The drum is one of the instruments that I find truly fascinating. I love how it creates the perfect texture to accompany any music, or how it creates a bold sound that perfectly captures the drummer’s emotions. I also love how drummers seem to have so much fun while playing this instrument. The quest starts from the beginning of their first day of drum lessons and continues to become a professional performer.
Because of the nature of playing this unique instrument, a lot of people believe that drummers are simply born with this talent. But I’m here to tell you that some professional drummers realized that they were born to play the instrument when they were already in their teens.
With that in mind, I’m sure you have one question in mind: how do you decide if drums is the right instrument for you? Fortunately, this article specifically aims to answer that question.
Curiosity
The first factor that will help you determine if the drum is perfect for you is your curiosity about the instrument.
One thing that drummers have in common is that they began their journey by being curious as to how this instrument produces the sound. They were curious enough to identify the difference between the sound of each drum in the set, and the difference between the two cymbals.
Most drummers also recall that they loved tapping on surfaces whenever they heard music. This may range from tabletops to the back of pans and pots – and that drew them closer to learning more about the drums.
When you have this curiosity, you become interested in learning how to play the drums. This keeps you motivated and helps you stay focused on achieving your dreams of becoming a rockstar drummer one day.
Things You Need To Be Familiar With For Taking Drum Lessons
Passion for Music
Going hand-in-hand with curiosity is the passion for music.
There’s no denying that drums can complete any song, thanks to its accompanying beat and rhythm. This adds the texture into any seemingly boring tune and gives it more feeling – allowing the listeners to drown in the emotions portrayed by the song.
With that said, this means that you must be able to connect with the tune to provide the appropriate beat for it. To do so, you must have that passion for music that will allow you to express what the song wishes to portray.
Admittedly, this is one of the rarest qualities that only true musicians possess at a young age. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that this love for creating music can develop at a later stage in life – so you don’t have to be discouraged if you feel like you’re too old to start learning.
Practice Time
Providing the right beat for the song requires you to be familiar with different tempos, being able to pick up the proper groove, and playing the right fills at the right time. Because of this, you may have to make time and practice regularly daily.
On average, it is advised that you practice for a few hours per day. To break it down for you, you have to spend a few minutes perfecting a single tempo until your wrist becomes familiar with the movement. Once you feel familiar with that movement, then you can increase or decrease the tempo and spend a few minutes on that as well.
Additionally, it is also advised to practice one type of beat for a few minutes before moving into a new beat. This may take a few hours per week as well.
With these in mind, you know that learning to play the drum will take much of your time – especially if you plan to build a career as a drummer. If you have enough time to dedicate to learning how to play this instrument, then there is no doubt that the drums are the right instrument for you.
Consider the Cost
Another factor that you have to look into is the cost of the drum set. High-end drum sets usually cost over a few thousand euros, and that amount is already enough to stop you from considering drum lessons. Fortunately, there are decent beginner-friendly drum kits that are available for only around 300 euros.
But with that said, there’s no denying that drum sets are more expensive than other entry-level instruments. That’s why I think the cost of acquiring this instrument, along with the amount you have to pay for your lessons, is one of the factors that you have to consider before learning how to play the drums.
Body Strength
Playing the drums requires a lot of upper and lower body strength. Aside from being able to move your arms and wrists swiftly to match the harmony, your lower body is always on full alert to make sure that you’re hitting the right bass notes.
With that in mind, there’s no denying that the drums are perfect for those who prefer being active. Not only does it help you improve the overall appeal of the music, but you’re also getting a good full-body exercise from playing the drums.
Loudness
You also have to consider the loudness of the instrument. If you’re planning to buy a drum set so you can learn to play it at home, you have to consider if you’ll be disturbing people while you practice.
For example, this may not be advised if you live in an apartment complex, or a neighborhood with houses built so close to each other.
But I’m not saying that drum isn’t for you if that’s your living situation. It may, however, make practicing harder and more expensive for you, since you have to keep paying for a studio to allow you to practice.
Space and Portability
Finally, there’s no denying that drum sets are incredibly bulky. This means that it would take up a lot of space in your home, and will be hard for you to take from one place to another.
Most full-sized drum kits take up 20 square feet or roughly 2 square meters of floor space. This means that you must have a room that’s big enough to allow you to practice playing the drums comfortably.
And while we’re on that note, you must also understand that this will be the room where you’ll be spending most of your time practicing in. Bear in mind that drum sets aren’t easy to move around, so you have to get used to being in the same room every day. If you don’t mind this minor inconvenience, then I’m sure that the drums are the right instrument for you.
