AbsolutelyInTuned, Author at Absolutely In-Tuned!

Starting Your Kid On Acoustic Guitar Classes

June 17, 2015 Guitar / Ukulele

Starting Your Kid On Acoustic Guitar Classes

A lot of people will tell you that the right age is around 5 or 6 years old, when your kids are already receptive to structured teaching, like acoustic guitar classes. But some children, although ready for formal teaching, are still not physically able to properly hold a guitar.

The decision then is really different for every child. As a parent, you will be the one to make that decision for your own child. Here are a few pointers to help you make the choice:

Emotional readiness

Learning the guitar is easy, for us adults. But for kids, acoustic guitar classes may be harder than their classroom tasks. More important than being physically capable, your child’s ability to face frustrations should be considered very well. Make sure your child is ready to take momentary defeats and difficulties, and be able to bounce back and try it all over again.

Physical readiness

For one, your child should be able to comfortably put his hands around the neck of the guitar. Although there are different sizes of acoustic guitars, and there are small ones which a child can easily put his hands around on, it is advisable that they use as close to the standard size as possible.

Guitar playing also demands a lot of dexterity on the part of the child. Sure, this skill can be developed over time, but this is usually the part where frustration starts, so it will be good that he has a head start on his dexterity.

Focus and interest

Do not force your child to take the lessons if he doesn’t want to. Even though it is eventually your decision, the child’s genuine interest on guitars will make the entire course enjoyable and productive.

The child’s ability to focus on a single task for extended periods of time is also critical to the endeavor. This characteristic will be greatly tested during actual lessons, and when he practices at home. Ability to focus on a task lessens the chances of the child quitting on the lessons.

As a parent, you also have critical roles and duties with regards to your child’s guitar training. Do not let your child take the class, and then just sit back and simply watch. Your job does not end in bringing him to class and picking him up after.

Share their interest

It doesn’t matter if you have no guitar-playing skills. What is more important is that your child sees that you genuinely are as excited as they are. Encourage them to play in front of you what they learned that day, and sing along to their playing. This helps them along especially during difficult lessons.

Be their gentle critic

Observe and listen closely to how they are progressing, and point out where you think they can improve on. You may not be a professional musician, and you are not their instructor, but they look up to you, and you’ll be surprised that they will value and heed your advice.

Watching your child play a musical instrument is a very rewarding experience. Make sure their learning experience does not end with their acoustic guitar classes. Your involvement and participation in their learning is a lot more valuable than you think.

More Than Just Beginners’ Flute Lessons

June 17, 2015 Flute

More Than Just Beginners’ Flute Lessons

You have taken beginners’ lessons on flute, and now you are starting to play it well. So what is stopping you from becoming an advanced flute player? In this article, we give you tips for intermediate flute players who have already taken beginners’ flute lessons. Read along, and your flute skills will definitely pick up.

Daily practice

Set a daily schedule when you can practice, initially for 20-30 minute sessions at a time. A good pace is to have 5 to 6 sessions a day, taking long relaxing breaks in between each session. With each day, set a goal for yourself on what you want to accomplish with the day’s practice, and commit to that goal.

Record your practices

Be your own critic. You are the best judge of how good you hit those notes, or how fluid your transitions are. While you listen to your recording, remember the point when you were playing it so you can capture all the emotions and assess your mistakes and see areas where you can improve. Ask yourself, “Should I do more of that?” “Less of this?” “Can I improve on that bit?” Listen and capture parts where you think you can do better.

Listen to flute recordings

One sure way to learn new techniques is by watching and listening to excellent flute players on DVDs. Watch as you listen so you can observe their playing techniques. Do not limit yourself to one type of music, listen to all genres, there are tons of videos online which you can watch for free. Watch and listen with the purpose of picking up methods and skills you can imitate.

Watch live performances

Watching videos is great, but seeing live performances is spectacular. There is nothing like feeling the harmonies vibrate on your skin from the artists on stage. You not only get to see and listen to the professional’s music, but you can get to really feel them and their emotions when playing. Remember and use that experience when you practice everyday. Tickets to live concerts can be expensive though, so save up, because it will be worth it.

