Drums make an outstanding addition to any musical ensemble, providing the ideal blend of rhythm and power. Beyond simply providing an outlet for expression, taking drum lessons Toronto can also boost cognitive development in both children and adults alike.
Discover how to enhance your drum technique through weekly video lessons and tips suited for players of all levels. Unlock this 26-week course now, and create a plan for making real progress and seeing tangible results!
How to Choose a Drum Teacher
An effective tutor is crucial when learning drums. No matter if you’re just beginning or already at an intermediate level, having someone helping develop your skills can make all the difference in success.
Finding a tutor that meets both your goals and teaching style can be tricky, but finding one who resonates is essential for long-term success. Some instructors specialize in traditional rudiments or drum patterns while others may provide quicker approaches that allow learners to quickly grasp songs right away.
Adam Hay is a freelance drummer/teacher with extensive experience performing over 2000 shows across Canada and the US with artists like multi-platinum selling Chantal Kreviazuk (2x Juno winner for Sony), multi diamond (million) selling Raine Maida (1st Warner), Sarah Slean Mercury/Juno nominated Royal Wood (6x Juno Winner), Filipino Divas such as KC Concepcion (1x Sony). Adam also studied under some of Canada’s finest musicians at Humber College.
Getting Started
The initial drum lesson usually entails a thorough assessment of both your student’s ability to keep a beat and hand technique. You might ask them to play single strokes on a snare drum at a moderate tempo while listening closely for any technical issues which need attention; these may include their index finger ‘pointing’ along the stick or overly tight gripping (also known as death gripping).
Give them some sticks, then demonstrate how to hold one with an open palm while allowing their ring and pinky fingers to gently curve around it. Most beginner drummers make these errors which lead to wrist fatigue and reduced control.
Continue to teach the basic quarter-note rock beat, counting out loud with them while using different surfaces for both hands. Stomp your foot on beats two and four to build coordination; initially this may be difficult to understand but will eventually come together with practice.
Choosing a Style
Picking out your style of music is ultimately up to you, though your teacher should provide some guidance regarding styles and genres they specialize in. Your decision will depend on factors like prior musical experience, desired genre and work commitment – as well as any potential limitations or preferences your teacher might have in mind.
Your first lesson may involve your tutor providing an introduction to all the various drums and cymbals, their names, how they sound, their function, as well as reviewing some fundamental hand and foot techniques on a drum set.
Your tutor may also teach you the rudiments of music as these serve as the cornerstone for all other elements. Contrary to popular belief, however, reading music isn’t essential in order to play drums; numerous professional and legendary drummers learned by listening and “feeling” rhythm. Learning this can speed up progress more rapidly but reading music remains invaluable if your goal is professionalization as a drummer.
Learning the Basics
With percussion instruments such as drums, teachers begin teaching students basic instructions in posture and holding the sticks. This provides beginners with a strong foundation upon which they can build.
Most instructors work closely with their student to identify musical goals. This could range from learning an instrument in general or learning a particular song individually; either way, this information helps their instructor tailor lessons specifically tailored towards meeting each student’s needs.
After this initial stage is completed, an instructor may introduce basic rhythms. Most commonly they will begin with quarter note rock beats before progressing onto snare and bass drum beats. At this time it may also be helpful to count out loud while using either hand to play hi-hat beats with right hand on right hi-hat beat and adding left on beat 1 and 4, with right foot stomping on beats 2 & 3. When students have these fundamental beats down they are ready for step two of learning drumming: step 3.
