What Do I Need to Prepare for Drum Lessons?

Q1: What Do I need to bring into the lessons?

You are expected to have a folder to keep all the lesson materials and practice

guidance together. Please bring this in every lesson so that both students and I

are on track together. Please also bring a pair of sticks once purchasing them.

You are always welcome to bring in songs you like listening to or songs you want

to learn how to play them on a drum set.

Q2: What purchases do I need to make?

Please purchase a pair of drum sticks (any brands are fine, but the most common

ones are Vic Firth or Promark Hickory), preferably with wood tip (not a plastic

tip) – size of 7A for young students (age up to 8) and for students older than 8

years old, you have an option of either size 7A or 5A (which is heavier, hence, it

means there is more weight to the sound) or both (having both means you will

get to feel the difference and have an option to choose one over other for

certain songs/techniques).

You are NOT expected to have a proper drum set at an early stage of learning. It

is a loud instrument and takes up a lot of space. Furthermore, no matter what

your set-up situations at your place are, lesson materials will be the same. What

makes a great drummer is not to do with set up but one’s sheer commitment

on practices. I have personally experienced having all 3 possible options –

practice pad only, having an electronic drum set, then an acoustic drum set – at

different stages of learning. Therefore, I will confidently suggest slightly different

guidance and suggestion on ‘how to practice’ which are most relevant to

individual students’ set-up at home.

Here are some of the options you can consider, depends on your own conditions

and preferences:

1) Acoustic (Real) Drum Set:

Say you have a space for a drum set in the house (in somewhat sound-

proved room), understanding neighbourhood (you can make instrument

noises around your area), budget of no more than $2,000 and you are

aiming for long-term commitment to play drums. Then you can purchase

acoustic drum set.

For children (age up to 5), toy-like drum set would be best to practice and

play on. Price is around $150 ~ $200. Example can be this: [Click Me!]

For older children (age between 5 ~ 8 ish), junior drum set which includes

proper function of foot pedals would be best to practice and play. Price is

around $300 ~ $600. Example can be this: [Click Me]

For young adults ~ adults, a full-size drum set which includes a more

decent cymbals would be best to practice, play and move it around for

performances. Price can be varied but I would recommend setting the

maximum budget as $2,000. There is a Facebook Group Page called

‘SYDNEY DRUMMERS Buy, Sell, Trade’ you can sign into, if you want to

purchase a second-hand drum set. Otherwise, here is an example of a new

drum set: [Click Me]

2) Electronic Drum Set:

Say you have a small space for a drum set in the house but cannot make

instrument noises around your area, budget of no more than $1,500 and

you are aiming for at least 2+ years commitment to play drums. Then you

can purchase an electronic drum set.

The size of electronic drum sets is not as varied as acoustic drum set. This

is because electronic drum set in general are much easier for all-aged

drummers to practice and play on. The sound can come through either

speaker or headphones, so you also get an option of external or internal

sound production. Here is an example:

https://www.turramusic.com.au/yamaha-dtx452k-plus

3) Practice Pads:

Say you are not in a condition to set up neither acoustic nor electronic

drum set. This is completely fine, but you are still encouraged to purchase

a drum practice pad. Practice pads these days are well-made that they

generate almost equal bouncing feeling to the drum skin of acoustic

drums. Price is below $100. Please purchase at least 12” Practice Pad. Legs

(that some practice pads come al ong with) are not essential. Here is an example: https://www.optimumpercussion.com.au/index.php/evans-12-real-

feel-dual-tone-practice-pad.html

FAQ for Violin Lesson

【Frequently Asked Question - Violin Lesson】

When is the best age to start violin lessons?

You can start leaning violin at any age! The youngest learner in Master Piano Institute is 4 years old. And do also you are never too old to learn! So we welcome students of any age to enrol in our violin lessons.

How much practice does the violin require?

It is ideally to practice every single day. The more consistent your practice is, the more progress you can make, and the easier it becomes to play the violin.

What do I need to play the violin?

Apart from the violin itself and the bow, it's neccessary to have a shoulder rest attaches to the back of the violin and helps to hold the violin up whilst playing. It is important to find a shoulder rest that fits your body so that you maintain good posture as you play.

Rosin is also an important accessory, rosin is used on the bow and allows for the bow to grip the strings of the violin.

How often do violin strings need to be changed?

This will depend on how often you play. Generally every 6 months is a good amount of time to wait until changing strings. If you are an avid violinist and like to practice for over an hour a day you may find that your strings will need to be changed after 3 or 4 months. Over time the strings lose their vibrancy and it actually becomes harder to play in tune. Other signs to look out for are discoloured or unraveling strings. These are definitely signs it is time to change your strings!

How long does it take to learn VIOLIN?

Anyone can learn to play the violin, at any age. And the fact is, everyone learns at a different speed, so it's very difficult to tell everyone exactly how long it will take them to learn the violin.

Your learning speed depends on how much you practice. If you would like to become a great violinists, you’ll have to commit to many years of hard work. Learning is a lifelong journey, a musician is always learning. That's why no matter how long you've learnt violin there’s always new ways to play, new techniques to master, and new instruments to learn.

Everyone learns differently. Some people benefit from hands-on activities, while other incorporate information better through reading or listening.

In your first month, you’ll start with the basics. You’ll learn the parts of your violin and proper care.

In second month, you’ll continue to develop basic skills, and you’ll become more comfortable holding your violin and bow.

In three to six month, you can now start to play some simple songs you recognize.

In one year, you'll be very comfortable with your violin and the range of songs you can play really opens up because you know so many notes and rhythms.

In two to three years, you’ll solidify all the notes in first position, and become comfortable playing in flat keys. Your bowing will become more complex and varied, and you’ll learn about double stops and triplets.

In four or more years, you should be learning about shifting into third position, which opens up the range of the violin, so you can play higher notes. You might also learn how to play with vibrato, which will give you a more sophisticated sound and greater range of musical expression.

In conclusion, the more time you dedicate to practicing the violin, the faster you can increase your skills and learn more music you love to play. And the best way to learn the violin quickly is through private violin lessons with a qualified teacheder.