Taking classes at a music school is an excellent idea that you should consider if you have the opportunity to do it. With a complete education in music, you will be taught to use a wide variety of instruments and have a working knowledge of how they work. You will also have a better idea of how bands and music groups work together.
This learning experience will be your fountain of knowledge which would give you a real headstart into becoming a professional musician. Especially if you are still young and living at home with your family without a designated place to practise your instrument, taking up drums at school is an excellent idea for a few reasons:
- With the school drum kit and other related equipment provided by the school, you can save up money by not purchasing your own set.
- If you’re lucky, there may be a recording studio at your school and they’ll let you play as much as you want!
- You will have a professional music teacher who can pass provide you with invaluable knowledge and advice.
- If you get good enough, you will have the opportunity to play live events under your institution.
- You also won’t have to disrupt others at home by letting the beats out at school!
Even if you are sure that you want to play the drums or learn to play the drums, there is always power in knowledge. While the other instruments won't replace your drum kits, they will allow you to open up to other musical styles and expand your musical knowledge and culture.
Let’s see what you can gain from learning the drums at a music school.
Why learn the drums in the first place?
You may think that drums are special only when they are played at the forefront of every show. It’s therefore a challenge, really, to conceptualise the subtle yet significant value that drums add to any form of music. I believe Billy Higgins, one of the best-loved American jazz drummers, said it best:
You know the drum was the first instrument besides the human voice.
Think about it: we can prepare the best speech by making use of bombastic vocabulary and extravagant slang, and even adding flowery verbs when we address our audience. Yet without the use of the right pace and tone of voice, a speech isn’t really a speech at all.
When musicians play various instruments in a band or ensemble, they may hope to play at a certain speed or complete a song in a way they think is best. Even the most competent musician may play at a different pace than others or speed up without noticing their fellow musicians. In this case, the musical piece doesn’t sound the way it’s supposed to.
Words hold power when spoken the same way music can only beat where there is rhythm. So you can't have music without rhythm, and the drum, really, is the home of rhythm.
Although this is not their only role, the drummer has the power to bring rhythm to the musical piece by guiding the band like a human metronome from the beginning of the song to the end. It is as if we can say this is the most important role in the band.
Well then, it looks like percussionists deserve more respect!
What are the benefits of learning drums at a music school?
We already know that being able to play a key role in an ensemble is one reason you should learn the drums. But what are some benefits you can attain if you decide to learn how to play the drums at a specialist music school?
Did you know about these positive outcomes?
Learn with the best facilities
If you decide to study at a top music school, you will have access to first-class facilities and use the most technologically-advanced equipment. Practising with the right equipment and drum gear are crucial elements to getting good at the drums.
Meet successful musicians
Often in a specialist music school, the teachers are actually in the industry themselves, so it’s likely that you’ll be taught by musicians and performers who really know their stuff first-hand. You may even meet famous drummers and ask them questions to find out the best routine for you to get into the industry. Speaking of which,...
Kickstart your musical career
… a great music school will integrate career planning and support into its curriculum. As a good school will know the challenges of breaking into the music industry, their administrators are likely equipped with preparing your resume as a star drummer.
On top of that, you may even get the chance to do a study music exchange that could really help your career, especially if it’s in a city that could give you your big break.
Connect with fellow drummers
You will be surrounded by people like you who are interested in music and dedicated to their dreams - what a fantastic opportunity to connect with musicians! If you’ve ever wanted to form a band, it will be very easy to do so at a school like this. Plus, you can have band practice in your school’s studio. In that case, you are learning the drums for free!
Remember that you will be expected to showcase your talent through events and performances, and also given opportunities that you would never get in a mainstream school - these are strong reasons to get into a music school.
Amazing drummers can grow out of attending an educational facility that specialises and nurtures the talent of a drummer. You too can help that talent grow, break into the music industry and have a long and successful career holding your drumsticks. If drumming is your passion, then going to a specialist school is your launch pad. Take your first step.
Hang on… what is a specialist music school?
Usually, music lessons are not compulsory in schools, and even if you have an interest in music you may not get onto the courses already provided by the school. Some schools do offer music lessons for a limited time every week, but these may not be trained teachers who know how to play the drums professionally.
But if that isn't an option in your school, it means that you will have to take additional courses outside of school. In Malaysia, this is usually the case for most students and learners who are interested in starting a career in music, such as the drums.
