Chapters
What is the best way to learn a new musical instrument?
This could be watching someone use the instrument in their performance, or simply getting used to the sound of the instrument being played. However, I believe we can agree that playing an instrument every day is one of the quickest ways to learn it.
The same goes with learning drums, but how should you start if you've never played the drums before? Fear not, we'll be exploring some popular methods for learning the drums, even if you are just a novice at percussion.
Learning drums online with tutorials
If you ever thought about learning drums online, then this is probably the learning method that best suits you. You can find drum tutorials, advice from famous percussionists, drum sheet music and step-by-step drum lessons on the Internet, often for free.
You can gain the benefits of learning drums when you watch drum tutorials online, especially the ones available on YouTube. Not only is most of the content free on these YouTube channels listed below, the drummers are also dedicated to teaching beginner learners and are ready to help you pick up all the drum essentials. You can also pick up on interesting drum facts through these YouTube channels.
180 Drums
This may not be the most popular drum channel on YouTube, but we're recommending it for good reason.
Unlike most drumming channels, 180 Drums invites different drummers on the channel: you can learn about fast drum drills, bass drum secrets, stick tricks and more from percussionists of distinct backgrounds! You guessed it: from funk to hip-hop, and R&B to Motown, you can pick up many genres of drumming from this channel alone.
Here are some drum lessons you can expect from the channel:
- Free beginner lessons, which are meant for complete beginners looking to polish basics such as their coordination, drum set-up and understanding of the drums
- Drum techniques, including foot technique, drum fills and single pedal techniques
- Master lessons for those who want to play faster and groove deeper
The channel also seeks to inspire those who are learning drums through the guidance of drum professionals while making one's drum learning journey a fun and enjoyable one. You should start with their Free Beginner Lessons series if you are learning drums for beginners.
Drum Beats Online
This is the channel to visit if you want to become a better drummer.
Find drum lessons for beginners and aspiring drummers that cover topics such as how to get better at the drums, easy steps to start playing the drums, how to quickly build kick speed and drum beats you need to know as an intermediate drummer. You'll have over a hundred videos to learn from!
In the series called "The Drum Life", you can also learn about how drum covers are made, as well as how drummers prepare for shows and performances. If you've ever wondered what it's like to go on tour as a drummer or how music videos are made to include drummers, you'll really enjoy this series.
The best thing about this learning method is that online drum tutorials can be accessed at any time of the day.
Through YouTube tutorials, you can already pick up the benefits of learning drums because you can learn more about drum knowledge from several channels than if you were to rely on a one-to-one lesson. If you can build your drumming skills through these tutorials, you will surely improve as a percussionist.
If you're in West Malaysia though, you may want to check out the best drum tutors in Selangor.
Learning drums for beginners with a mentor
You may think that a mentor should be someone who is well-known in the world of drums or has studied drums for a long time. While it is true that such percussionists are likely well-equipped to help you learn drums, it may be expensive to have someone of that status to guide you even if it's just learning drums for beginners.
Have you thought about learning drums from a friend?
You may already know a friend, family member, coursemate or colleague who can play the drums. If you are open to having someone you know to mentor you on the drums, then it's time to reach out to this person. Not sure who you can talk to? Try asking the people around you if they know of anyone who plays the drums and would be willing to teach a rookie learner.
Another option would be to put up a post or story on your socials (think Facebook or Instagram) to let others know you are looking for a drum teacher. You could have fantastic drum classes in KL.
Now then, let's talk about cost.
Obviously, learning drums from someone you know is going to cost you a lot less than taking a drum lesson with a professional instructor. In fact, your friend may even offer to teach you for free! Still, if you would like to compensate your kind acquaintance for their time and effort put into teaching you the drums, you can consider offering them help for free.
For instance, you could offer to cook for your friend or babysit on the days they need to head out.
Do keep in mind that if your mentor is not professionally trained in the drums, you may not be able to learn everything there is to know about the drums or even catch up on all the essential notes and beats. As your mentor is not an official drum instructor, you may need other resources for learning the drums.
Either way, you won't have the break the bank if you decide to pursue learning drums online with your mentor. Don't be surprised that you'll pick up practical drum-playing skills and learn how to find your own rhythm and style.
Learning drums with a professional
While the above methods are all fantastic ways of learning drums for beginners, it can be difficult to know whether you are truly improving as a drummer, especially if you are not guided with the proper musical knowledge needed to understand how drums work or how to play well. To grow as a drummer, you need the right advice from a trained percussionist.
It's time to take your drumming skills to the next level.
A Superprof drum instructor could be that person for you. Whether it is hitting the tom-toms right or learning how to keep to the 4/4 time signature, you can learn drums from a professional tutor on Superprof. Your tutor can even walk you through the little details on how to improve your playing, or even pick up other popular types of drums and drumming styles.
Did you know that you can sign up for a free trial class for drums on Superprof?
Superprof ensures that the learning needs of students are met with the best tutor possible, so you can take your first lesson for free to see if your drum instructor is right for you. You can rest assured that you're going to find an exceptional catalogue of experienced drum instructors on the Superprof website - simply visit our page and key in "Drums" in the search engine.
Apart from learning drums from a professional, you can even sign up for student packages to attend classes at a discounted price. You can access this information and more by signing up for a Superprof student account - you can also choose to take either in-person or virtual drum classes. Looks like you can reap the benefits of learning drums if you choose this method of picking up the instrument!
The best method for learning drums
The best ways to learn drums are only going to be fruitful if you can apply further ways to maximise each method of learning. With a little more effort, you can gain the advantages of becoming a drummer.
Learning drums to become a master at the instrument will require time and energy, however, these tips below are going to be of help if you want to excel at the drums:
Take note of your drum lesson
At your drum lesson, you are bound to learn something new about the drums or pick up a new trick. Do make notes either in your book or digitally on your device: this will encourage your brain to remember that new information, while also providing you with a reference if you ever need a revision session.
Practise what you've learnt
Video tutorials are only going to help if you apply what you've learned to a real drum set. Set aside some savings to purchase a drum set and practise the skill you picked up from the videos.
Keep in touch with professionals
Remember those instructors you've met at the drum workshops? Keep in touch with their socials, or if you're in luck, their emails so that you can stay informed of when they are conducting their next workshop, and potentially reach out to them as a mentor!
Make drumming a part of your life
Incorporating drum practice into your routine is important! Practice at a regular time every day, even if it is just for ten minutes. After you're done practising, do reflect on which areas you would like to improve on.
At the end of the day, the choice of how you want to learn drums is yours. Whether it's joining a drum workshop, learning from a drum instructor, or asking a close friend to teach you, we are confident that your journey as a drummer has only just begun.
The platform that connects tutors and students
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating.
Loading...
