History and Information
The drum, the most common type of percussion instrument, is one of the oldest instruments. The first drums were made of animal skins stretched over a frame of wood or bone. Today, most are made of a combination of skins, resins, metals, and wood. The most instruction takes place on the drum kit or drum set, which includes the snare, bass, tom-toms, and cymbals. Any form of unpitched percussion that is not included in the set is known as auxiliary percussion. There is an expansive repertoire of music to learn, including classical, blues, pop, rock, jazz, and folk when you learn how to play the drums.
When to Start
Students can start drum lessons as young as age 4, although depending on a student’s dexterity and fine motor skills, some are able to pick it up earlier. Most instructors will incorporate reading music into their lessons, so students should know at least some reading and counting fundamentals.
Getting Drums
There are many brands and models of drum sets available. When students are first starting out, instructors will often recommend a drum pad instead of a full set, as the set is costly and takes up a lot of space. For very young students, it is recommended to rent instruments for two reasons: 1) they will most likely grow out of instruments quickly and 2) they may lose interest (although we hope they don’t!). Most stores will provide repair services for instruments that they rent out. We can give you recommendations for places near you to buy or rent your pad or kit. Please contact us, and be sure to include your location!
Books and Supplies
Your instructor can tell you which books and supplies are appropriate. Most books and many supplies, including drum sticks, are available online. We can recommend stores near you where you can purchase supplies and music for your drums, if you prefer to do so in person. Please contact us, and again, remember to tell us where you live!
**Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. We can help provide you with additional resources.**