If you want to become a dedicated percussionist, then you might want to seek a specialist music school, which refers to institutions that are focused on the musical development of their students. You are already aware of the benefits of going to a professional music school, and now you can have a small peek into what it could be like to be a full-time musician.
There are lots of great options for music schools in Malaysia which can nurture your inner musician. You should know that taking up music courses works best if you can free up your time to focus on learning the drums or even opt for one-to-one teaching rather than learning in a group classroom environment.
Here are some free online drum lessons if you want to study at home.
What are the top drum schools in Malaysia?
Now that you are serious about your drum lessons, it’s time to find a specialist music or drum school. With an advanced level of drumming such as Grade 7, along with specialist drum instruction, you will be set to take the professional music world by storm.
But one of the most common questions by those playing the drums is, where is actually best to pursue specialist music training for higher education? And it's an important one because with so many good drum teachers out there, and with so many music institutions advertising their qualities and reputation, it's challenging to navigate the field.
So, which ones are the best? And which are the best specifically for learning drums? Most of the prestigious courses will provide you with the advantages mentioned above, so let's talk about what sets the schools apart.
What music schools should you consider for drums?
Firstly, you are going to have to ask yourself what sort of drums you want to play, what styles of music you are interested in, and what sort of music industry you want to engage with. So, if you want to play jazz drums, you'll need to think about which institutions excel in that field. If you want to play classical percussion - or orchestral percussion, or anything that falls beneath the definition of 'percussion instrument' - then you'll need to go elsewhere. Again, if you want the rock/pop/metal side of things, there'll be places for that too.
Once you've narrowed that down, you should think about whether you want your course to include modules on music tech or musical production - as some courses will excel at this. Some drummers won't want this at all.
So, what's best for what?
School of Drums
One of the leading drum schools in the country right now is School of Drums, which is based in Kepong. It's also one of the few specialist music schools dedicated purely to the drums, being set up back in 2014.
They don’t call themselves “The Rhythm Expert” for nothing. Their Contemporary Drummer course covers beginner to advanced-level learners, while learners below the age of 12 can opt for their Junior Drum Course. Develop musicianship skills, technical skills, aural skills and performance skills with any of their qualified professionals.
On top of these, you can obtain the prestigious Rockschool (RSL) drum music qualifications by sitting for their contemporary-graded music exams at School of Drums. You even have the option of learning online if you have a drum kit at home.
Andrew William Drum School
Don’t be fooled by the single drum instructor running this specialist music school. Alongside School of Drums, Andrew William Drum School is up there with the best drum schools in the country. Located in Puchong, this drum school is actually open 7 days a week!
Classes are divided from grade 1 right up to grade 8 and those who want to pursue the drums as a career or master their drumming techniques can be prepared to do a diploma under a reputable institution from which they will receive a qualified certificate.
Apart from professional exams under Rockschool UK, you can also study for grades 1 to 8 and diploma under ABSRM Australia or Trinity College London. Be ready for a syllabus study and learn how to work contemporary songs on the drums.
Even if students wish to play as a band, the school has prepared a student model kit with a well-equipped sound system, amplifiers and mics for everyone’s enjoyment. Great for building a solid foundation in general musicianship and drum performance!
Capen Music Academy
This specialist music school doesn’t offer lessons only to drummers but their world-class facilities and experience in the music industry are things you should look out for in Sri Petaling.
Drum classes are open to persons of all ages and levels, although they recommend that children be at least age 5 before starting any lessons. It is also highly encouraged that students obtain a qualification by taking Rockschool exams alongside their world-class drum syllabus.
Unlike other schools that offer group lessons, Capen Music Academy focuses on one-to-one learning in order to create customised lesson plans. Choose between 30-minute or 1-hour sessions per week, depending on how quickly you want to progress.
They are a pretty cool organisation, having a music retail store stocked with music instruments, books, accessories and parts. So if you’re ever thinking of getting a full drum kit to practise at home, you can easily purchase one at the school.
Dreamworld Music Studio
Look for this music school in Setapak if you want to become a master at the drums. Along with qualified music professionals, lessons are here guaranteed to be both enjoyable and effective.
The programmes offered by Dreamworld Music Studio are designed for learners starting from the age of seven. Depending on your level of learning, your lesson duration will vary (i.e. 30 minutes a week for beginners; 75 minutes a week for advanced students).
At the foundation level, you are expected to learn basic rhythm notes, drum stroking techniques, how to read drum music, and fill-in patterns. Nonetheless, you can take a free trial class at this music school if you’re not sure about the lessons.
