Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hello all: Can anyone share what the best place is to learn to play 
drums? What books or videos are a good starting place or what can you 
share about the "how to get started" Thanks to all for the help.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "dcnlarry342003" <Dcnlarry@e...> 
wrote:
> Hello all: Can anyone share what the best place is to learn to play 
> drums? What books or videos are a good starting place or what can 
you 
> share about the "how to get started" Thanks to all for the help.

I don't mean to be facetious, but you could drop by Perry's barn. 
It's shaping up as THE place for drum instruction. 

I'm not sure that the best place for everyone exists. The tried and 
true Hal Leonard series of books and CDs might be a decent 
introduction to basic drumming techniques. I don't know whether you 
have a natural affinity for drumming or whether you're coming at it 
from out of the blue. The web has lots of drum-education sites; 
our "Links" section lists a few possibilities in the "Learning to 
Drum" file. Self-education works, to a point, for some people, but 
certainly not for everyone. If you want to learn rudiments, chart 
reading, time signatures, etc., you'll eventually have to get formal 
instruction of some sort. 

It's not out of the question for someone to make enormous progress 
alone--say, by watching, listening to, and playing along with the 
music of your favorite drummers assiduously--but it usually takes 
some sort of previous musical foundation. I am largely self-taught, 
but I was a trombone player for years before I began drumming. My 
father had been a big-band and Dixieland drummer. Even though he and 
I didn't share musical priorities, I definitely aquired a nebulous 
legacy from him. I had a feel for the instrument the first time that 
I sat down at it, even though I had an enormous amount to learn (and 
still do). 

If you share what is bringing you to drums with the rest of our 
members, I'll bet many of them would be happy to give you the benefit 
of their experience.

Ed

I reckon the best place to learn to play drums is with an 
experienced drumming teacher - not from a book.  There are a few 
things such as technique and stick control that I never learnt from 
books.  I didn't really play well until I saw a particular teacher 
just five years ago.  I couldn't get up much speed around the kit 
and couldn't work out why, because I thought I had followed 
everything I read in the "learn drumming" and "stick control 
rudiments" books.  He saw right away what I was doing wrong, which 
was all about holding and moving the sticks correctly.  It didn't 
take many more lessons before I was on my way!  In my opinion, it 
doesn't make any difference whether you are playing an acoustic kit 
or e-drums.  Unless you want painful RSI of the arms and wrists, 
which can easily result from poor technique, there is nothing to 
beat professional tuition.

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "dcnlarry342003" <Dcnlarry@e...> 
wrote:
> Hello all: Can anyone share what the best place is to learn to 
play 
> drums? What books or videos are a good starting place or what can 
you 
> share about the "how to get started" Thanks to all for the help.

Advice is worth what you pay for it- usually- but not here. This is a good
free hook-up.
I strongly suggest you concentrate on the snare, proper grip, and the
rudiments. Most any starting out book will get that happening for you, but
some teaching is the best way to be sure your grip is correct. The only way
I progressed as a kid was the structure of a weekly lesson which forced me
to prepare and made reading and rudiment playing come naturally.
I counsel patience and use of the click track. The click will turn you into
a rock which will make you invaluable playing with a bunch of guitarists who
can't count. The learning curve is characterized by rapid progress followed
by a plateau (or even slight decline). Returning to drumming after many
years away, I thought all my speed was lost. (I am one of the old-guy
drummers here-but not authorized to use the OGD trademark) I concentrated on
playing smarter rather than faster. The other day I was playing with some
friends and discovered that I was playing darned fast without the muscle
cramping that used to occur. Moments like that are precious and encouraging,
but they only come with time.
The idea is to enjoy yourself.

Creighton

-----Original Message-----
From: emf [mailto:liberatusvirus@...]
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 4:45 PM
To: DTXpress@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [DTXpress] Re: Where to start


--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "dcnlarry342003" <Dcnlarry@e...>
wrote:
> Hello all: Can anyone share what the best place is to learn to play
> drums? What books or videos are a good starting place or what can
you
> share about the "how to get started" Thanks to all for the help.

I don't mean to be facetious, but you could drop by Perry's barn.
It's shaping up as THE place for drum instruction.

I'm not sure that the best place for everyone exists. The tried and
true Hal Leonard series of books and CDs might be a decent
introduction to basic drumming techniques. I don't know whether you
have a natural affinity for drumming or whether you're coming at it
from out of the blue. The web has lots of drum-education sites;
our "Links" section lists a few possibilities in the "Learning to
Drum" file. Self-education works, to a point, for some people, but
certainly not for everyone. If you want to learn rudiments, chart
reading, time signatures, etc., you'll eventually have to get formal
instruction of some sort.

It's not out of the question for someone to make enormous progress
alone--say, by watching, listening to, and playing along with the
music of your favorite drummers assiduously--but it usually takes
some sort of previous musical foundation. I am largely self-taught,
but I was a trombone player for years before I began drumming. My
father had been a big-band and Dixieland drummer. Even though he and
I didn't share musical priorities, I definitely aquired a nebulous
legacy from him. I had a feel for the instrument the first time that
I sat down at it, even though I had an enormous amount to learn (and
still do).

If you share what is bringing you to drums with the rest of our
members, I'll bet many of them would be happy to give you the benefit
of their experience.

Ed


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