No matter what length of time you've been playing the drums, there comes a point when to get the most from this instrument you really have to join a band, or at least jam with a few like-minded friends. Drumming alone at home is great fun, but not a patch on the excitement of playing along with other musicians and really driving a band. If you are just starting out on this path, I hope you will find this article useful.. I've drawn on my many years of experience as a performer, and hope to help you get the most from your music.
Firstly, you do not need to be a brilliant player to benefit from playing in a band... If you look hard enough there are always opportunities to play along with others... maybe a jam session at the local pub, a church music group, or a small band with a few old friends, all of these are a great way to expose you to playing live.
Perhaps you've been having regular drum lessons, have got a good sense of rhythm and know enough beats and fills to be able to play along with backing tracks of some of your favourite songs.... well now's the time ditch the backing tracks and find some real musicians. Check out the notice board in your local music shop for musicians wanted adverts, or check the local paper or even the internet (there are now several websites dedicated to bands/musicians wanted). As already mentioned, local Jam nights are a great starting point..you can go along and if you feel confident enough get up and perform one or two songs with the house band in a relaxed atmosphere. This should give you the boost you need and these places are often packed with other musicians looking for bands.. who knows who you could meet??
Once you have found some fellow musicians and arranged a few rehearsals, you need to ensure that you all have pretty much the same tastes in music and also the same goals... maybe you just want a fun band to play at friends parties, or something a little more serious ( perhaps even playing your own original material ). If you have been having drum tuition, you should find now that your playing really improves...there is nothing better for the developing drumming than playing "for real", and hopefully all those little fills and rhythms you've worked on will start to make sense. You should also find that any good drum teacher will be happy to help you to prepare and learn the bands songs. In my own teaching practice I often get students bring along a CD of a particular song that they need to learn in time for their next band practice, and I find that this is one of the most rewarding parts of the job... to help them learn a song and then maybe go and see them perform it live a few weeks later. Your teacher should also help to advise what gear works well for a particular gig (eg.. a little jazz quartet gig? small bass drum and thin cymbals,.... heavy metal?? big drums, heavy cymbals). between your new band and the guidance of your drum tutor you should find yourself growing rapidly as a drummer, which in turn will really spur you on to make even more progress.
So, the rehearsals have been going well and before you know it your first gig is on the horizon! For some people this is a really exciting time, for others its a real nerve wracker!! If you fall into the latter camp, don't worry as there are things you can do to ensure everything runs smoothly. Firstly, make sure you are prepared... know the songs well, ensure your gear is in good condition and wont let you down. get to the gig venue in plenty of time so you can set up at your leisure and get a feel for the place. One thing I have seen people do when suffering from stage fright is to drink heavily... Dont do it! This really causes more problems than it solves, so keep away from the alcohol, stay focused and enjoy the experience. Hopefully it will be the first of many gigs. In my opinion there really is nothing better than being able to go out and perform. During my drumming career Ive been fortunate enough to meet some wonderful people and visit some fantastic places.... things that wouldn't have happened had it not been for my drumming. So, remember how fortunate you are to be able to play and enjoy music.
As time goes by you might get to a position of wanting to earn a little money from your drumming. There are various avenues for this, such as playing in a wedding / function band. These tend to get steady work (maybe 1 or 2 gigs per week) and they pay quite well. If you are receiving money for playing, you have a duty to ensure that you act as a professional... arrive early, be easy to get along with, look the part, be prepared etc. Other opportunities for regular paid gigs are holiday camps, cruise liners, and even being a drummer in the Armed Forces. In the UK, the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines all offer full time jobs for musicians..not only do you get to travel the world playing the drums, but you also get well paid for it!
You might however decide that you only ever want to play for your own enjoyment, and that is reward in itself. Music can bring huge joy to all those involved and is a truly wonderful pastime.