Continue formal lessons

You are not as good as you think you are, so continue improving your craft by taking more flute lessons. Expert flutists are a great source of knowledge and techniques, and allowing yourself to be under their tutelage is going to make your talent soar. Flute playing brings along a lot of personal emotions, so make sure you get an instructor that you feel comfortable with.

These are just a few suggestions to help you progress on flute playing. A lot of professional flutists have sworn by these pointers, and it has brought them great results. Many musicians have fallen into the trap of believing that they know enough, and get stuck at the beginner’s level.

Do not make the same mistake. The knowledge you acquired when you first went for flute lessons are very valuable, and you would just be throwing that investment away to you do not progress in your flute playing. Learn from these tips, and be above the rest!

Non-Technical Characteristics of a Great Drum teacher

June 17, 2015 Drums

Non-Technical Characteristics of a Great Drum teacher

Playing the drums has become an extremely popular musical choice both for adults and the youth today. Whether for personal indulgence or for playing professionally, many are going into formal drumming training. That is why the demand for drum teachers has also grown substantially.

It is relatively easy now to find technically skilled drum instructors, who can dazzle you with their techniques and flair. So how do you make the choice, when it is hard to differentiate one from the other?Music teachers, particularly drumming coaches, nowadays should not only teach, but also inspire and motivate. These traits are even more needed when teaching the youth, where attention span is very short and they have a lot of other distractions.

Technical skills being equal, you must distinguish your coaches by these characteristics:

Organized

Schedules are kept, reminders are always responded to, important things are documented, papers and forms properly filed and tucked away. Being organized projects professionalism, and professionalism means you deliver results. This attribute brings confidence to whatever you do.

And that confidence will rub off on the student, allowing him to learn and perform much better. You will be more productive and learn faster knowing your teacher can quickly provide anything you need for the lessons.

Sociable

Your drum teacher should be approachable and should make you feel always welcome. They should not be intimidating, so you feel comfortable asking them questions, and you will not be hesitant to give them suggestions. A sense of humor helps too.

Being sociable may also extend to your family. Your teacher should be able to communicate to your Mom or Dad about your progress, or how your parents can help you advance in your learning.

Creative

The drumming sessions should always excite you, you should always look forward to it, and it should not bore you. A creative and inventive teacher will make sure you feel this way. They may use diagrams and pictures, videos, maybe even games, to deliver the lesson to you.

Inspiring

If your teacher does not motivate you, then the lessons will seem like a drudge. And that is a sure way for you to lose interest and fail. Your teachers should have several schemes to lift you up, motivate you, and arouse your interest to learn, practice, and experiment on the drums. They should be good at psychologizing their learners and understand how they learn. They should be able to inspire you to reach your best potential.

Well-informed

They do not need to know everything about drumming, but they should be able to find the information you need, and impart them effectively to you. They should also be current and up to date regarding trends and developments not only in drumming, but in the music industry in general.

Committed

They must share your dedication to your craft, and should not be easily discouraged or dissuaded from your goals.

Drumming is extremely methodical, and drum teachers tend to become technical in their teaching. There is nothing wrong with that, but it greatly helps that you also see in them the characteristics mentioned above.

Advantages of Taking Saxophone Lessons at School

June 7, 2015 Saxophone

Advantages of Taking Saxophone Lessons at School

When you think of learning an instrument, you always end up with having to make choices – whether to learn individually or in a group, whether to ask for a teacher to come and teach at home or join professional institute, and so on. Let us see why taking saxophone classes at a music school can be beneficial to you in the long run.

Professionals as teachers

One of the main reasons why going to music school to learn playing the saxophone is a good idea is that most schools are generally very careful in choosing teachers who understand both music as well as how to teach different students. Professional teachers are usually hired in music academies and this helps in lifting up the overall standard of musical education for you. It will be better for you if the saxophone teacher you learn from has experience, accreditation, knowledge and is able to hold your interest in learning.

