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Learning to play the drums can seem like such a big investment in terms of time as well as space. However, in spite of this, it still is one of the most fun and enthralling instruments to play and is loved by people all around the world. In this blog, we will find out what does learning drums really has to offer to kids as well as adults.
Importance
Most music genres feature the drums in some form or the other. It could be considered as the backbone of most music as well. A drum track could be added to almost any style of music to change the mood. In funk music, the drummer's grooves are what set the tone for the song. In dance music, the bass drum kicking on each beat is what gets people dancing to the beat. Even in cases of softer forms of music where the traditional kit is not preferred, variations like cajons, jembes, etc. are used to keep time and spice up the rhythm.
Health benefits
Joining a drum class online to learn the instrument is a fantastic choice as it can have numerous health benefits! Playing the drums helps reduce stress. It's a wonderful way to musically reduce frustration, disappointment, or even stress. Drums can even help students perform better academically. The benefits of learning music are numerous and better academic performance is one of them as well. Learning the drums can boost your confidence and help with building better communication skills as well. It helps in developing the technique of reading nonverbal cues which helps students become more empathetic as well. Also, drums help make students more active. Since it is a very physical instrument, it can keep your heart rate up and provide you with some good cardio as well. Just don't forget to take a break.
And the most important of all, it's an extremely fun instrument to play. It involves both hands and both legs and requires simultaneous coordination across your whole body. Exciting, isn’t it?
Basic Parts of a Drum Kit
A drum kit or drum set is commonly described by the number of pieces it consists of. It is the collection of various individual percussive instruments set up on stands in a way that a single player can play it with sticks in his hands and using the pedal at the feet.
The most common configuration of a drum set is a 5 piece kit consisting of a bass drum, snare drum, high tom, mid tom, low tom as well as the hi-hats, cymbals etc. but these don’t count towards the number of ‘pieces’. You could have a 5 piece kit with 100 cymbals – it’s still a 5 piece kit. The number 5 piece kit is given due to the use of only 5 drums.
The sticks are the small wooden poles that the drummer holds in his hands and are used to hit most parts of the drum kit in order to create a beat.
The drum stool is where the player sits in order to play the drum kit. Learning to sit in the right posture is important as well towards being able to play well and reach all parts of the drum kit effectively. The height of the stool can also be adjusted so that all players of different heights and build can sit comfortably.
The snare drum is normally the most shallow drum and is situated between the knees when sat at a drum kit. The snare drum is often the first part of a drum kit a beginner should try to get to grips with.
A bass drum is often also called a kick drum. It is the largest drum situated on the floor in front of the right leg (for a right-handed player), with the drum skin facing the player's leg.
Because this is out of reach from the drummer’s hands, this is played by using their foot and a pedal which effectively “kicks” the drum, hence it’s name. Because of the size of this drum, the noise generated is very loud and deep in pitch.
A hi-hat is made up of two cymbals and a foot pedal mounted on one stand. It is primarily made of two cymbals, which are metal discs that are hit to create a more high-pitched or tinny sound when compared to drum pieces.
Normally the two hi-hat cymbals are not touching one another, meaning that when they are hit they ring out and reverberate. When the pedal of the hi-hat is pressed down, the two hi-hat cymbals are pressed together or closed, creating a very short and tight sound when hit.
Located on the right-hand side of the drum kit, the Ride Cymbal is the largest cymbal on a drum kit drum and is often played in a similar manner to a hi-hat. Unlike a hi-hat, a ride cymbal will ring out for longer when hit, creating what is often referred to as a “washy” sound.
Toms
The tom drum is also referred to as ‘toms’ or ‘tom-tom’. It has a cylindrical shape and, unlike the snare drum, does not have snare wire attached underneath, which means they ring out in a much more “boomy” sound when hit.
Toms are drums that often look like smaller versions of the kick drum and are normally sat on top of the kick drum. Because they are smaller than a kick drum, the sound they make when hit is higher pitched.
Floor Tom
There is normally only one Floor Tom as part of a drum kit and is usually situated on the far right of the drum kit. Because the floor tom is quite a large drum and not used as regularly as other parts of the kit, it is placed here to be out of the way.
Why FSMBuddy’s online drum classes?
Should you decide to start your online drum class journey with FSM Buddy, here are a few things that can help you remember that you’ve come to the right place. At FSM, you are offered a wide range of Drum classes for all students that meet their learning requirements and provide them with a nuanced understanding of the drums that will surely enhance their learning pursuits.
FSM Buddys online drum lessons will ease students into the basic fundamentals of the instrument. Students will be provided with the opportunity to learn under the guidance of experienced music educators who will mentor them in their journey of attaining artistic proficiency.
FSM Buddy offers a wide range of drum classes that include the beginner, intermediate as well as advanced level that cater to everyone’s creative interests. Students can choose from these diversified courses and fulfill their learning pursuits.
All the drum courses are structured around the needs and requirements of the students. Every course has its own individual benefits that will elevate their learning experience.
