So You Want To Play Drums?
Learning to play the drums for beginners
Our lessons are perfect for anyone eager to get involved in playing drums and have loads of fun in the process. The exercises at the Belfast Drum Academy have been developed over the last eight years or so. During this time we have taught over six hundred drum students, so one thing is for sure, they have been strenuously ‘road tested’ and we are confident that it is one of the most effective approaches to learning drums that you will find anywhere. As well as this, we know that you will find working through the various lessons fun and rewarding.
PRICE: £15 for 30mins
How The Course Works
So what makes our course different? Well firstly, you don’t need any prior knowledge to get started. Because everything is based on a few simple counting-systems, if you can count to ‘four’ then you’re ready to learn. Secondly, the course is made up of lots of short, manageable lessons that focus on clearly defined and attainable goals. Plus, all of the information is presented in a variety of different ways, each one reinforcing the others, to appeal to a range of learning styles.
Standard Musical Notation
Don’t panic! Many students often regard the issue of reading music as being somewhat intimidating or insurmountable. With this course that won’t be a problem because, as everything relates to a few very simple counting systems, with just a little effort you’ll confidently understand the basics of reading in no time. And if you decide that reading’s not for you, no problem – the other ways in which the information is presented work perfectly well on their own.
Video Examples
In addition to the notes, your lesson can be supported by a video clip, in which your tutor will demonstrate the relevant example. So you not only get to hear, but also see, how each example should be played. To make each video example relate to the lesson notes more easily, you can always hear the count too. Of course, you can pause and replay it as many times as you want to ensure that you completely understand how each exercise should be played.
Playing To Music
At the end of each section, you’ll get the chance to apply what you’ve learned to actual music. All you have to do is download the accompanying play-a-long track. They start simple – the first few are just eight or twelve bar loops – so you don’t have to spend any time learning tunes. All you have to do is press play and jam along. And if you need any help, we will supply accompanying notes that offer suggestions about what you could play.
How to Read Drum Lesson Sheet Music
Want to be able to play drum beats and fills from standard drum notation? You need to learn the art of reading sheet music. Let’s start by reviewing the different symbols used to indicate the various elements of the drum set.
Understanding Time & Basic Counting
In order to properly play any drum beat, fill, or rudiment – you must first understand the basics of counting time. This is the primary job of every drummer, and so it absolutely must be taken seriously. In your lessons, we will be learning 4/4 time. Focus on understanding how the beats should be counted, and how subdivisions relate to each other.
You can tap the timing out on a single drum, and just be sure you count out loud as you do. This will become an important part of learning new beats, and more sophisticated subdivisions in the future.