Mega Music Talent

Posts Tagged ‘drum lessons’

Listening to music can soothe a savage beast. It does wonders for people who might be under pressure or simply burnt out. It can influence an emotion thus creating ebb of reaction depending on the rhythm and mood of the sound. Many experts relate situations to the type of melodies an individual listens to. It is a proven fact that most untoward situation results from listening to disturbed songs that are rebellious in nature. A piece of advice for the brokenhearted: keep away from love songs.

A harmonious tune can inspire. It can dictate happiness, sadness and even craziness. Preferred choice of sound can dictate the mood for the day. It can tell so much about a current feeling and thought. This is not a surprise. One can tell a personality through preference. So if you like to party obviously you do not like classics, do you? Surely you would get bored with theatrical songs with high notes. However it is not a bad idea to be flexible sometimes.

Admit it. You are a frustrated artist. You probably took up some piano lessons or drum lessons when you were young. Or most likely ask some friends to give you free guitar lessons to impress a crush in school. Unfortunately music lessons from school were not enough to gain a contract but cheer up. Not everyone who took singing lessons is able to open the gates of heaven, right? Read the rest of this entry »

Scores of people want to take their love for music to the next level by learning how to play an instrument. However, too many feel that they don’t have a natural ability or lack musical talent, and ignore the urge to sign up for music lessons. They might be intimidated by the hours that are required to be proficient at a musical instrument or be put off by the stereotypical lifestyle of a musician. In spite of all that, they might pick up a guitar and learn a few chords to sing songs to their children, or express their creativity by banging away on a drum set in a weekend garage band.

If you have a deep love for music – no matter if you are a senior, adult, teenager or a child – music lessons can be a boost to your self-esteem and your social life. Making music can be a solo act, but it is often contingent on playing with other musicians and connecting with other people. It is often more fun, too! Learning a popular guitar riff or piano jingle comes with great satisfaction, but to be able to break out your guitar as you gather with friends around a campfire is priceless. No one ever said you had to quit your day job in order to be a musician.

Music lessons also can bolster your cognitive thinking and boost your brain power. Research published in 2009 by the Institute for Music and the Mind at McMaster University in West Hamilton, Ontario, shows a strong correlation between musical training for children and certain mental abilities. According to the study, a year or two of musical training can lead to higher levels of attention and memory.

In addition to stimulating your thought process, the style and genre of music you prefer adds a little excitement to your social life by bringing you closer to people of similar interests – those who share your same passions and intricacies. Once you get started with guitar lessons and are able to strum a few notes, you can learn and practice full songs with your friends. You may even head out to concerts and musical events together for inspiration.

Have you always had a secret desire to play the drums but figured it wasn’t worth driving your neighbors – not to mention your housemates – completely batty? Learning to play the drums doesn’t have to be a noisy experiment; try an electric drum set or practice pad, and find a local rehearsal space to practice what you’ve learned from your drum lessons. If your child has a strong interest in being the next Travis Barker, you’ll want to consider drum lessons, a practice pad and two sticks first, before going all out with a full drum set that he or she may lose interest in quickly.

Of course, music lessons need not always involve an instrument. Music lessons with a voice instructor can be just as rewarding as having a guitar lessons or drum lessons. Who doesn’t want to wow the crowd by hitting that high note in their favorite song on karaoke night? Even if you don’t feel comfortable performing for an audience, it is nice to carry a tune while singing along with your friends or alone in the car.

Music brings people together and inspires self-confidence. This is just as true for children and teens as it is for adults. If you have always had a hankering to learn a musical instrument or improve your voice, you have little to lose and much to gain. Go for it.

Author Bio: Justin Sarra is Sales Manager at Pianos N’ Stuff Music, which offers music lessons in Pittsburgh, PA, including voice lessons, guitar lessons, bass guitar, drums and piano lessons by Pittsburgh’s best and well-respected music instructors!

“What Kind of Drum set should I buy?” or “What’s the best brand to buy?” are probably two most frequently asked questions. Even some professional players get it a little confused when it comes to making a decision on what to buy sometimes. This guide should help you figure things out and help you make the right decision.

First, for you beginners, let’s look at the different components of a drum set. First you have:

1. Bass drum
2. Snare drum
3. High tom
4. Low tom
5. Floor tom
6. One ride
7. One crash
8. Two hi-hats

Those are just the basics. Now we’ll move on to the hardware and accessories;

1. Snare stand
2. Cymbal stands (includes wing nuts)
3. Hi – hat stand
4. Foot pedal for the bass drum
5. Mount for the tom toms
6. Throne (this is where the King or Queen drummer sits on)
7. Legs for your floor tom (sometimes you’ll have a stand)
8. Drum keys used for tuning purposes

So now that you’ve got the basics down, let’s move on to making a buying decision. In an ideal world, you’d have just one main brand that magically works for everyone. You’d also have enough money to afford to buy it. Drum sets can cost you anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to several thousand dollars , depending on brand name and quality.

