Teaching Suggestions

[millerdakiller]

I've taught drums before but never to a six year old. Any suggestions.

[Styx]

Howzit MillerdaKiller.

I'd suggest keeping the lesson to no more than half an hour for starters. Kids that age find it difficult to focus for any period longer than 15 minutes.Short, sharp and specific. I wouldn't push the technical side of things too much with regards to technique and such but would focus on teaching him/her how to read. Most 6 year olds have already started reading themselves so teaching them how to read music would be a good place to start. Always try keeping the lesson fun and exciting and slowly try and instill a sense of discipline with regards to practice. Above all you need to remain extremely patient with your student.

I hope this helps.

Regards

Styx

[Skynman]

I like what Styx said keep it short at that age but also find out the music he or she is interestd in or likes now? Then use that to build on as well keep it interesting and the lesson teaching will be easier for you and your student(s)!

[jeffwj]

A lot of people try to teach by ear at that age, but as mentioned before a six year old is more than capable of reading notes. Don't expect to cover everything as quickly as you would with an older student. At six years old there is no hurry. Let him learn and enjoy playing.

Jeff

[jackothedrummer1]

Yes, teaching to read music would be a good choice. Most that age want to learn "beats." You may throw some "beats" out for them in between reading.

I've taught a few students ranging from 6-60, and the most difficult for me were the young ones. Patience is an absolute neccessity. Make sure you are their friend and their instructor, that way they won't be embarassed to play for you, but also respect you enough to practice the material...

Good luck!

[Wile E. Coyote]

I've taught drums before but never to a six year old. Any suggestions.
I would say: No, thanks...
LOL
Sorry, I don't have enough patience for kids in that age... The youngest I had was 8. What a nightmare. And once a woman asked if I wanted to teach her 4 year old kid. I answered: let him join the local music school, he'll have more fun there with the other kids.

[vadrum]

I've taught drums before but never to a six year old. Any suggestions.

you could also try teachers from other disciplines or instruments or perhaps elem. teachers to see what they do to try to keep the students engaged and see if any of it could utilized or applied to the drum lesson.

[Wavelength]

Have him/her listen to a lot of music, or better yet, watch some videos. I've found out that some young wannabe drummer don't really listen to any music, and therefore their image of drumming is quite foggy at best. Have him play along to some AC/DC (or similar) songs, correct his/her playing posture and technique, and go from there. When the pupil has a strong image of what drumming sounds like, it's far easier to relate it to sheet music.

Work on simple eighth-note rock beats with different bass drum variations. Comp on the hi-hat, and later, on the ride while playing quarter notes on the hi-hat pedal. Basic beginner technique can be improved just by playing simple beats; you don't need to delve into rudiments with six-year-olds. Once the beats are grooving along nicely, you can add some simple sixteenth note fills to spice it up. When practicing the fills, you might be able convince the pupil of the benefits of practicing the single stroke roll. Naturally, this hand-to-hand technique can be further developed by playing those simple beats with hands playing alternating sixteenths on the hi-hat.

[k3ng]

I'm teaching a 6 year old too, and I'm starting with some light jamming with very very simple hand leg rhythms or 2 hand rhythms, just to let them slowly build up a time keeping inside of them. Try it out.

[millerdakiller]

my 6 year old student won't be playing beats for awhile.

I'm not even going to bother with that. I'm going to start with rudiments and patterns to build up his hand coordination before there is going to be any discussion of beats.

I was thinking about teaching him to read, but I think he would have difficulty practicing that. So I was looking for suggestions in that kind of range. Does anyone know any teaching techniques I can use to teach a 6 year old how to read, and understand fractions.

[Robin]

Can this kid play the drums at ALL? If he can't, I wouldn't start with him reading notes or rudiments. That'll bore him out. Let him play around and show him a few starters in the beginning.

[Quadruple Groove]

yea youll need to spark some interest in him/her, if I'd have to sit behind a pad and play lrll to a click in drum class Id have left long ago, I mean, when you start getting anywhere, then you want to improve and understand the importance of rudiments but at first its more about actually playing something behind an actual kit d:

[Wile E. Coyote]

Can this kid play the drums at ALL? If he can't, I wouldn't start with him reading notes or rudiments. That'll bore him out. Let him play around and show him a few starters in the beginning.

