Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "Vernon Graner" <vern@t...> wrote:
> This train of thought seems to imply that "edrums" are not "real" 
drums
> and are some form of "lessor" stand-in for people who cannot use the
> "real" thing. Is this the general consensus? That is, if various
> obsticles (noise, storage space, etc.) were removed, we'd all have
> acoustic sets?

Vern raises an interesting point. On the one hand, electronic and 
acoustic "drums" have a family resemblance that makes the latter a 
convenient double for the former in many situations. And we often 
treat electronic drumkits as more versatile versions of acoustic ones
--that is, embodying hundreds of sonic possibilities as opposed to 
just a few--with certain tradeoffs. On the other hand, electronics 
are instruments in their own right, with their own quirks and 
strengths (their weaknesses involve their inability to duplicate the 
characteristics of acoustics or the electronic capabilities of 
computer programs or MIDI keyboards). 

To me, if someone wants to learn traditional drums, electronic drums 
are not a perfect substitute. But they are a viable substitute under 
certain conditions--that is, if acoustics are not convenient, 
affordable, etc. In that case, as I said before, parallel instruction 
whenever possible can help to fill in the gaps and guard against the 
development of a lopsided technique. I do think that the relationship 
between electronics and acoustics, however, is natural enough to 
justify teaching them in tandem without doing any injustice to 
either. The mere fact that someone has learned to play an acoustic 
snare drum in the school band does not automatically qualify him/her 
to play timpani in the philharmonic, but it does provide a leg up on 
doing so. Anyone who's learned to play acoustic drums will be able to 
do something credible on electronics (aside from the electronics 
learning curve) immediately. By the same token, someone who's played 
only on a gum-rubber kit will be able to transfer some of their 
skills to an acoustic, though probably with a little more practice. 
I'd always recommend acoustic, or parallel, instruction first. In 
this day and age, you really can't claim to be a percussionist if you 
have no experience on at least something that answers to a 
traditional drum. Despite how far electronics have come, claiming to 
be a drummer with only an electonics background is a little like 
claiming to be a cook with only a knowledge of garnishes. No? 
Differing views are more than welcome.

Ed