How to Find Your Ideal Drum Teacher

How to Find Your Ideal Drum Teacher Finding the Right Teacher to Learn Drums ChaptersImportant Things to Consider When Choosing a Drum TeacherMusic Schools vs. Private Drum Teachers for Beginner Drum LessonsWhere Can You Find a Drum Teacher Near You?Ever find yourself tapping your foot in synch with the rhythm of a song? Are the drum solos in rock bands and traditional music your favourite part? Are you burning to know what a paradiddle is, how to play a flam and whether triplets have anything to do with pregnancy?Who’re you gonna call about ghost notes? Should you give polyrhythm a cracker?It sounds like you’re in the grip of drum fever - and in need of answers. The best way to get them is to take drums lessons with a qualified teacher. But how can you find someone to teach you drum rudiments?hand drummingA first drum rudiment to get you hookedYou should also take advantage of the first class to ask the teacher about how they structure their lessons. Are they more theory-oriented? Do they demonstrate drum beats in a way that you can follow at your skill level? Will you be learning drum notation or drum tabs? Will you be getting drum songs to practice with, or just exercises? Will you have to buy your own drums, drumsticks and metronome or do they have drum equipment you can borrow until you are certain your future lies with percussion instruments?All these questions will help you decide if this drum teacher is the one for you.Music Schools vs. Private Drum Teachers for Beginner Drum LessonsOf course, it’s not just the person of the teacher, it’s the support he or she can offer as well. To learn how to play the drums, you have two basic options:A drum school or music schoolA private drum tutorAdvantages and disadvantages of a music schoolMusic schools generally offer two types of lessons:Group lessons, usually at the beginner levelPrivate lessons at the school with one of the school teachersHere are some of the advantages of taking drum instruction at a school:A music school will often have several drum teachers on staff. So if for some reason your drum lessons are cancelled for several weeks - holidays, illness or family emergency - you might be able to continue your course with another teacher.A music school often has their own drum kits. So if you are still unsure if you want to commit to drumming lessons, you can work on the school set until you get your own. Or if your hi-hat stand or ride cymbal is damaged, you can borrow one from the school for practice until you replace your own.Another plus for beginners and intermediate-level students is the availability of practice rooms. Playing drums is a loud passion that the neighbours don’t always appreciate. Having practice rooms you can use will help your motivation and decrease your guilt.Schools often give recitals, so you can practise performing in front of an audience.The cons are the fact that the teachers there will have to schedule around a lot of students as well as the guitar teacher and violin lessons all needing the instruction and practice r ooms. Depending on their structure, music schools might have specific hours set aside for you that you can’t really deviate from. They lack flexibility and teachers might be forced to adhere to a certain teaching plan.Group drum lessons bring you and other drum afficionados together. Photo credit: thelearningcurvedotca on VisualHuntIf you are taking group drum classes there will be the added inconvenience that the teacher will not be able to focus entirely on you, though being with other musicians passionate about percussion has its own advantages.Of course, if you want a degree in drumming you will have to attend a college of music and complete the course to get your bachelor of music.Private tutoringThe advantage of a private tutor is one-on-one instruction. Your tutor can tailor it to your needs and skill. He or she will be there to motivate you every step of the way and will be able to adapt to your schedule and availability. This means that if your work week is different ever y time, you won’t be tied down to a single time slot. And if you have to cancel, you can make up the lesson another time.There are two ways drum lessons with private tutors can be set up: you go to their house or they come to yours.If you are just starting out, chances are you will be going to their house and using their drum kit; though if you are learning a portable percussion instrument such as the bodhran or bongos, they might bring them with them along for your first music lessons. Once you have graduated to an intermediate or advanced level, they will probably come to your house so you can use your own drums.Find out what type of equipment you need for playing the drums...One-to-one drum lessons will let you progress faster. Photo credit: vanja b. on Visualhunt.comWhere Can You Find a Drum Teacher Near You?Googling local music schools is easy, but how can you find a private drum instructor for drum lessons near me?One solution, of course, is Superprof. Here on the site, we h ave a wide selection of percussion instructors in various types of drums. Some even offer online lessons via webcam if you should happen to live in a drum-free zone. Many offer the first lesson for free.On Superprof, you can read the instructor's full profile, including his studies and experience, before contacting him or her. You’ll know if they are straight out of school or have worked as a percussionist in an orchestra or band. Testimonials will tell you what other students think of that teacher and help you make your choice.The level of experience will, of course, affect the price of the drum lesson.Other portals for finding drum teachers are:DrumteachersDrummingteacherAnother possibility is to go over to a local music college and look at their corkboard or put up a flyer yourself advertising for a teacher.While music students don’t have a lot of experience, they have the advantage of still studying themselves, so they have a better understanding of the learning process and the frustration inherent in it. They might be better motivated to teach you drum fills and the rudiments of tuning your instruments than someone who has been doing it for over twenty years.Now learn all you need to know before taking drum lessons...