I completely agree.

Tjena killen! Hur är det i Stockholm?

[jeffwj]

Can this kid play the drums at ALL? If he can't, I wouldn't start with him reading notes or rudiments. That'll bore him out. Let him play around and show him a few starters in the beginning.

Robin - We are not babysitters. We are a teachers. Taking lesson money without giving a service in return is unethical. If the kid is going to "play around" then suggest that the parents buy a drumset so he can "play around" at home without the weekly fee.

Even my youngest students can can play quarter notes and quarter rests. They can read them out of a snare book. They can play quarter notes on the cymbal while playing two and four on the snare drum. Those who have read my posts before know that I try to be helpful, respectful, and not rude. However I believe in honesty. Every teacher has the right to decide at which age the student may start lessons. But if you don't think you can perform a service, don't accept the student. Parents pay a good deal of money for lessons. Many parents are not musicians themselves, so they don't know the difference. If you turn down the student, the parents can find then someone who is comfortable teaching young ones.

Miller - Please IM, email, or call me and I will be happy to give you some ideas that I use with students.

Jeff

[gusty]

Robin - We are not babysitters. We are a teachers. Taking lesson money without giving a service in return is unethical. If the kid is going to "play around" then suggest that the parents buy a drumset so he can "play around" at home without the weekly fee.

Even my youngest students can can play quarter notes and quarter rests. They can read them out of a snare book. They can play quarter notes on the cymbal while playing two and four on the snare drum. Those who have read my posts before know that I try to be helpful, respectful, and not rude. However I believe in honesty. Every teacher has the right to decide at which age the student may start lessons. But if you don't think you can perform a service, don't accept the student. Parents pay a good deal of money for lessons. Many parents are not musicians themselves, so they don't know the difference. If you turn down the student, the parents can find then someone who is comfortable teaching young ones.

Miller - Please IM, email, or call me and I will be happy to give you some ideas that I use with students.

Jeff

good post 202020202020

[Robin]

Robin - We are not babysitters. We are a teachers. Taking lesson money without giving a service in return is unethical. If the kid is going to "play around" then suggest that the parents buy a drumset so he can "play around" at home without the weekly fee.

Even my youngest students can can play quarter notes and quarter rests. They can read them out of a snare book. They can play quarter notes on the cymbal while playing two and four on the snare drum. Those who have read my posts before know that I try to be helpful, respectful, and not rude. However I believe in honesty. Every teacher has the right to decide at which age the student may start lessons. But if you don't think you can perform a service, don't accept the student. Parents pay a good deal of money for lessons. Many parents are not musicians themselves, so they don't know the difference. If you turn down the student, the parents can find then someone who is comfortable teaching young ones.

Miller - Please IM, email, or call me and I will be happy to give you some ideas that I use with students.

Jeff
Still, one lesson with some playing around and something that will spark his interest can only do good.

[jeffwj]

There has to be educational content sometime. Yes - play for him. Yes - let him hit some drums and cymbals randomly so he can hear what they sound like. But if there is no assignment or learning of notes then he will be confused when you actually do start to teach him to read. He'll just want to bang around. Would you expect to take a child to a piano lesson and just have him hit the keys? Does that sound right? Well then why do we settle for this on drums? Just some stuff to ponder.

[JacobKaye]

Hello,

Normally, my policy is not to accept students under 11 years old. However, I have been teaching an 8 year old child for about 6 months. Honestly, though, this particular student's progress will scare you to death!

My experience... children learn quite quickly more quickly than we, adults realize, sometimes, instead of explaining an idea...they catch-on much more quickly by holding their hands, with the sticks in their hands and just do the correct movements a bit with you guiding their hands. (They do get bored quickly with repetitive wording/ phrases). They are young not stupid.

It is important for children to feel the rhythm. I have found it also helps the younger children by having them play the various rhythms they are reading on their body (they can tap the rhythm with their hands, only, on their thighs, once. Then try the next rhythm with them taping, with their hands, only, on their chest, etc.)

Then try on the drum pad and/ or drum. A variety of sounds is excellent in keeping their attention.

Remember to give them an opportunity to stand up and stretch, if they want, during the lesson.

If you can, keep me posted?