The author, David Fletcher, has been involved as a retailer, performer, and teacher for over 25 years and is currently director of orchestral and marching percussion at Nottingham Drum and Guitar Centre as well as heading the marching and orchestral educational program at Music Tuition 4 Nottingham, a leading midlands tuition facility.
Firstly, you do not need to be a brilliant player to benefit from playing in a band... If you look hard enough there are always opportunities to play along with others... maybe a jam session at the local pub, a church music group, or a small band with a few old friends, all of these are a great way to expose you to playing live.
Perhaps you've been having regular drum lessons, have got a good sense of rhythm and know enough beats and fills to be able to play along with backing tracks of some of your favourite songs.... well now's the time ditch the backing tracks and find some real musicians. Check out the notice board in your local music shop for musicians wanted adverts, or check the local paper or even the internet (there are now several websites dedicated to bands/musicians wanted). As already mentioned, local Jam nights are a great starting point..you can go along and if you feel confident enough get up and perform one or two songs with the house band in a relaxed atmosphere. This should give you the boost you need and these places are often packed with other musicians looking for bands.. who knows who you could meet??
Once you have found some fellow musicians and arranged a few rehearsals, you need to ensure that you all have pretty much the same tastes in music and also the same goals... maybe you just want a fun band to play at friends parties, or something a little more serious ( perhaps even playing your own original material ). If you have been having drum tuition, you should find now that your playing really improves...there is nothing better for the developing drumming than playing "for real", and hopefully all those little fills and rhythms you've worked on will start to make sense. You should also find that any good drum teacher will be happy to help you to prepare and learn the bands songs. In my own teaching practice I often get students bring along a CD of a particular song that they need to learn in time for their next band practice, and I find that this is one of the most rewarding parts of the job... to help them learn a song and then maybe go and see them perform it live a few weeks later. Your teacher should also help to advise what gear works well for a particular gig (eg.. a little jazz quartet gig? small bass drum and thin cymbals,.... heavy metal?? big drums, heavy cymbals). between your new band and the guidance of your drum tutor you should find yourself growing rapidly as a drummer, which in turn will really spur you on to make even more progress.
So, the rehearsals have been going well and before you know it your first gig is on the horizon! For some people this is a really exciting time, for others its a real nerve wracker!! If you fall into the latter camp, don't worry as there are things you can do to ensure everything runs smoothly. Firstly, make sure you are prepared... know the songs well, ensure your gear is in good condition and wont let you down. get to the gig venue in plenty of time so you can set up at your leisure and get a feel for the place. One thing I have seen people do when suffering from stage fright is to drink heavily... Dont do it! This really causes more problems than it solves, so keep away from the alcohol, stay focused and enjoy the experience. Hopefully it will be the first of many gigs. In my opinion there really is nothing better than being able to go out and perform. During my drumming career Ive been fortunate enough to meet some wonderful people and visit some fantastic places.... things that wouldn't have happened had it not been for my drumming. So, remember how fortunate you are to be able to play and enjoy music.
As time goes by you might get to a position of wanting to earn a little money from your drumming. There are various avenues for this, such as playing in a wedding / function band. These tend to get steady work (maybe 1 or 2 gigs per week) and they pay quite well. If you are receiving money for playing, you have a duty to ensure that you act as a professional... arrive early, be easy to get along with, look the part, be prepared etc. Other opportunities for regular paid gigs are holiday camps, cruise liners, and even being a drummer in the Armed Forces. In the UK, the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines all offer full time jobs for musicians..not only do you get to travel the world playing the drums, but you also get well paid for it!
You might however decide that you only ever want to play for your own enjoyment, and that is reward in itself. Music can bring huge joy to all those involved and is a truly wonderful pastime.
The author, David Fletcher, has been involved as a retailer, performer, and teacher for over 25 years and is currently director of orchestral and marching percussion at Nottingham Drum and Guitar Centre as well as heading the marching and orchestral educational program at Music Tuition 4 Nottingham, a leading midlands tuition facility.
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