Is this course suitable for absolute beginners?
Yes! This course is specifically aimed at absolute beginners on the drum kit. I’ll be taking you through everything from the very start with the assumption that you’ve never picked up a pair of sticks before.
Is this course suitable for adults?
Absolutely! The course is suitable for all ages from around 8 and upwards. There’s quite a lot of reading material in the early stages as we cover off topics such as stick grip, posture and basic music theory. I’ve taught adults up to 80 years old with my material used in this course. Enjoy!
Is this course suitable for children under 8 years old?
I have had a few 7 year olds doing the course with some amazing parental support and they’ve loved it. All I would say is the course is really designed for 8 and older. Very young students often need a slightly different approach and we don’t cover that here. There’s quite a lot of reading, technique and theory to get through in the early stages not to mention the practicalities of reaching the pedals on a full-size drum kit. Parental assistance will be needed for younger students.
Is this course suitable for children 8-10 years old?
Yes! As touch upon, just bear in mind that along with video lessons and practical exercises there’s also quite a lot of reading material to get through. If your child isn’t a strong reader then they’ll need some parental help here. You’ll also need to help them get their kit set up so that it’s comfortable to play. The biggest issue at this age is being able to comfortably reach the pedals. If your child mentions that they’re having problems reaching certain parts of the kit then please help them to resolve this. I’ve seen pupils on the verge of giving up simply since their kit wasn’t set up properly. We cover drum kit set-up as part of the course.
Is this course suitable for children 10+ years old?
Absolutely! At around 10 years old and over most children should be able to progress through this course unassisted. As mentioned earlier, there’s a fair bit of reading in the early stages so please be on hand when needed. You may also be needed to help with kit set-up and buying an endless list of accessories that your child asks for. 😉
What equipment do I need to complete the course?
You really need to be able to practice on a proper drum kit – whether it’s electronic or acoustic. Not sure where to start? I’ve written a buying guide here. Completing this course without a drum kit to practice on isn’t impossible… but it would be tricky. Tapping on knees and cushions is no substitute for the real thing! Here’s a fairly comprehensive list of what you’ll need:
- Drum sticks – if in doubt start with 5A size
- Hearing protection (discussed more on the course)
- Drum key
- Headphones / earphones
- Practice pad or practice tips (optional)
- Music stand (optional)
- Metronome
- Drum kit (acoustic or electronic)
Do I need to have a drum kit?
You can work through elements of the course just using a practice pad but really you should have a drum kit to practice on. You might be able to knock something temporary together using cushions and old books but the course does assume you have a drum kit.
How long will the course take to complete?
If you practice hard you can complete the beginner level course in under 1 month. At a more gentle pace it will take you 2-3 months. Younger students will learn faster but also may have less patience. Older students generally have more patience but building muscle memory can take much longer. Work at your own pace and have fun!
Can I call you to discuss something?
I’m afraid not – this is an online self-study course. If you have a question about the course or are having difficulties with a particular lesson by all means get in touch. I’ve also put together a huge amount of free guides and other information on my Beginner Drums site.
Is this just for UK drummers?
No! A very warm welcome to you wherever you are in the world! I’m from the UK but I’d love to hear about where you’re from and how you’re progressing on the drums!
Will there be more advanced courses in the future?
Drum 101 and Beginner Drums is all aimed at beginner drummers. There will definitely be more advanced courses coming but they’ll still be at beginner level. I really want to focus on helping you get through the early stages of drumming – there’s then a world of resources open to you on the internet and in thousands of books and DVDs. I don’t want to re-invent the wheel. My focus is on beginner level drummers.
What is Beginner Drums?
Beginner Drums is the sister site to Drum 101. Drum 101 is the home of my formal online courses and Beginner Drums is packed full of free resources to help you on your drumming journey. From articles through to buying guides, reviews, free backing beats and much more. Please make full use of both!
Do I need to read the guides on Beginner Drums first?
No, but there’s a lot of information on there that you may find useful. The course covers everything you need to know from the ground up and includes some more in-depth versions of the free guides provided on Beginner Drums. There’s no need to review the information on Beginner Drums first but we may make reference to resources available from there every now and then.
Can I contact you to ask a question?
If you have any questions about the course you can get in touch via the Contact Us form at any time! I’d love to hear any feedback or constructive criticism – it’s how we all learn! Just bear in mind this is a family run business. I don’t have a call centre – you’ll be contacting me directly so please don’t expect an immediate response. I do endeavour to respond to ALL e-mails though. Please allow up to 2 weeks for a response. I don’t accept phone calls, video calls etc. and can’t provide tailored support or advice for the reasons mentioned above. If you have a general question or have spotted something in the course that you perhaps don’t understand, I will absolutely try to help!
Are drums hard to learn?
Drums are an amazing instrument but they’re not the easiest of instruments to learn. I play several instruments and after 30+ years of playing drums still maintain they’re one of the hardest instruments to learn to play properly. Drumming is all about four limb independence and no other instrument really has that. Drumming takes a special kind of patience for the repetition of exercises that help to build muscle memory. Drumming is fun but don’t go in to this thinking you’ve picked the easy option!
What drum sticks should I buy?
If you’ve already researched this you’ve probably worked out that there are hundreds of different stick sizes and brands to chose from. 5A stick size is a good starting point for most players. If possible it’s best to visit a drum shop and try some different stick sizes to see what’s comfortable for your hands.
Should I buy drum stuff from Amazon or a drum shop?
PLEASE buy directly from dedicated drum shops & music shops if at all possible! Amazon, Ebay etc. are just middle-men in the sale. Drum shops are in short supply these days and we need to do everything we can to help them. The support available from drum shops is invaluable and this is the sort of instrument you really need to try before you buy. On a similar subject, trying stuff at a drum shop and then buying it a couple of quid cheaper online isn’t clever. It’s feeding billionaires and killing local business – please don’t do it!