Whether you're a beginner or an advanced drummer, choosing the right online drum lessons can help you improve your drumming skills. Unfortunately, searching online for drumming lessons yields millions of results, and the quality of each lesson varies widely, making it hard to find quality lessons. To find the right online drum lessons, first think about your favorite learning method, so you can choose the best lesson format for you. You should then consider the cost, the quality of the lessons, the teacher's experience, and how far the lessons can take you.
A wide variety of online drum lessons are available, including video, private and group tutoring, and written lessons. You can focus on one lesson format or use a combination that suits your learning style. If you like to set your own goals and are able to push yourself to practice regularly, you might benefit from prerecorded video lessons and written tutorials that include illustrations. For beginners and people who need goals set for them, private or group tutoring might be the best options. A tutor can provide you with homework and check in with you regularly to let you know how you're progressing.
The costs of online drum lessons vary widely. A large number of video and written tutorials are free to access, while tutoring typically requires you to pay by the hour or lesson. Additionally, some recorded video lessons do require payment, but they usually cost less than tutoring. Although it is important to select lessons you can afford, you shouldn't let cost prevent you from getting quality instruction. No matter how affordable a lesson is, you won't benefit unless it is an informative and well-structured session that clearly explains how to perform different drumming techniques.
The quality of online drumming lessons is determined by a number of factors, including visual quality, website performance, and available supporting materials. In general, you should choose lessons that provide high-quality videos, slow motion breakdowns of each technique, and close-up images. Each drumming technique requires you to hold and move the drum sticks in a specific manner, and large, clear images allow you to see how each technique is performed. The website's performance is also crucial, since it determines how quickly lessons load, and sites that provide additional materials, such as a printable catalog of sheet music, drum tablature, and exercises, will provide you with plenty of songs and techniques to practice while you're away from the computer.
One of the largest factors affecting a lesson's quality is the teacher providing the lesson. The Internet is filled with amateur and professional teachers, and some might have limited drumming or teaching experience. Before you commit to an online drumming lesson, especially if it requires an upfront payment, research the teacher's qualifications. Drummers who play professionally, have music degrees with a specialization in drumming performance, or have previous teaching experience typically provide better instruction than people with limited experience. Alternatively, watch a lesson preview or request a free tutoring session to get an idea of how good the teacher is, and if the teacher is able to communicate with you in an effective manner.
Choosing online lessons that are structured and presented in small, easy-to-understand chunks might help you learn and memorize techniques more easily. Well-structured websites will present lessons in a logical order. For example, the website might be divided into sections for musicians of different skill levels, and each section might present lessons in the order that they should be taken. This makes it easy for you to select a lesson for your skill level, learn the techniques that interest you, and remember where you left off.
Online drum lessons are typically geared toward certain types of audiences. Some might cover the fundamentals, such as basic grooves and how to hold the sticks, while others might be for advanced drummers or people who play a specific type of music, such as hard rock or band music. If you're a beginner, you should take lessons that cover the fundamentals and basic drum maintenance, such as reading drum notes and tuning each drum. The fundamentals will provide you with the foundation you need to learn advanced fills and sticking patterns. Additionally, lessons covering a variety of musical genres, including jazz, rock, and orchestral music, will help drummers at any skill level progress and improve their improvisational abilities.