Motivation

There are plenty of reasons why studying the saxophone at school can help you remain motivated and induce you to improve. First, having a good teacher is in itself a blessing and these teachers would be trained to help the students remain focused and practice hard by making it fun for them. Second, learning with other students will engender the spirit of competition and will motivate you to perform better than the others. Finally, the concept of having fixed milestones that need to be completed in order to move to the next level will ensure that you work hard to move ahead.

Resources

When it comes to resources, learning at a school wins hands down. A music academy will always provide all kinds of resources such as instruments, music sheets, learning aids, and many more things that help the student learn faster and better. If you lack the facilities to undertake saxophone tutorials from a private teacher or at your own home, it is best to join a music school where you will not have to worry about all these things. They will already have the best materials for you to work with.

Certification

While you can study privately with a teacher and still prepare for exams, following a set course in a music academy fosters the spirit of studying for an exam properly. Certification is an essential requirement for saxophonists to carve out a career for themselves. Studying in a music academy will help you keep focused on your goals in order to receive this certification and accreditation. It will also look good in your résumé if you have studied from a renowned school and will afford you more recognition in the world of music.

Group lessons

When you learn to play the saxophone in a group environment, you will quickly learn to synchronise your playing to that of the other students. People who have learned on a solo basis often have difficulty playing in groups, but this does not apply to those who learn in a group environment. Apart from this, playing in a group helps you in making friends who are interested in music as well as forming networks, all of which would help you in the long run in your career as a saxophone player.

There are many reasons why you can choose private saxophone lessons, but there are also many reasons why you can choose to study in a music academy. The choice is yours, but it is important to research your options and consider your priorities carefully before making a final choice.

Tips for Beginners Before Starting Keyboard Lessons

June 7, 2015 Keyboards / Piano

Tips for Beginners Before Starting Keyboard Lessons

Keyboards are the most popular musical instruments in the western tradition. Though the piano is the most popular and well-known of all keyboard instruments, there are a large number of them such as the accordion, harmonium, synthesiser, etc. They all have the same pattern of keys and learning one instrument should be helpful in learning the others. Before taking formal keyboard classes from a teacher, you should dabble a little first. Here are a few things you could do to start off your musical career.

Decide the type of keyboard

There are different types of keyboards. While each keyboard instrument has similarities to one another, they are each also uniquely different in several aspects. So randomly learning a keyboard, while beneficial overall, is not advisable if you are considering a career in a specific instrument. The first step is to choose the type of keyboard you want to learn. There are many choices, the most popular and classic being the piano. Even in the piano, there are different types of pianos, so you have your work of choosing cut out for you!

Buy a keyboard

A keyboard instrument in the home is essential for learning. While you can learn a lot from a good teacher, it is only with practice that you can improve your playing. Besides, with an instrument at hand before you start formal keyboard tutorials, it will be easier for you to explore it and get the feel of it. If you are going for a piano or an instrument that requires space, make sure you have the space for it at home, or choose another instrument that you can install at home. It is better to begin well and have all bases covered than to later have problems cropping up one by one.

Learn the basics

The first step to learning a keyboard instrument is to learn the basics about the instrument itself. Learn about the key patterns and understand what the black and white keys do. Every note on a keyboard instrument is represented within a 12-note octave. You will have to master this before moving on. The next step is to learn what the notes look like and what the symbols represent in terms of actual sounds. Learn about the parts of the keyboard and how it functions, how to press the pedal (for pianos), and how to develop your touch for best effect.

Basic musical background

When it comes to music, it is always good to have some knowledge in more than one instrument. It also pays off to have some basic voice training. If you already know something about music and have developed an ear for sound, you will find it easier to learn a keyboard instrument. For this end, make sure that you begin to dabble in music by handling instruments, attending concerts and listening to different types of music.