Now if you go online to places like Musician’s Friend or Guitar Center or even Ebay , you’re liable to find the following brands: Pearl, Remo, Tama, Gretsch, Mapex, Yamaha, Slingerland, Ayotte, DW, Ludwig, CB700, Premier, Sonor, TKO, Maxwin, Sunlite, and Thor. There are more name brands, but this is just a basic list here. Cymbals also have brand names such as, Solar, Ufip, Paiste, Meinl, CB, Stagg, Sabian, and Zildjian.

Again, you get what you pay for. When you’re making a buying decision, you want to make sure that both the bottom and top heads are on your drums. You also want to make sure that none of the lugs on the drums are missing. You need them to be able to tune your drums. Also, be sure that the exterior drum finish is in good condition. Your hardware needs to be sturdy and all your locking mechanisms need to be secure.

Another thing to look out for is to make sure the drum heads are in good shape. If all the drum heads are bad, then it’s going to be pretty expensive to replace them all.

If you are able to afford to buy a brand new set of high end quality, then by all means do so, but if you’re on a budget and you need to look for a used set, then be sure that you get it from an older player who takes care of his or her equipment. Sometimes you can get an older set that will still last you many years from someone who has given their drum set loving care.

Do a basic search on a drumset on google or look through your local classifieds. Just like buying a used car, if you’re getting a used set, you’re going to have to put some money into it. If you can, take an experienced drummer with you to help you check out your potential drum set. Also, listen to your gut instinct. If something doesn’t “vibe” or it doesn’t “feel” right, then leave it alone. Another thing you want to look for is external clues. What does their home look like. If it’s filthy and dirty, they probably don’t take care of the drumset you’re about to buy. On the other hand, if they are neat and clean, you’re probably in luck. This is not always the case, and there are exceptions, especially if people are renting or living with roomates, so use your head here.

Visit John Sandy at http://www.JohnSandy.net for more information drums and learning how to play drums. Free music and art lessons available!

Article Source: http://megamusictalent.com

Drums have been around forever. Another name for drums is called a membraphone. This is because drums are really an instrument that makes sound by striking a membrane. Drums consist of the body which is hollowed out. Then, a membrane of some sort is stretched over the end of that drum. Pegs are tightened and loosened to create different tones. Most people think that the body of the drum makes the sound, but it’s actually the membrane that makes the sound.

Drums date as far back as 6000 BC. Mesopotamian excavations have unearthed drums that date back as far back as 3000 BC. Markings on the walls of caves in Peru depict drums. The Native American Indians made drums out of gourds and wood. They used these for their ceremonies and spiritual rituals. Drums have played and important role in many ancient societies and were used for more than just music.

As the uses of drums evolved, drum kits were developed. A drum kit is basically a group of various toned drums. It was found that one person could play more than just one drum at a time. He or she could play several simultaneously. This is also called double drumming. Tom toms and cymbals were invented in China and they were then added to the regular drum kits. Later, more people got creative and added percussion instruments like wood blocks, cowbells, chimes and things. By the time 1930′s rolled around, the standard drum kit had taken shape. This drum kit consisted of a bass drum, foot pedal, large hanging cymbals, hi-hat, snare and tom toms.

Later on during the 1960′s, rock drummers expanded the drum kits, which are the normal standard of today. More cymbals and toms were used as well as another bass drum to increase speed. Electronic drums were also created. Electronics drums are cool in a way because they can create sounds that traditional drums can’t. So then, we had the synthesized drum sounds that you hear in many styles of modern music of today.

If you’re a beginner and you’re wondering what you should have in your drum kit, here’s a list of items:

1. Snare
2. 3 toms, high tom, low tom , floor tom
3. Bass drum
4. Ride cymbal
5. Crash cymbal
6. Hi-hat

If you’re wondering how much a drum set will cost, the answer is a little complex. Some drum sets can be as cheap as $100 or $200, while others can cost as much as $10,000 or more. As with anything, you get what you pay for. You want a drumset that’s sturdy enough to endure years of playing. If you’re planning on becoming professional and going on the road, doing performances, you’ll want to invest at least $700 and up on it.

On the other hand, if you’re just planning on keeping it a hobby, then you may can get away with $200 or $300 sets.

These are the basics. You can always add more things like Chinese cymbals, a cowbell, etc. If you don’t have a drum kit yet, don’t let that stop you from practicing. All you need is a couple of drum sticks (they cost about $3 to $10 at the music store) and a wood block. Main thing is that you practice your rhythm and the basics like paradiddles and basic beats. If you’re a complete greenhorn, then this is going to take you enough time to learn until you can save up for a set. Until then, keep on rockin’.

Author: Enigma Valdez

Check out http://www.JohnSandy.net for free drum lessons, art lessons and more!

Article Source: http://megamusictalent.com