A practical guide to practicing drums

A practical guide to practicing Drums

This is a repost from DRUM Magazine

1. Prepare Your Practice Space. The sound of drumming isn’t conducive to fostering good relations with your neighbors, so unless you plan on moving in the near future, it’s a good idea to do everything you can to reduce the noise level in your practice studio.

Some solutions are strikingly easy. You can invest a couple hundred bucks in a nice set of practice pads that will considerably cut the volume of your stick hits, or plunk down a couple (or few) thousand dollars on the ultimate practice pad kit — an electronic drum set, which will allow you to play while wearing headphones and listening to pristine digital drum sounds.

But let’s admit it: Practice pads don’t offer the instant gratification you get from hearing your drums, and an electronic kit is out of the question for beginners on a limited budget. So your next best bet is to be a good citizen, soundproof your space, and work with your neighbors.

The first thing to do is find a room in your house that will accomplish several goals. It needs to be big enough to accommodate your drum set and preferably somewhat removed from the rest of the house. Very often this criteria leads to the garage, although it could also be a spare bedroom or basement. Your next hurdle is to soundproof it as best as you can. Take it from me — egg cartons nailed to the wall are pretty ineffectual (although they’re probably better than nothing). A better bet is to hang heavy curtains against the walls, although the best alternative is to pick up some of the soundproofing products that are on the market today, such as Sorber acoustic tile that can be affixed to walls and acrylic Clearsonic panels that surround your kit and effectively contain the sound.

You will need a few more items to get your practice space up and running — don’t worry, though, the big expenses are behind you. The ability to play with a rock solid tempo is more important than ever in the increasingly competitive drumming field, so it’s a good idea to have a metronome and actually use it to practice your studies. Keep in mind that you don’t have to practice everything to a click, but you should work on your time every day. It’s also a good idea to invest in a music stand so that you can easily work on your lessons. And even if you don’t take drumming lessons, it’s a good idea to buy a couple basic drum method books to help you develop your vocabulary.

Now it’s time to get your nerve up and go talk to your neighbors. Tell them that you plan to practice drums a certain number of times per week at a certain time of day, so that there is some degree of predictability. Be open to negotiations in order to accommodate their needs and schedules. The idea is to communicate openly and to avoid angry confrontations at all costs.

2. Set A Schedule. It doesn’t matter whether you’re practicing drums or lifting weights — your ability to show progress depends entirely on building muscle memory. And the surest way to do that is to set a practice schedule and stick to it religiously. Keep in mind that 30 minutes a day will show results more quickly than three hours once a week. An hour a day is even better, but don’t set unrealistic goals. That can be a recipe for disappointment, which can lead to a total meltdown of your practice time.

It’s best if you can practice a little every day, but we know that it can be hard to slavishly stick to a daily schedule for much of anything besides eating and sleeping, so try to put in a minimum of five good practice sessions per week.

3. Plan Ahead. Think of your practice sessions as stepping stones that lead to your drumming goals. Each stone represents a small step forward and should in itself accomplish a small goal. So at some point during the week, perhaps on Sunday, you need to set small goals that you want to accomplish during the week.

You know better than anyone what aspect of your drumming needs the most work, so plan to address it in your practice time. Let’s say your hands are more advanced than your feet. So create a schedule that gives greater emphasis to your feet during the upcoming week. Perhaps you can dedicate two out of five sessions to working exclusively on your feet. Or alternatively, plan to spend more time every day working on foot techniques.

Create a routine that you follow every time your sit down behind the drums — for example, five minutes of stretching and easy warm-ups (such as medium-tempo quarter-notes on the snare drum), 15 minutes of lesson practice, culminating with ten minutes of free playing where you get to do anything you feel like. This way you give your practice time a predictable shape that slowly builds up in intensity and fun. It’s also a good idea to keep a journal so that you can look back on your past practice goals, see what worked best, and plan where you want to take your future practice sessions.

4. Develop Your Ears. Not all lessons are learned while sitting at the drums. Some of your most memorable ones will occur while watching other drummers to learn their techniques and study their styles. Go to shows by some of your favorite bands and try to snag a seat that gives you a good view of the drummer — bring binoculars if you need to.

Buy DVDs and videos by drummers you admire. There are many choices on the market, and most offer very high-quality productions brimming with valuable information. Set up a television and DVD player in your practice room and play along. If that is unfeasible, do what other drummers have done for generations, and play along to your favorite albums while wearing headphones. It’s a great way to challenge your chops while having a lot of fun.