Find a good teacher

Having a good teacher to teach you would increase the pace of your learning and teach you the intricate techniques of playing. Receiving constant feedback will help you improve faster and deal with mistakes before they become an annoying habit. Moreover, a good teacher can also help in motivating you to practise and enjoy your music by making it fun for you.

Considering that different types of keyboard instruments are an essential component of both classical and modern music, it is a good idea to learn one of these instruments. Do some research, discover what suits you best, find a good teacher and then go ahead and take keyboard lessons.

Qualities Required of Good Drum Teachers

June 7, 2015 Drums

Qualities Required of Good Drum Teachers

Getting a good teacher is an important step towards learning music. While many people start off strumming, humming and banging on their own, you can only learn good technique with the help of a good teacher. Learning from good drum teachers will help you develop your skill in various ways. The challenge lies in finding a teacher who is good as well as suitable for you.

Accreditation

Your teacher should be able to teach you, so they should be knowledgeable in the techniques and be able to motivate you to perform well. Unless your teacher is famous or well-known in musical circles, it is impossible to just guess what their level of learning is. Certification is a good way of understanding how far the person has progressed in their learning of drums and how they can help you learn the same. Ask to see their certificates from any reputed musical institute or university before hiring them.

Performance experience

If your teacher cannot provide certificates, it does not mean that they are to be completely written off. There are other ways to check their proficiency. Investigate their background and check whether they have given any performances. This is very important because if you have high aspirations of your drumming career, you will require a teacher who knows the ropes and understands the stress and feel of giving public performances. If possible, go and attend a couple of performances by the prospective teacher so you can make up your own mind on their skill.

General musical knowledge

Expect more from your teacher. It is not enough to just understand how drums should be played. Only if the teacher understands musical concepts and has interests in various fields of music or even has tried their hand at song-writing, they will be able to give you an all-round education. The more musical skill sets your teacher has, the better their ability to share their knowledge with you and expose you to the musical world properly.

Aware of current trends

It is essential that a good drum teacher should also be aware of and interested in current trends in music. While modern music is often sometimes easily dismissed by purists, most students really only get into music and are motivated to learn after listening to the latest music by their favourite artistes. Your teacher needs to be able to tune in to what interests you so that they can make drum tutorials more interesting and motivating for you.

Suitability

You will need to feel good about your lessons and about practising what you learn. Only a teacher who motivates you and understands your limitations can help you with this. A teacher who makes drum lessons unbearable or keeps pointing out your faults will only undermine your confidence. Choose a teacher who knows how to teach as well as how to drum. A good teacher will make you enjoy learning, inspire you to do better and gradually make you push your limits towards perfection. If your teacher does not do this, then you should find one who does.

Like any other musical instrument, drumming requires patience and a lot of hard work. A teacher who can provide a safe and clean space for learning is essential since most people don’t really have a good place to bang on drums without annoying the neighbours. Having drum lessons that are fun and help you do better is also important.

More Than Just Beginners’ Cello Lessons

June 3, 2015 Cello

More Than Just Beginners’ Cello Lessons

You have taken beginners’ lessons on cello, and now you are starting to play it well. So what is stopping you from becoming an advanced cello player? In this article, we give you tips for intermediate cello players who have already taken beginners’ cello lessons. Read along, and your cello skills will definitely pick up.

Daily practice

Record your practices

Listen to cello recordings

One sure way to learn new techniques is by watching and listening to professional cello players on DVDs. Watch as you listen so you can observe their playing techniques. Do not limit yourself to one type of music, listen to all genres, there are tons of videos online which you can watch for free. Watch and listen with the purpose of picking up methods and skills you can imitate.

Watch live performances

Continue formal lessons

You are not as good as you think you are, so continue improving your craft by taking more cello lessons. Expert cellists are great source of knowledge and techniques, and allowing yourself to be under their tutelage is going to make your talent soar. Playing the cello brings along a lot of personal emotions, so make sure you get an instructor that you feel comfortable with.

These are just a few suggestions to help you progress on cello playing. A lot of professional cellists have sworn by these pointers, and it has brought them great results. Many musicians have fallen into the trap of believing that they know enough, and get stuck at the beginner’s level.

