Some people know when they're still kids that they want to learn to play the drums. Others seem to end up playing drums in the school band because they're just not interested in any of the other instruments. Some of them look so difficult with all those shiny keys and dozens of notes to learn. Still others start on the drums because it's a less expensive choice-a saxophone costs hundreds of dollars, while a snare drum can be had very cheap, especially if you purchase one used. If you're considering the drums, or your child is considering learning drums as part of the school band, here are some things to consider to see if the drums are a good personality match.
It's true there are no notes to learn, but reading music is still important. Some people think reading music and understanding the notes is too complicated so they opt for the drums. What they might not realize is that you still have to learn the drum notation which is very similar to reading music. You don't just sit there tapping the drum to keep time, but you follow along with your part of the score so there is some musical notation required. Someone who can read music, look at a score and recognize what the other instruments will be playing will have an even easier time playing the drum part-it's always a good idea to learn to read music.
There's more to playing the drums that hitting out 1-2-3-4. While it's true that some pieces require very little else than someone hitting a drum with the beat, most music does offer more variety than that. It can get repetitive most of the time, but there are spots where the drum beat is mixed up a little that offer excitement for the drum player. If you choose to play jazz, for instance, the drum part can be quite exciting and offer a variety of different sounds and rhythms. Rock music often has drum solos, or spots within a song where the drum gets to shine a little beyond mere timekeeping.
You still must learn the instrument well. Playing drums doesn't require that you know how to play all the notes required on a flute, trombone or guitar, but you still must be able to play all the rhythms required by the drum line. The drummer sets the beat for the song, and therefore must being willing to learn how to set the right tempo for a song and keep a steady tempo throughout, no matter what the other instruments are doing. Some musicians would slow down and speed up throughout a song if not for the strong drum line keeping them steady. So while the drums might be easier to play when you're starting out than something like a saxophone, the ability to play them very steadily is important.
Once you decide if these things apply, you'll have a better understanding whether playing drums is right for you.
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Originally posted 2009-01-08 15:07:49. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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