Maybe it's the heartbeat inside all of us, but people all over the world, even those who profess to have no musical talent whatsoever, all have some innate understanding of rhythm. Everyone can feel a beat. Drummers usually know this right away, and they're compelled from an early age to smash whatever's around them in time, or brush their surroundings (table top, dashboard) with sensitivity like a jazz drummer would with the brushes. If you're about to learn the drums, here's what you ought to know.
There isn't a musical instrument in the world that can be mastered without a lot of practice! But, especially with drums, you'll need to practice your piece, or your fill, or whatever you're learning, slowly, before gradually increasing the speed. It's necessary to get it down perfect, however slow, before you increase the speed. If you increase the speed before you have it down cold, the mistakes will become more evident and sound even sloppier when it gets faster.
As a drummer, it doesn't matter if your technique is dazzling if you don't have good time! It's obvious, but drummers need it. The musicians in your group are depending on you. For this reason, teachers will frequently use a metronome with their students. This will help you do drills slowly and on time, and you can incrementally increase your speed as you improve. Frequently it's actually harder to play more confusing bits slower, but your teacher will sort this out for you! That's what he's for.
At first, you'll have your hands full keeping the different hands sorted out, and then you'll have your feet to worry about. It's true that each drum is a different instrument, with different tones and temperaments, and what you're doing is learning how to play them all. The drummer's first job is to learn how to syncopate, which is the act of maintaining a beat while simultaneously hitting against it. This will become easier as you go along, but at first it'll seem like a mountain that you can never climb. You'll get there! Psychologically, it's crucial to understand that this will seem beyond physical possibility, but after practice it gets easier and easier until one day you can kind of do it. The mountain's peak will be in sight. Remember this going in and hopefully it'll prevent you from being discouraged off the bat.
Finally, you can expect to be playing along with recordings. Obviously, drums are an accompaniment instrument (unless you're doing a solo...) and to help keep track of the other aspects of the song it'll be necessary to play them in the back. With guitar, piano or drum lessons Surrey you can play the bulk of the song yourself. This also helps improve your ability to listen, something all musicians need to do while they're playing.
If you keep these tips in mind you should be excited to learn a new skill, have some fun, and make some good music! Best of luck.
There isn't a musical instrument in the world that can be mastered without a lot of practice! But, especially with drums, you'll need to practice your piece, or your fill, or whatever you're learning, slowly, before gradually increasing the speed. It's necessary to get it down perfect, however slow, before you increase the speed. If you increase the speed before you have it down cold, the mistakes will become more evident and sound even sloppier when it gets faster.
As a drummer, it doesn't matter if your technique is dazzling if you don't have good time! It's obvious, but drummers need it. The musicians in your group are depending on you. For this reason, teachers will frequently use a metronome with their students. This will help you do drills slowly and on time, and you can incrementally increase your speed as you improve. Frequently it's actually harder to play more confusing bits slower, but your teacher will sort this out for you! That's what he's for.
At first, you'll have your hands full keeping the different hands sorted out, and then you'll have your feet to worry about. It's true that each drum is a different instrument, with different tones and temperaments, and what you're doing is learning how to play them all. The drummer's first job is to learn how to syncopate, which is the act of maintaining a beat while simultaneously hitting against it. This will become easier as you go along, but at first it'll seem like a mountain that you can never climb. You'll get there! Psychologically, it's crucial to understand that this will seem beyond physical possibility, but after practice it gets easier and easier until one day you can kind of do it. The mountain's peak will be in sight. Remember this going in and hopefully it'll prevent you from being discouraged off the bat.
Finally, you can expect to be playing along with recordings. Obviously, drums are an accompaniment instrument (unless you're doing a solo...) and to help keep track of the other aspects of the song it'll be necessary to play them in the back. With guitar, piano or drum lessons Surrey you can play the bulk of the song yourself. This also helps improve your ability to listen, something all musicians need to do while they're playing.
If you keep these tips in mind you should be excited to learn a new skill, have some fun, and make some good music! Best of luck.
About the Author:
Long & McQuade's Musical Education Center offers piano lessons Bedford and drum lessons Vancouver. When trying to learn a musical instrument be sure to visit the professionals at Long & McQuade - one of Canada's largest music stores.
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