Do not make the same mistake. The knowledge you acquired when you first went for cello lessons are very valuable, and you would just be throwing that investment away if you do not progress in your cello playing. Learn from these tips, and be above the rest!

8 Qualities To Look For In Your Ukulele Teacher

June 3, 2015 Guitar / Ukulele

8 Qualities To Look For In Your Ukulele Teacher

So you’ve finally decided that you are going for a lesson in ukulele, that is all very good. But there is another important decision that you have to make to get the most out of the lessons. You must find ukulele teachers that will help you get to the next levels of your skills.

Here are 8 important things to look out for when deciding which teacher you should have:

Performance experience

Your instructor should have first-hand experience of what it is like to actually play in a performance, preferably in a professional setting. He or she should be able to teach you not only how to play the ukulele, but also guide you how to play alongside other musicians as part of a band or any other bigger ensemble

Stimulating

Ukulele demands a lot of energy from you, and your ukulele teacher should be able to help you bring out that energy. They should be encouraging and exciting, and be able to sustain their own energy consistently throughout each session. You must be able to feed off from their dynamism.

Admire their style

If you do not even like their style of playing the ukulele, for whatever reasons, you need to look for another instructor. If you do not like the way they play, you will not find any important meaning to whatever they teach you. You should first be interested in them before you listen to what they say.

Up to date

There are always new techniques and new technology in the world of ukulele, and your teacher should know these new trends and styles. You should continuously expand and upgrade your knowledge with the instrument, and your instructor should be able to contribute a lot to this.

Patient

A short-fused instructor is never a good thing, especially for beginners in ukulele. There will always be a time that you just can’t seem to get the hang of it, or you are just having a bad learning day, or maybe there are even stretches where your skills do not seem to be going anywhere. Your teacher should be unflappable, and they should ride it out along with you. They should never give up on you, and guide you out of whatever slump you are in.

Prepared

Ask to see the lesson outline, and know what target your teacher has set out for you. They should have at the very least an outline of lessons that they intend to follow, and not merely coast along day to day, lesson after lesson. They must have a track to follow, and they should be able to show it to you before you even start with your very first lesson.

Flexible

Despite having an outline or a lesson plan, your instructor should be able to shift the direction, or pacing of your lessons when the situation calls for it. They should be able to assess you at any point of the course, and change the lesson to adapt to your progress.

Goal-oriented

The primary reason why you enrolled in their class is to learn more, or maybe learn something specific. Your teacher should share this vision, and set out a goal for you to attain.

It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner, or an experienced ukulele player. If you plan to engage the help of a ukulele teacher to help you advance your skills, it is helpful to know these tips ahead of time.

Starting Your Child On Singing Classes

June 3, 2015 Singing

Starting Your Child On Singing Classes

A lot of people will tell you that the right age is around 5 or 6 years old, when your kids are already receptive to structured teaching, like singing classes. But some children, although ready for formal teaching, are still not physically ready for some demanding training sessions.

The decision then is really different for every child. As a parent, you will be the one to make that decision for your own child. Here are a few pointers to help you make the choice:

Emotional readiness

Singing classes are easy, for us adults. But for kids, this may be harder than their classroom tasks. More important than being physically capable, your child’s ability to face frustrations should be considered very well. Make sure your child is ready to take momentary defeats and difficulties, and be able to bounce back and try it all over again.

Physical readiness

For one, your child should be able to hold their breath when they need to, sometimes for more than a few seconds. They must be physical developed that they already have good lung power and control. Although it may seem like they have good lung power when you hear them scream, it is different when they are trying to use that for singing.

Singing demands a lot of energy on the part of the child. Sure, this can be developed over time, but this is usually the part where frustration starts, so it will be good that he has a head start on their strength.

Focus and interest

Do not force your child to take the lessons if he doesn’t want to. Even though it is eventually your decision, the child’s genuine interest in singing will make the entire course enjoyable and productive.