[Wile E. Coyote]

Normally, my policy is not to accept students under 11 years old.
Mine too. I think before that is a bit too early. Of course you can never tell, but if someone has to discover it, it's not me.

[brittc89]

Robin - We are not babysitters. We are a teachers. Taking lesson money without giving a service in return is unethical. If the kid is going to "play around" then suggest that the parents buy a drumset so he can "play around" at home without the weekly fee.

Even my youngest students can can play quarter notes and quarter rests. They can read them out of a snare book. They can play quarter notes on the cymbal while playing two and four on the snare drum. Those who have read my posts before know that I try to be helpful, respectful, and not rude. However I believe in honesty. Every teacher has the right to decide at which age the student may start lessons. But if you don't think you can perform a service, don't accept the student. Parents pay a good deal of money for lessons. Many parents are not musicians themselves, so they don't know the difference. If you turn down the student, the parents can find then someone who is comfortable teaching young ones.

Miller - Please IM, email, or call me and I will be happy to give you some ideas that I use with students.

Jeff
I agree with this to some extent. BUT, from my own personal experience through my drumming education, just being exposed to the tedious parts of drumming can be a real burnout at first. I know my first teacher was all about reading and books and rudiments and things like that and that was all fine and dandy, but I hated it, it bored the crap outta me. I never practiced because there was nothing "fun" whatsoever to work on. And I know you may find that there are times when ripping through the qurater note quarter rest exercises are a real blast, but I know the majority of six year olds begin playing the drums to do exactly that, play the drums. Now, by no means do I mean to undermine your teaching style, from your posts that Ive read, you sound like youd be an excellent teacher, but I do think there needs to be some aspect of fun added to drumming at an early age, especially through the private lesson system, in order to inspire kids to want to play and improve. Another example of sheer boredom is my 10 year old cousin. He just started taking lessons this year and I can feel how bummed he is because his teacher, a former DCI director, hasnt even begun to work with him on the set (I took a lesson from him when I visited my cousin, most boring hour and a half of my life and I love to work on my hands). He works out of one of the essential elements book and he never practices simply because it isnt fun. How could a five stroke roll compare to video games for an 8 year old? It couldnt for most. And unless you are just trying to weed out the really motivated toddlers from the slackers, I feel that, in most all cases, your only hope would be the over bearing parent making their kid practice on the drum pad thrity minutes a day before they can go out riding go-karts. But this is all just my own personal view from my personal experiences.

[rendezvous_drummer]

One thing I notice is that the teacher neglects the subject. Listen to the subject. Don't try and force him to do something that he doesn't want to do. If he wants to learn double bass, single hand roll, or punk drumming, then teach him that. If he's a punk or metal guy, then teach him/her what they're interested in, but there's also no harm in introducing them to new things like jazz or funk.

[jeffwj]

I agree with this to some extent. BUT, from my own personal experience through my drumming education, just being exposed to the tedious parts of drumming can be a real burnout at first. I know my first teacher was all about reading and books and rudiments and things like that and that was all fine and dandy, but I hated it, it bored the crap outta me. I never practiced because there was nothing "fun" whatsoever to work on. And I know you may find that there are times when ripping through the qurater note quarter rest exercises are a real blast, but I know the majority of six year olds begin playing the drums to do exactly that, play the drums. Now, by no means do I mean to undermine your teaching style, from your posts that Ive read, you sound like youd be an excellent teacher, but I do think there needs to be some aspect of fun added to drumming at an early age, especially through the private lesson system, in order to inspire kids to want to play and improve. Another example of sheer boredom is my 10 year old cousin. He just started taking lessons this year and I can feel how bummed he is because his teacher, a former DCI director, hasnt even begun to work with him on the set (I took a lesson from him when I visited my cousin, most boring hour and a half of my life and I love to work on my hands). He works out of one of the essential elements book and he never practices simply because it isnt fun. How could a five stroke roll compare to video games for an 8 year old? It couldnt for most. And unless you are just trying to weed out the really motivated toddlers from the slackers, I feel that, in most all cases, your only hope would be the over bearing parent making their kid practice on the drum pad thrity minutes a day before they can go out riding go-karts. But this is all just my own personal view from my personal experiences.

