student should be able to reach the pedals on the drumset in order to play it.
Q: My son/daughter is in the school band. Will private lessons help?
A: Absolutely! I've had many students bring in their band music to the lessons. I also have spent a lot of time prepping students for talent shows, recitals, drumline, and solo performances.
Q: My son/daughter doesn't really practice at home. What can I do?
It really depends on the student's personality and how may activities they are involved in.
A very strong starting place is to pick a time. An example would be, say, "6:30PM", or "right after dinner". With drumming especially, a student is going to learn with a lot of repetition. So it's a lot more productive to do 5-20 minutes each day consistently than it is to do a lot for only one day, such as a free Saturday. Pick a time of day and stay consistent.
Communication is also a must. I always encourage my students and parents to ask as many questions as possible. There are no bad questions, and there are so many ways to learn things. It is my highest priority in understanding how to help each individual LEARN how to play something on the drums.
Q: I'm ready to take the plunge. My son/daughter practices consistently. I want to buy a drumset but there are so many to choose from. I was thinking about electronic drums too. What should we do?
I get this one a lot, and I consult with parents/students on a one-to one basis.
Electronic kits are good for practice. They are excellent for playing along with songs. You can even play with other musicians in the same room with the right equipment. They are an excellent starting point and a valid solution for low volume. They range in price from a few hundred dollars, all the way up to several thousands of dollars.
Acoustic kits are the direct solution for playing and practice. They hold the interest of the student for a much longer time. Acoustic kits will certainly outlast electronic kits. They are also loud, however this is what inspires so many to play the instrument! Nothing feels or sounds like a real drum set. Certain strategies must be employed (such as building relationships with neighbors and quiet hours) When set up and tuned properly (which I teach!) the student has a direct relationship with the instrument and all the nuances and variables that go into playing the instrument can be explored. These days you can buy an excellent brand new kit for around $600 that will last for many years. If you are not sure how to set up or tune your existing set, I'm highly experienced with this and we can do this in the lessons!
Q: Why even take drum lessons these days, especially when I can teach myself with lots of YouTube videos online?
It's becoming quite common to see this approach with students, and its both great and not so great. YouTube videos, especially from reputable teaching sources, are very helpful and entertaining. The problem occurs when certain key elements are missing with the individual student, such as good stick grip and application of drumming vocabulary because it wasn't learned or taught. I have seen students try to play things that are a bit beyond their range (which is cool!), but equally frustrated because its not like the video and their hands may be getting hurt. Simply put, there is no substitute for a good teacher and you should choose carefully when looking for one. Good guidance from a good teacher AND the help of YouTube videos can certainly help a student excel in an exciting direction.
A: No. You do not need a full drum set to start drum lessons. Students can start lessons by using a practice pad. This is a small dinner plate sized pad that costs $20-$30 that is used for practicing basic drum rhythms.
Q: How long does it take to learn an instrument?
A: There is no set answer of how long it takes to learn an instrument. With regular practice a basic level of playing can be accomplished in a few months. Most of my students take lessons on a long term basis because they feel improvement and find the lessons to be valuable and productive.
Q: I don't have any musical background or ability; can I still help my child practice?
A: Yes! Even if you don't have a musical background you can still ask for advice on how to help your child practice. By simply monitoring that they are doing exercises a certain number of times per day the student will progress. Many parents occasionally sit in on their child's music lesson to get an idea of the proper way a song should sound or how the student should be positioning their hands.
Q: What is the best age to start drum lessons?
A: There is no definite answer, and exceptions are made all of the time. However, somewhere around the age of 7 is considered optimum, because of the ability to be more patient and to follow a structure. Also, the student should be able to reach the pedals on the drumset in order to play it.
Q: My son/daughter is in the school band. Will private lessons help?
A: Absolutely! I've had many students bring in their band music to the lessons. I also have spent a lot of time prepping students for talent shows, recitals, drumline, and solo performances.
Q: My son/daughter doesn't really practice at home. What can I do?
It really depends on the student's personality and how may activities they are involved in.
A very strong starting place is to pick a time. An example would be, say, "6:30PM", or "right after dinner". With drumming especially, a student is going to learn with a lot of repetition. So it's a lot more productive to do 5-20 minutes each day consistently than it is to do a lot for only one day, such as a free Saturday. Pick a time of day and stay consistent.
Communication is also a must. I always encourage my students and parents to ask as many questions as possible. There are no bad questions, and there are so many ways to learn things. It is my highest priority in understanding how to help each individual LEARN how to play something on the drums.
Q: I'm ready to take the plunge. My son/daughter practices consistently. I want to buy a drumset but there are so many to choose from. I was thinking about electronic drums too. What should we do?
I get this one a lot, and I consult with parents/students on a one-to one basis.
Electronic kits are good for practice. They are excellent for playing along with songs. You can even play with other musicians in the same room with the right equipment. They are an excellent starting point and a valid solution for low volume. They range in price from a few hundred dollars, all the way up to several thousands of dollars.
Acoustic kits are the direct solution for playing and practice. They hold the interest of the student for a much longer time. Acoustic kits will certainly outlast electronic kits. They are also loud, however this is what inspires so many to play the instrument! Nothing feels or sounds like a real drum set. Certain strategies must be employed (such as building relationships with neighbors and quiet hours) When set up and tuned properly (which I teach!) the student has a direct relationship with the instrument and all the nuances and variables that go into playing the instrument can be explored. These days you can buy an excellent brand new kit for around $600 that will last for many years. If you are not sure how to set up or tune your existing set, I'm highly experienced with this and we can do this in the lessons!
Q: Why even take drum lessons these days, especially when I can teach myself with lots of YouTube videos online?
It's becoming quite common to see this approach with students, and its both great and not so great. YouTube videos, especially from reputable teaching sources, are very helpful and entertaining. The problem occurs when certain key elements are missing with the individual student, such as good stick grip and application of drumming vocabulary because it wasn't learned or taught. I have seen students try to play things that are a bit beyond their range (which is cool!), but equally frustrated because its not like the video and their hands may be getting hurt. Simply put, there is no substitute for a good teacher and you should choose carefully when looking for one. Good guidance from a good teacher AND the help of YouTube videos can certainly help a student excel in an exciting direction.
