Do I need a drum kit to start?

No, you do not need a kit to start to learn. However, if it is something you decide you would like to continue then a kit of some sort will be needed within about two months in order to progress.

How long will it take me to be able to play?

This all depends on how much you decide to practice! Practice is the key, not more frequent lessons. If you decide to practice for an hour once a week it is going to take you far longer than if you practiced for half an hour a day. It’s all up to you!

When looking for a drum kit what kind of kit should I be looking for and how much are they?

On the market today there are two main kinds of drum kits to look at – acoustic kits and electronic kits. The benefits of acoustic kits are:

1. They are ‘real’ drums and these are what you would play if you were to play with a band.
2. You get used to using a full sized kit so when you do play with a band it is not something unfamiliar to you.
3. You get used to using mechanical pedals with your feet.

Cost for beginner drum kits start from around £200 and will range up to professional drums kits of over £2000.
The disadvantages are:

1. The noise level for other people in the household and neighbours.
2. The kit takes up a certain amount of space.
3. Takes a little while to work out how to arrange the kit into required positions and tune the kit to the best sound possible.

Electronic kits have the benefit of:

1. The noise level is minimal – you can plug into a stereo to control the volume or use headphones!
2. They take up less space than a full sized kit.
3. You can plug in a CD player/iPod to be able to play along to.

The disadvantages are:

1. The rubber or / mesh heads are not the same feel as real drums.
2. The drums tend to be closer together making it easier to get around the kit.
3. Some have electronic foot pedals making the development of foot technique and the transition to a real kit slightly difficult.

Cost for electric kits start at around £300 and as usual go up from there.

Will I have to learn how to read music?

You will need to learn how to understand drum notation to be able to take information away with you. However, you won’t be needing to be able to read a symphony.

How much are the lessons?

Please see the lessons page.

Do you do group bookings?

I don’t teach groups of people, however, I can teach two students at the same time, so if you had a Father and Son or Mother and Daughter (or vice versa) we can do the lessons as a pair.