I do see a point. But there is a time and place for things. I have the student play through the snare drum exercises first. Then they play drum set (even at the first lesson.) They read on drum set as well, but also play along to songs like Wild Thing. I also use DVDs to inspire the students so they can see what is possible if they stick with the note reading and technique. I believe in a balanced lesson.

[Paul Quin]

Jeff:

from your posts (both these and prior posts) you are clearly a knowledgeable drummer and a good teacher who cares about his students. I do not disagree with your approach and especially the ethical concerns which seem to pass many by. I do beleive, however, that music (whether drumming or anything else) is best learned as a language - especially for a child so young. When we teach our children to speak we do not do it by teaching them to read. We teach them by letting them copy what we do until it has independent meaning. The fact that "daddy" can be spelled and written is a skill which we do not introduce them to for some considerable time after they have achieved speaking. For those reasons I think that with young kids the use of reading as an introductory teaching tool turns many more away than it attracts. I think showing them how - holding their hands (as Jacob suggests) - and making them use their ears is a much more progressive and effective way to kick start a love of the instrument. Once that basic musical vocabulary can be expressed then it is time to show the student what these sounds look like when expressed as notation.

This method of teaching (the "Suzuki" method) has been practised very successfully with the violin and the piano although I know of no-one who uses it to teach the drums. Maybe there is a reason for that and if so, I defer to your experience.

Just some thoughts

Paul

[Wile E. Coyote]

This method of teaching (the "Suzuki" method) has been practised very successfully with the violin and the piano although I know of no-one who uses it to teach the drums. Maybe there is a reason for that and if so, I defer to your experience.

Maybe that's because most drummers don't go through methodical structured methods like in classical music. 99% of the drummers will say that a Suzuki is a motorbike. It's about time to change this kind of stuff.

[jeffwj]

Luckily I am married to a violin teacher, so I am familiar with the Suzuki method. Paul, while you and I are familiar with the the method I think others on this site might not be. The Suzuki method does have books as well. What is taught by ear is later read on paper. I see no problem with this method of teaching. But Suzuki is a method. I feel that drum teachers might use the method as a framework to "teach by ear" only. Reading is followed up by rote in the method.

I'm glad that we can get a chance to discuss - and sometimes agree to disagree. But our intentions are all good.

Jeff

[Paul Quin]

I'm glad that we can get a chance to discuss - and sometimes agree to disagree. But our intentions are all good.

Jeff

And that - in a nutshell - is the beauty of this forum.

I actually don't think we are very far apart in our philosphy except that you may provide notation a little earlier than I would. In any event, your students are lucky to have you.

Paul

[millerdakiller]

I would say: No, thanks...
LOL
Sorry, I don't have enough patience for kids in that age... The youngest I had was 8. What a nightmare. And once a woman asked if I wanted to teach her 4 year old kid. I answered: let him join the local music school, he'll have more fun there with the other kids.

That's actually what I said initially. A little backstory: the 6 year old is actually my little brother. And my parents have been bugging me for months. I kept saying he was too young, but then I thought about Buddy Rich and about how awesome it would be to be known as the guy who taught the next Buddy Rich. That's why I eventually caved.

[meandhimcallitus]

Def start out with basics, then ask him what HE wants to learn.

[Styx]

To visualise how a whole note is broken down I use the cake method.Picture a whole cake in front of you(which kid doesn''t like cake) The cake represents a whole note. If I were to cut the cake in half I'd have to half notes. If I were to cut those to half pieces of cake in half I'd be left with four quarter notes etc etc. It's a great way to visualise how a note can be broken down into it's smaller parts. Just a suggestion but it's worked pretty well with me.

Hope this helps

Regards

Styx

[millerdakiller]

To visualise how a whole note is broken down I use the cake method.Picture a whole cake in front of you(which kid doesn''t like cake) The cake represents a whole note. If I were to cut the cake in half I'd have to half notes. If I were to cut those to half pieces of cake in half I'd be left with four quarter notes etc etc. It's a great way to visualise how a note can be broken down into it's smaller parts. Just a suggestion but it's worked pretty well with me.

Hope this helps

Regards

Styx

I like pizza better, cause that's always 8 slices. unless its a stupid pizza, in which case, it doesn't deserve to be eaten