5. Learn From Everyone. Lessons aren’t for nerds. Plenty of world famous drummers continue to take lessons from noted teachers and peers in order to keep pushing their technique farther. So if you don’t find your current drum teacher to be inspirational, shop around for a new one that might stimulate your creativity. Seek knowledge however you can. Periodically buy new drum method books and DVDs, study different drumming styles that go beyond your primary interests, and ask the sale clerk at your local drum shop questions about gear. Never turn back. Keep moving forward. And reach for the stars.

Can I learn Drums from watching videos?

Can I learn Drums from watching videos?

Drum LessonsThe beat of the drum is the heart in many songs. To be the one keeping that beat is something many people aspire to become. Learning the necessary skills, from beginner to expert, means more than watching a few online videos. Truly understanding what it takes to be a competent drummer requires informative, personal lessons that can boost a person up and far above their original goal. If you are in the Orange County area, you can find someone who knows how to help and can provide the type of teaching you need to play like a pro.Watching videos on YouTube does not give you the same type of learning experience that you get from an actual instructor. While many of those videos provide information and techniques, that is all you are going to have. Beyond that, you are all alone. If you were to search for even more videos, you might stumble upon quite a few that are less than helpful. Even if you simply want beginner drum lessons, you are going to have a difficult time finding something worth watching. You also have to consider the fact that these people cannot help you anymore than they already have. If you need extra information on something specific, you have no one to ask directly. This could be frustrating and hinder your efforts to learn the drums.If you want to learn to play drums, you need someone who can give you a large amount of information and continue do so over time. The beginner lessons available from actual instructors give you the chance to start strong as a drummer. You have a beginning that gives you a better start for your musical goals. This is because an instructor can give you an extensive amount of information and help you when you are stuck. If you have a problem or question, they are there to help. That type of quick, direct assistance can help you get over any speed bumps in the road and make it possible to learn in a way that is comfortable and suitable to your individual needs.Having the instructor be local helps you to take control of your learning and have help whenever it is needed. You are not waiting for the release of a new video or any updated information online. If you have a problem, you can go to them that day and speak to your instructor directly. In the Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, and Newport Beach area, you have several talented and knowledgeable instructors available to teach you what you need to know.Drum lessons are key if you want to learn how to play properly. Going online and viewing a few videos might give you some information, but it is nowhere near as helpful as an actual instructor is. These are individuals who can speak to you one on one and give you the help you need. If you are struggling or want to know anything extra, you will have someone right there to ask. They make it possible to learn to play drums locally and in a way that is best suited to your exact needs.

Taking guitar lessons in person versus on line

Taking Guitar Lessons in Person

Versus On Line

The Music Factory School of Music

Taking Guitar Lessons in Person Versus Online

With the guitar, you can play anything from simple melodies to the more complex pieces of music that require a large amount of skill. To be able to play the guitar, though, you have to start with some lessons. For guitar lessons in Orange County, you have the option of learning either online or in person.Choosing between online and in person learning is a difficult decision for many. While both have their advantages, they each have their distinct disadvantages, too. The Music Factory, which offers lessons in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach , can help you to make the best choice for you.Learning in person is often the choice many people make. This gives you the chance to see how it is done right in front of you and have actual contact with the instructor. You can talk directly to them and figure out what to do right away. This is also a more reliable option because of the amount of trusted individuals available. Places like The Music Factory, which can help people in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, give you the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of skilled musicians, people who know what you need.There are some downsides to this, though. The biggest is that you actually have to go to the place to learn. This might be difficult for those people without transportation or any way to move around the city. Depending on where the guitar lessons in Orange County are, this might mean missing out on learning completely, something you do not want to do if you want to know how to play.For online courses, you will find quite a bit that has it standing out. You can learn the same things right from your own home and on your own time, giving you the ability to fit it into your personal schedule. This makes learning easier and more convenient for everyone.Just like everything else out there, you are going to see some negative points to this. You are not always going to have access to your instructor so quite a bit of this might depend on you. While you can contact them through email, it is not always a certain bet that they will be there to respond.Whichever you choose, know where you are going to learn. The Music Factory is a great place to go for those people in the Huntington Beach or Newport Beach area because it offers several skilled musicians who can teach you your instrument. There is also the option of learning through online courses with this business, giving people the options they need.When you make the decision that is right for you, you can benefit in far greater ways than you thought you could. Figuring out which type of class fits your life and how you learn will open you up to more possibilities and larger growth. With the options for guitar lessons in Orange County, it is possible to find something that is right for you. In the end, there will be fewer issues and a more skilled, happier you.

