Materials:

 

I usually follow the grading route with the exam board Trinity College London and their Drum Kit books. I find this is the best system as it teaches many different styles and time signatures, and drummers end up being stronger players by Grade 8 compared to other exam boards or syllabuses.

 

Please find below the links to the three books:

 

• Initial to Grade 2:

  Trinity Drum Kit Book 2020–2023 (Initial–Grade 2)

• Grade 3 to Grade 5:

  Trinity Drum Kit Book 2020–2023 (Grades 3–5)

• Grade 6 to Grade 8:

  Trinity Drum Kit Book 2020–2023 (Grades 6–8)

 

 

Lesson Structure:

 

Lessons generally follow this structure:

 

• Working on pieces or other set work

• Reading rhythms

• Rudiments

 

Reading rhythms is important as it helps grow musical knowledge and understanding of how different rhythms are structured and counted. This is essential when playing music, especially when sight-reading.

 

Rudiments are the foundation of good drumming technique. They improve control, coordination, and creativity, helping drummers play fills accurately and move smoothly around the kit. They also increase speed and make complex rhythms easier to play.

 

 

Practice:

 

A big part of learning any instrument is regular practice. I understand that buying a drum kit is a big financial decision, so it can be worth waiting a month or so before committing. However, practicing outside of lessons is the best way to improve quickly.

 

Ericsson, Krampe, & Tesch-Römer (1993) found that students who engaged in regular, deliberate practice performed significantly better than those who did not.

 

Here’s a good structure for drum practice:

 

• Warm up with rudiments (e.g., Single Stroke Rolls, Double Stroke Rolls, Paradiddles).

• Play through your current work to spot mistakes or unpolished areas.

• Focus on tricky sections — slow them down and repeat until consistent.

• Play the full piece again with improvements. If certain areas are still weak, repeat focused practice daily until it becomes automatic.

• Practice time can be 15 minutes to an hour, and is best done daily.

• Avoid only practicing on the day of your lesson — spacing practice out through the week is far more effective.

 

After practicing (which involves motor learning), the brain continues to process and strengthen that learning during sleep. Walker (2002) found that motor skills, such as finger movements, improve significantly overnight—even without further practice—due to this sleep-related consolidation.

 

Tip: Don’t cram on lesson day! Spread your practice out, especially in the days before your lesson. Your brain locks in learning while you sleep, so you’ll arrive more prepared and confident.

 

 

Drum Kit Recommendations:

 

Buying a drum kit can feel overwhelming, so here’s some simple advice:

 

Electronic or Acoustic?

 

• Electronic kits are great for small spaces and quiet practice (use headphones).

  Cons: They don’t feel quite like acoustic drums and second-hand models can have issues with triggering or connections.

• Acoustic kits offer the real feel and are what you’ll use in live/studio settings.

  Cons: They take up more space and are very loud.

 

Recommended brands:

 

• Electronic (Good quality): Roland, Yamaha, Alesis

• Electronic (Budget): Donner, Gear4Music

• Acoustic (Good quality): Yamaha, Pearl, Sonor, Mapex

• Acoustic (Budget): Peavey, CB Drums, Percussion Plus

 

Where to buy:

Facebook Marketplace is a great place to find second-hand kits. Many websites also sell new or B-stock kits at a discount.

 

 

Documents:

 

Please find below a document with all the rudiments to practice, as well as beginner grooves that are useful for building coordination and understanding of the drum kit.

If you have any questions or wish to book lessons, please contact - robinalexmusic@gmail.com