That's not all the music schools there are - obviously. Yet, we don't have space to cover them all. What we recommend is that you do a bit of research of your own and see what would be the best fit for you.
You may also want to study music at a normal university - so as to combine your musical qualification with an academic degree. Sunway University, UCSI University, University Malaya and International College of Music (ICOM) are all places with reputable music degrees. You might want to keep the peace and avoid practising in your dorm room, though!
There are also other options if you want to access free sheet music for drums.
What do you need to get into a specialist music school?
The next question becomes, how are you going to get into the music school of your choice?
We are yet to have established schools that provide a comprehensive musical education while still covering the general syllabus required by the education department. So, it’s fairly easy to get into a music school in Malaysia. Simply state your reasons for learning and the music school will get you into an introductory drum course.
Let's assume that you already did learn to play the drums: you have your drum rudiments down, and you are way past the beginner drum level.
What you will need to do is show the admissions people at the music school that this is true. And how do you do that? You may be asked to play the drums, kind of like an audition, while showing proof of some academic requirements if you have any.
Nonetheless, the screening process is usually undertaken by the school and it will be the admissions who will determine which drum level is best suited for you.
How to find the right drum music course
While it is fun to be sitting at your drumkit day in and day out, you have to remember that the road to being one of the best drummers in the world is not about doing what you think you should be doing.
To become a world-class drummer, you really need to open yourself up to becoming an expert in your field. Understanding how music works is a fundamental first step on your road to success.
Yes, it is essential that you learn some history about the drums, but it is more important to learn about all of the drums and know how to play each variety of drum - this could mean not just on your standard drumset but also the 24 Festive Drums, the kompang and the dhol which are representative of our home.
To be able to do this, you need to study a course that encourages creative expression and new innovative concepts within the learning environment. To be a genius percussionist, you must be driven to seek musical knowledge outside of what is going on in your immediate environment. You’re going to need a well-established and supportive institution to achieve this.
You will also have the chance to watch famous drummers perform live.
If that isn’t enough reason already, know that almost many of the most famous drummers have received classical training in how to play the drum. Once they were just like you, holding their drumsticks in their hand and unsure how to play the drums - but with lots of practice and learning how to play, they became successful.
The same is possible for you too if you follow these tips for finding the right music course.
What should you look for in a drum music course?
- The course should be structured to support your development as a musician (academic, practical and technical) and music industry professional.
- It prepares you for your musical career and supports you with possibilities for industrial experience.
- The course is run by expert tutors who have worked in the music industry and can pass on their experience.
- Be given the opportunity to learn and perform at the music school, and also other festivals and shows.
- Access to various styles and instruments to deepen your musical knowledge, such as through technical development, ear training, and musical styling.
- Access to other, useful complimentary courses such as music business skills, online music, teaching music skills, music production and digital design.
Additionally, you should always be able to ask your drum teacher what other drums you can try. Going to a specialist music school should be the best chance for you to learn to use hand drums, experiment with the drumhead and see how the sound changes. So, join a music course that expands your horizons to maximize your skill level and creativity as a percussionist.
Where to find the best private drum tutor
What would help any entry to a specialist music school is to find a teacher that will guide you through the whole process. And if you want to learn to play the drums at school, a private tutor could be a good complement to that too.
Regardless of what you want to do, finding an expert to give you proper drum lessons will help you find your drumming style to be able to play the drums in the way you want to. These days, you can easily take online lessons with a tutor on how to play the drums.
The thing is that it's really quite difficult to pick up a new instrument on your own, and it is even harder to ensure that you are progressing with the right technique. A private tutor can help gear every lesson around you, from the scheduling to the content, to the music genres you’ll be studying - whilst keeping you on track and showing you how to do things right.
Try it - Superprof has over 900 drum tutors from around the world. We aren’t joking when we say the world is in your hands: if you were ever curious about how to play the tabla from Northern India, the Spanish tambores, or the Western African djun-djuns, look out for these drum tutors on Superprof.
If you sign up now, you’ll be able to take your first drum lesson for free, too! Most of our drum tutors respond within the same day, so it’ll be convenient for you to chat with any of our tutors if you have queries about their teaching methodology.
If you want to be a successful musician, you should know that many others share the same dream, so you will need to find a way not only to stand out but be exceptional at your art form. Many people want to be celebrated, yet not many are willing to work hard from the ground up to polish their talent.
Are you ready to rock ‘n’ roll?
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