How to Record Drums- The Drum Tuning Guru Episode #9

The Drum Tuning Guru Episode #9

An interview with drummer and recording engineer 

Mike Jimenez

The Drum Tuning Guru Episode #8 with Pro Drum Tech Chris Arredondo

The Drum Tuning Guru Episode #8

Interview with Chris Arredondo

Professional drum tech and drummer for the Briggs

The Benefits of playing music-for adults and kids

                                     Benefits of playing music—for adults and kids

The Music Factory School Of Music

www.themusicfactoryoc.com

We’ve all heard there are many reasons people should learn to play music. Many say it helps with creativity, math, concentration and the list goes on. But are these just myths? 

Early this year, a new study released from Northwestern University proved that the lifelong playing of musical instruments has a positive impact on the brain. The study was published in the Chicago Tribune, and essentially shows that playing an instrument helps tune the brain. 

"A musician has to be constantly picking out sounds from others. Just as we lift weights to build our biceps, playing music makes our nervous systems more efficient,” says Nina Kraus, a neuroscientist at Northwestern and principal investigator of its Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory.

The study included 87 participants — younger (18 to 32) and older (45 to 65), musicians and nonmusicians. The musicians were not all professional, but they played their instruments at least three times a week into adulthood.

And what about the effects for kids? The same researchers found that just one to five years of experience playing music as a child was associated with an improved cognitive ability in processing complex sounds as a young adult. (source: Smithsonianmag.com)

“We help address a question on every parent’s mind: ‘Will my child benefit if she plays music for a short while but then quits training?’” says Nina Kraus, the study’s co-author. “Based on what we already know about the ways that music helps shape the brain, the study suggests that short-term music lessons may enhance lifelong listening and learning.

The study split participants up into three groups—those with no musical instruction, those with one to five years of instruction and those with six to 11 years of instruction. The results were striking. Musicians with more than six years experience showed the greatest mental response to the tones, but those with one to five years still did better than those with none.

The researchers say that this mental response indicates the ability to pull out the lowest frequency in a complex sound, and their previous work has shown this ability is crucial for both speech and music perception, especially in noisy environments. Thus, playing music for just a few years as a child seems to be linked with better listening skills much later on.

So play on, and benefit for life. 

Links:

Source link: Chicago Tribune 

(link to: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-03-28/news/ct-x-music-training-study-20120328_1_musical-instruments-musical-training-musical-education

 Source: Smithsonianmag.com 

(link to: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2012/08/playing-music-as-a-child-leads-to-better-listening-as-an-adult/ )

Do I need to read music to play drums?

Do I need to read Music to play Drums?

Eric Berringer

Music Factory drum instructor

There are the age old questions "Do I need to learn how to read music in order to play drums?" "Are drum lessons right for me?" Technically, I cannot answer that because I am not you, but…. here are some of my thoughts.

Do I believe that pursuing an understanding above and beyond just copying what you hear or see can make you an outstanding musician/drummer? Absolutely!! There is obviously value in learning by ear thru songs and videos, and anyone who tells you otherwise is misleading you. In the same way, you are doing yourself a disservice by avoiding, what some consider, "complex theory and rhythms" because you or someone else may have deemed them too difficult or mundane. As a drum instructor, I do not say this out of fear of loosing students, but out of a fear of stifling creativity that has not been given the opportunity to surface. 

Creativity is the driving force behind music and is what motivates an instrumentalist in the first place. Pursuing the skills to be better at your instrument is all part of the creative process. No one can claim whether or not someones creativity is valid, that is the opposite of what musical collaboration is all about. But when we choose to ignore certain parts of what we know can make us better, we weaken our ability to be creative. 

We will not always have resources to look to when we are performing, practicing, collaborating, etc., and that is why possessing a knowledge of drumming from the bottom up is so important. Surprises happen in musical situations outside of forgetting your drum throne or your stick bag on a gig. Sometimes they come in the form of a time or feel change, volume restriction, form change, or song change, some of which could involve playing to backing tracks, reading charts, correcting charts, drastically changing your dynamics, or taking notes ALL ON THE FLY!! You may not see yourself in situations like this, but when they happen you will probably be wishing you had given them some thought.

This IS NOT to say that being "book smart" is a prerequisite for drumming or being in a band. This IS saying that if you want to reach the next level in your ability to play, write, understand, contribute, and function in a musical setting… equip yourself.