As a parent, you also have critical roles and duties with regards to your child’s singing. Do not let your child take the class, and then just sit back and simply watch. Your job does not end in bringing him to class and picking him up after.

Share their interest

It doesn’t matter if you have no musical skills of your own. What is more important is that your child sees that you genuinely are as excited as they are. Encourage them to sing in front of you what they learned that day, and sing along with them. This helps them along especially during difficult lessons.

Be their gentle critic

Watching your child sing is a very rewarding experience. Make sure their learning experience does not end with their singing classes. Your involvement and participation in their learning is a lot more valuable than you think.

Finding The Right Acoustic Guitar Teacher

May 27, 2015 Guitar / Ukulele

Finding The Right Acoustic Guitar Teacher

If you feel that your skills in playing the acoustic guitar is still not up to the standard that you desire, despite getting formal lessons, then maybe you are not being taught by the acoustic guitar teacher that is right for you. But then again, how would you know the right teacher for you when there are so many of them offering their services?

The easiest place to look for the right teacher is online, where they usually have their own web pages. Do some research on their teaching style and lesson tracks. The better option is to ask around with your friends or acquaintances, and have them give recommendations.

Once you have found several possible teachers, there are still a lot of things that you should consider when you are looking for teacher that matches your need. Here are some of the things you should look out for:

Experience:

You do not want someone who is only slightly better than you. You would want teachers that have years of playing experience behind them, preferably as professionals. A teacher should be teaching from experience and not from a book or manual only. Find out if the teachers developed their own lessons and materials, or they just copied materials online or from other teachers.

You should also find out how many students your teacher has taught. The more, the better! If you can, talk to a couple of student that has taken the teacher’s course. Ask them about the strengths and weaknesses of the teacher, so you will have a better understanding of their capabilities.

Customized teaching:

Good acoustic guitar teachers should customize their teaching and lessons according to your need and style, as an individual. They should not have a template of teaching that they will use and implement for every student they teach, with no consideration of each student’s playing style, learning speed, and personal progress. This method may frustrate you if you cannot catch up easily, and you might even end up quitting learning the acoustic guitar.

The best way to make sure that the teaching is customized for you is to start the course with a detailed discussion of what your current playing level is. Make sure to mention what areas you think you need help the most, and do not hesitate to ask your teacher to focus on those areas.

Progress tracking:

Your progress should be monitored carefully by your teacher. In fact, some sort of a report or chart should be kept by your teacher, and shown to you regularly, preferably at the end of each lesson. You should then have a thorough, detailed, and honest discussion about it. Whatever the outcome of these discussions should determine the progress and pacing of the succeeding lessons.

Do not hesitate to ask your teacher to go back to previous lessons if your progress is not satisfactory. A good teacher will not encourage you to move on to the next lessons if you have insufficiently learned the earlier lessons.

A good acoustic guitar teacher is not hard to find, as long as you plan ahead by keeping in mind some of the things mentioned above. It is important to remember that not only are you investing your time and money by taking up formal lessons, but you are also investing in a possible future career in music and guitar playing.

Flute Lessons: What You Should Know Before You Start

May 27, 2015 Flute

Flute Lessons: What You Should Know Before You Start

Playing the flute is a very enjoyable experience, but learning to play is not easy. The flute is not similar to other musical instruments, like the piano or the guitar, where playing is intuitive and you can easily learn by yourself. Learning the flute usually requires taking flute lessons before you get to be good at it.

If you are planning to take lessons, or if you want your child to learn to play the flute, whether for personal enjoyment or preparing for a recital or competition, here are a few things you should consider before you start.

How young should children start?

Children and parents can be eager to start early on musical instruments, but with the flute it is generally accepted to start at around age 8 or 9. The main reason is that the student should already be physically able to hold the instrument properly and comfortably. If the child is too small to properly grasp the instrument, they will develop bad playing habits from the start, which may hinder their progress.

