Saturday, April 16, 2011

Tips for New Drummers

By Sookie Cosgrave


If you or your child is thinking about taking up drumming, there are a few things you should consider first. Drumming is a very fun pastime, but it can also be very frustrating at times. It's not the easiest instrument to play, but it can be the most rewarding once you start to get the hang of it. In order to work through the tough times and stick it out, it's a good idea to develop a few tricks and tips that will help you when you feel stuck. Here are a few things you might want to try out as you begin to drum.

Learn Sheet Music: A good first tip is to learn how to read music. It does take a lot of time and study, but it will be worth it in the long run. This is because as you get better, you may want to play along in a band or with other people which may require you to learn sheet music. It's really not that hard either, it just takes a bit of dedicated study.

Forget the Sheet Music: Learning sheet music is a good idea, but it is also a way to get bored quickly. In order to keep you interested, it's a good idea to play along to real songs once in a while. This can even be done as you're just beginning out. All you need to do is find a song you enjoy that has an easy beat to play along to. This will help keep you interested in playing and learning a new instrument.

Practice at Home: Taking drum lessons when you first start out is a great way to practice correct drumming techniques. However, in order to advance your playing skills you will need to be able to practice at home. This means buying your very own drum kit. You may want to go to a local music store to try out a few different styles and brands in order to get a feel for what you like. Then, try looking for the kit online where you'll find great deals on used drum kits for a much smaller price.

Make a Schedule: Once you have your kit and have the basic tools for playing, it's time to make a practice schedule. Like anything else, you won't improve unless your practice, practice, practice. Make sure you make a specific schedule each week that you can stick to. This way you'll be able to improve and watch your progress from week to week. You may also consider setting aside time once a month to play with friends who have drums or other instruments in order to keep things varied.




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