Choosing the Right Drum Practice Pad to Learn How to Play Drums

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Are you a new drummer or an experienced drummer? How do you know which type of drum equipment to choose, or which brand to you choose? If you are in a high school band, drum corps international (e.g. Blue Devils, Phantom, Santa Clara Vanguard, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts), or just a guy who works in a drum shop, this article is for you! We want you do know how to pick the right drum accessory, or better yet, the right practice pad.

With so many practice pads out there, how do you buy drum pads? To answer this, you need to know the type of drum music you will be playing, the environment you will be playing in, the precise drum equipment you will be playing, and your budget for buying drum a percussion pad.

So what type of practice pads are out there? Well, what do you want the percussion pad to feel like? Do you want it to feel like a bass drum practice pad, snare drum head, tenor practice pad, or just a plain drum practice pad. Is there specific brand that appeals to you like a Remo practice pad (Remo drum pad).

Would you play with a Vic Firth drum stick? Danmark? Don't just look for the average drum for sale. Choose best for your situation. If you can't be serious about that, then join the woodwind and brasswind section. Most people know of Reel Feel by HQ. Other styles are single sided, double sided where one side has a soft rubber and the other is a hard rubber made of neoprene. Drum pads are made different sizes too such 6" and 12." Other types of drum pads are mutes, which are made for drum kits (drum sets) for the drum heads and cymbals. Mutes are made in many different sizes and they make quiet practicing on option on the drum set.

What type of drum music do you play? Do you play Jazz? Are you a Drum Corp guy? Or, are you just learning how to play drum music? You need to know this so that your choice in a drum shop will be intelligent. Don't get a used drum pad. Buy drum pads that are best for your condition of playing.

How about your environment? Where are you practicing? Are you in a garage? Do you play in bedroom? How about at school? That is a funny one, if you are in a high school band, are you learning how to play drums in class? Sometimes drummers tap on their legs while in class. That's detention time my friend. Either way, anywhere, depending on your surroundings, you need to choose a drum pad that best suits your ears, feeling and the one that does not annoy other other drum bum. As most drummers know, there are many types of musical instrument accessory. When it comes to drum pads, there are also many types of drum practice pads.

Finally, what is your budget? Are you willing to spend $10 or $150? Most drum shops who sell single side and double side drum pads offer drum pads at an average of $45.00. You can expect shipping to be around $5-$10 depending on the drum shop and practice pad. Don't buy used drum pads. In addition to drum pads, these drum bum drum shops sell mallet bags, drum videos, drum books, many drum accessory and other drum equipment.

Choose wisely and happy hunting for your favorite drum practice pad.

Drum Sets - Tips For Student Instruction

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When teaching a student to play drum sets, perhaps some of the following issues should be covered:

Keep It Simple - The fact is that playing drums can be complex, but it essentially is a very simple instrument. Do not inundate students with too much information at one time. Start off teaching by assuming that the student knows absolutely nothing about drums. As lessons progress, the complexity of the jargon and practices can progress as well.

Encourage the right equipment - A teacher should encourage students to take good care of their drums. A double tom case will save a student time because he will have less that he needs to carry around. Likewise, a portable handcart is a nice item to have. This can help a person move the drums from the vehicle to the stage without injuring himself from trying to carry the equipment.

Encourage over learning - A student on a drum must know every piece of that set and every sound that the set makes so that it is simply second nature when he plays it. Every lick should be over learned so that playing the drum is done without even needing to think about it.

Help with cleaning - A good teacher will help his students not only be able to play the drum sets, but will also help a student know how to care for the equipment. Teachers can show students how to clean their sets by using a can of compressed air to get the dust out of the places that are hard to reach with a rag. Such places include areas such as in between the lugs and underneath the foot pedals.

Drums also often have dry duct tape residue on them. If there is residue on either the cymbals or on the drum stands, it can fairly easily be removed with a bottle of "Goo Gone."

Practice without drums - Even though a set is needed for performing, it is not always needed for practicing. A person who is working on learning a beat sometimes might be better off starting without the drums and then start using the set once he has become a little more comfortable with the lick that is to be played.

Encourage "heel up" play - Teaching a student about a technique to use when playing a drum set can make the student improve at a faster pace. It can also keep him from getting used to bad habits. By using the heel up method for playing a bass drum, a teacher can help his student know how to play with more power and more speed.

Play together - Playing a drum set alongside a student can help the student get a better idea of the positioning and posture he needs to have to play well. Playing together can also help a student better learn how to keep a beat on these sets.

A teacher who takes the time to properly explain and show his student how to play on drum sets is likely to increase his customer base thanks to the good reviews he will receive.