Drumming Techniques: Tips and Tricks for Improving Your Child’s Drumming Skills

Learning to play drums and perfecting your sense of rhythm, dexterity, and playing style is a lifelong endeavor that requires passion, dedication, and a love of music. If your kid is interested in learning more about the world of drumming, they’re in for a lot of fun and a great challenge that can easily turn into a life-long labor of love.

Drummers are the backbone of every band, the masters of rhythm, and their keen understanding of the instrument and how it can fit in with others is irreplaceable. Through learning how to play drums, your child will learn the value of discipline, and practice and they’ll develop their dexterity to a whole new level. If you’re looking for ways to help your kid be a great drummer, here are some tips and tricks both of you should keep in mind.

It All Starts with Basics

Playing an instrument is a continual life lesson and the approaches your child adopts while learning to play drums will shape his attitude toward future challenges. That’s why it’s so important to start with and master the basics, whether drumming is a hobby or a calling.

While it may be more interesting to get into more complex beats quickly, nailing beginner aspects like proper stick control, hand and foot coordination, and knowing to read and count drum sheet music will make every subsequent lesson easier. The same goes for practicing various beginner-friendly beats like single-stroke roll, double-stroke roll, flam, and paradiddle. Once your little one learns to play them precisely and switch between them, every other beat will come more quickly.

Excellent Dexterity Unlocks Drumming Greatness

Superb hand and foot coordination is the key to playing drums well, and it’s a big task because drumming requires a unique kind of dexterity. Your kid is used to moving their hands and feet in sync, and drumming requires a high level of independence between the limbs.

This is a skill that your little drummer will build over time, as it requires focus and practice over a long period, and it’s important they understand the value of dexterity. Proper hand and foot coordination is crucial for young drummers, and they can practice it through different bass drum exercises and simple rhythms that require the use of both hands and feet. Additionally, better dexterity will help your kid learn more about how their body moves and that will seep into everything they do.

Understanding Dynamics Is a Must

To people who don’t know a lot about drums, it may seem as if there’s no finesse to it and that it all comes down to hitting drums very hard, but nothing could be further from the truth. Dynamics play a big role in drum playing, and your kid should understand that from the get-go.

Learning about dynamics and how they shape different playing styles and genres will allow your young drummer to feel the dynamic nuances and how they can be incorporated into playing. This, in turn, will allow your child to add more expression to their playing. The best way to get a firm grasp on dynamics is to learn how to play ghost (soft) notes and loud accents and alternate between them. This will add depth to their playing, plus they’ll learn how the drum sounds in various dynamic ranges.

Consider Investing in Drumming Lessons

Whether you’re teaching your kid how to play drums or they’re trying to learn on their own, having a professional point out areas for improvement and strong suits could make a world of difference. Enrolling your aspiring musician in drum lessons will give the little one invaluable 1-1 time with a drum teacher who can help them with any stumbling block.

This kind of structured learning can be a turning point in your kid’s drum playing, and the personalized guidance they get could set them on the right path. Just remember that, whether you’re looking for affordable drum lessons in New York or any other state, the most important aspect of these classes is for your kid to click with their teacher so that they can feel free to make mistakes and express themselves in front of their mentor.

Speed and Endurance Come in Time

Knowing how to play drums fast and for longer periods (for example, for a concert set) is a skill in itself and one that should be built gradually. If you see your kid rushing to get through their precision practice because they want to be faster, encourage them to slow down.

Speed is important, but it can cover up a lack of precision and knowledge of different beats, so be sure to dedicate time to speed exercises separately. Some of the best ways for your little drummer to develop more speed and control is to work on the “push-pull” technique and the Moeller Method. This will help them develop precision in speed and build their playing stamina.

Conclusion

If your child is excited about playing drums, they’re in for a lot of fun! As they begin, encourage them to develop good habits and help them nail the drumming basics. Your support will allow them to become a confident drummer and fall in love with the instrument, plus playing drums and talking about tips and tricks could become a wonderful bonding activity in itself. Happy drumming!