DRUM LESSONS FOR KIDS
"I like that Eric starts each session by telling my 6 year old what they will cover in class. In just a few weeks my son has already been introduced to reading drumming music, playing by ear, the different parts of the set, he's practicing 4 grooves, and next week he'll start learning to tune his own drums! My son's taking it easy, and Eric is very patient and encouraging, and works at his pace.
We couldn't be happier."
Elissa G., IL
Just Starting drums for the first time?
Awesome, I am here to give you all the tools that you will need to be able to play the drums. Let’s have some fun while learning a new instrument! It is very important to build a strong foundation when learning anything new because all of your creativity, inspiration, and motivation will come from the start. You would never build a house on unstable ground. Just like drumming we will want to make sure that you are starting off on the right foot. I will make sure that all the basics are properly covered so you don’t have to unlearn bad habits. Building a strong foundation is key when successfully and efficiently learning a new instrument.
Why Is Learning An Instrument Important?
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Generates Creativity
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Helps develop critical thinking skills
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Builds confidence, leadership skills
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Learn how to problem solve through groove construction
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Has proven to help in other areas of school and cognitive thinking
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Great release of energy
Starting school band or preparing for an audition?
Cool, I am here to help! In lessons we can go over any school material or audition material that the student has questions on. Feel free bring in any school music or audition material into lessons so we can dissect the pieces and get you comfortable performing the material. An outlined schedule will be developed, according to performance date, so the student can stay organized and be fully be prepared when it comes time to perform the material.
Different Ways To Learn Music
Everyone learns differently
In lessons I will incorporate all three methods when starting out and we will focus on whatever method works best for the student. Every student is unique and I want to make sure that the learning process is fun and enjoyable along the way. Each learning technique opens different doors in the music industry and I want to get the student comfortable with the methods that make most sense for them. In most cases we will be learning all three methods during lessons.
In lessons we will go over the following concepts:
Different Techniques
I will show you how to properly hold your drum sticks so you can effectively and efficiently play the drums. The drums are a fun, physical instrument and it’s important to learn good technique from the start to avoid injury and eliminate access motion. As we progress we will talk about the different hand positions and motions that will help us when playing the drums. There are basic techniques that we will cover from the start and also more advanced techniques that I will show the student when they progress. Having great technique is the foundation to great drumming as it directly effects our sound on the instrument.
Creating a Drum Groove
The drum groove is a repeated rhythmical phrase that supports the band and is the direct result of why people bob their head when listening to music. For us drummer’s it is highly important that the groove feels great and matches the energy of the song or piece being played. Students will learn the basic elements of groove construction and the role that they play in a band setting.
Creating Drum Fills
Drum fills are played when the music transitions into a different section or the energy changes in the song. These are short phrases that are played in-between our drum grooves and can help signal the band that the song is going to the next section. We will cover basic rhythms and movements in a drum fill that will get the student comfortable moving around the drum set.
Different Styles
We will develop an understanding of different styles and how they play a role in the music that we listen to today. No matter where you travel in this world you will always hear some type of drum or percussion instrument carrying the groove. This is a fun way to learn about different cultures, traditions, and history of our instrument.
Developing a Drum Solo
Students will learn how to express themselves on the drums with some fun exercises and thought provoking concepts. We will tap into the students inner creativity which will attribute to their individual sound. Everyone comes from a different background and has their own story to tell. This story can be directly translated on the drum set. If you were to get 100 drummers in one room, they will all bring something unique to the table because they all have a different story to tell.
Drum Rudiments
Other instrumentalists work on scales to develop their control and mobility around their instrument. Drummers and percussionist have rudiments! Rudiments are the fundamentals of drumming that consist of short sticking patterns that help us with our mobility, independence, and how we flow between ideas. Rudiments can be applied in all types of drumming from marching DCI (Drum Corp International) to contemporary drum set grooves, fills and solos. We will explore all of the essential rudiments and incorporate them into our playing during lessons.