Also, at age 8 or 9 the child’s lung and breathing capacity is already at the right level, enough to blow on the instrument sufficiently. This ensures that the child’s embouchure (the mouth’s form and position on the mouthpiece of the flute) is correct when they start playing.

Should you invest on a flute already?

Good brands of flutes can be expensive. If this is the first time your child is playing the flute, or taking flute lessons, it is always advisable to rent the instrument first. This way your child can try out different types of flute, and the teacher can see which type the kids are most comfortable or proficient with.

Generally, if the child is still having difficulty holding the instrument properly, they should start with a curved headjoint. Once they get the hang of it, they could move on to more advance and age-appropriate models.

What can you expect from the flute lesson?

A good teacher with a great teaching plan should be able to guide your child gradually, and cover a lot of lessons or topics in the process. Typically, the lesson should include the following:

How to hold the flute
Proper embouchure
Breathing and posture
Developing a solid tone
Proper finger placement for each note
Reading notes and music
Discussion of common mistakes

How often should you practice?

Do not expect to be very good with the flute immediately. Some players take years to master the flute. Be patient and practice everyday, but do not over exert yourself. Begin with 15 to 20 minutes of practice every session, and take a good long rest in between. Short and regular practice is better than one-time long practice sessions. When you start feeling comfortable and your breathing becomes easier, you can slowly increase your practice time to around 30 minutes at a time, but make sure to still take long rests in between.

Playing the flute when you’ve had proper flute lessons is very satisfying. The tips mentioned above hopefully will make the experience not only very productive, but also extremely enjoyable!

What Drum Lessons Should You Take

May 27, 2015 Drums

What Drum Lessons Should You Take

You may be a beginner, or you already have some experience, or you may even be considered adept at playing the drums. But whatever level your skill is, you should not discount the possibility of getting drum lessons. Apart from constant practice, taking lessons in drumming is a sure way to increase your abilities in drumming, and it will also broaden your repertoire and add to your techniques.

But where, and what mode of lesson should you take? In this article you will find three kinds of lessons that you can take up. Read each one, the pros and the cons, and decide for yourself which fits your style best.

Videos

Music stores are crawling with instructional videos in DVDs, and they are not too expensive. Not all of them though are good, or can help you, or even fit your style. Fortunately most of them have accompanying literatures to help you decide which one to purchase. Better yet, ask the store’s resident specialist in drums.

Drum lessons in DVD form are very good if you want to go through the course at a pace that you can control. You can stop and come back to a lesson anytime you want, and you can even play it repeatedly as much as you want or need. You can also watch the video at the comfort of your own home, or even share it with your friends! The downside though is that it is not interactive, and the information shared is one way, so it does not keep track of your progress, nor help you focus on one particular drumming skill set.

Private Lessons

There are a lot of private drumming tutors that offer their services. It is quite easy to locate one, and you can choose if you want them to go to your house, or have your practice in their studios. This is an excellent choice for students who want more interaction, since the teacher is physically present and can readily assess and correct your weaknesses.

However, private lessons can be expensive in the long run as compared to other options. There is also a risk that your private tutor will not live up to your standards or expectations, and still you have to pay them for services already rendered. If you are on a tight budget, this option may not be the right one for you

Online Tutorials

The online world is already swarming with online lessons in drumming, and it is not difficult to find them. There are even a lot of free lessons online, but be wary of these offerings. Most probably, these free online lessons are very basic and not in-depth. They will only teach you the basic skills, and their websites are flooded with ads that only distract you from your purpose.

There are respectable and decent online sites though, like that offers comprehensive lessons for a very small fee. And because of the quality of their materials and lessons, it is well worth your money. You will also be properly guided by competent instructors, and they even offer money-back guarantees. This is also probably the best option since it is in multimedia form, and can be accessed anywhere with Internet connection.

Your drumming skills need continuous learning and improvement, and drum lessons will definitely help you in that area. If you have the time and resources, you can try each mode mentioned above to see where you feel most comfortable. What is important is that your skills continue improving, and you become a better drummer!

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