FAQ SHEET FOR YOUNG PUPILS/PARENTS


WHAT IS A DRUM KIT?

The standard kit is made up of drums and cymbals.  There are usually 5 drums - bass, snare and 3 tom-toms as well as 3 cymbals - ride, crash and hi hats as well as all the stands and a stool.



SHOULD YOUNGER STUDENTS PLAY ON JUNIOR/MINI KITS?

From age 5 upwards a full size kit is preferable.



HOW MUCH ARE DRUM KITS? 

Prices vary from around £200 for starter kits to many thousands for professional quality kits.  A starter kit is fine for younger players or adults who don’t yet play in a band.  



WHERE IS A GOOD PLACE TO BUY A DRUM KIT?  

If you want a new kit, check out Ev-entz Percussion shop in Newport and Hannah’s Music shop in Chepstow and find out what kits they have in stock.  They both have great starter type/intermediate/professional level kits.  


Second hand kits represent great value for money.  There are many bargains to be had on E-Bay, Free Ads, Gumtree, as well as the local papers.  Make sure the kit is in good condition.  The drums should be round, the drum heads not pitted and the stands and cymbals should be free of rust and cracks.  It is very important to make sure all the parts of the kit are there. Don’t buy blind!



WHAT SIZE DRUMSTICKS ARE CORRECT?

Sticks range from 1,very large, to 8, very small.  For most drummers size 5A/5B are a happy medium.  Good brands would be Vic Firth, Zildjian, Pro-Mark, Shaw, Regal Tip or Vater.  When buying sticks make sure they are not bent, you can do this by rolling them on a table.  Also check the weight and pitch of both sticks in a pair are similar.  



HOW MUCH SHOULD I PRACTISE/PLAY?

Practise is a very individual activity so I will usually tell pupils what to practise and for how long each week based on the requirements of their goals. 


Generally, I would expect young students to practise their homework for 10 minutes every day or for longer 20 minutes sessions three times a week.  This should ensure reasonable progress but a lot depends on the quality of that practise and to a lesser degree the natural ability of the student.  For students taking an exam that figure may rise to an hour a day.  If that sounds like a lot then consider that many professional musicians practise for 4 to 8 hours every day!  Generally, as you get more experienced practise becomes more fun as you can express yourself more easily.


I have been playing the drums for more than 30 years but still I love playing the drums and any time I get to play/practise is usually the highlight of my day!



DO I HAVE TO SIT MUSIC EXAMS ON THE DRUMS?

No, you don’t have to.  However the Rockschool or Trinity Guildhall courses are great for getting experience of playing along to music and for learning the fundamentals of drumming correctly.  Another bonus is that they earn you UCAS points for university places.



I HAVE A DRUM KIT BUT I CAN’T PRACTISE AT HOME BECAUSE ITS TOO LOUD?

No problem.  There are several methods of quiet practise available to you. Many drummers practise their rolls on a portable rubber practise pad. You can also buy a set of rubber pads for the drum kit that are placed on the drums and cymbals.


A newer product is mesh heads that have the feel of a drum head but are noiseless.  You can also buy rubber practise kits or play with quieter sticks called multi-rods or drum brushes.  For the more dedicated you can buy a pre-fab soundproof rooms or build your own !


It would also be worth considering an electronic drum kit.   These are useful practise tools because you can adjust the volume like a guitar or play through headphones!  Roland and Yamaha electronic kits are really good fun too because you can have any sound you want on the kit.  There are several budget electronic kits on the market too.

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