Lessons keep having or ditch them

[invasion]

I started taking lessons a few weeks ago which are going ok but, I am not sure if they are worth the money £25hour.

The lessons are taken from "Complete Learn to Play Drums Manual" which I have, so I have all the course lessons in this book and it comes with CD's so I can hear each example. I started lessons because I wanted to get it right from the start and not get bad habbits!

My grip is ok and my teacher has pointed out things I am doing wrong so I can correct them...the thing is... could I do just as well going by myself ???and spending the money on instructional DVD's etc that I can replay over and over also I want to start a covers band so I could spend the money on drum music and work my way through the stuff I until |I got it.


so what do you guys think ??

Regards
A J

[fourstringdrums]

If you just started taking lessons only a few weeks ago, I would stick with the teacher until you really have your technique and the basics down and have a solid foundation. Then from there you can go off and have a better time at learning by yourself. A teacher can give you the guidance and fix any problems that come up along the way until you are more confident in your abilities and what you already know.

[Michael G]

I started taking lessons a few weeks ago which are going ok but, I am not sure if they are worth the money £25hour.

The lessons are taken from "Complete Learn to Play Drums Manual" which I have, so I have all the course lessons in this book and it comes with CD's so I can hear each example. I started lessons because I wanted to get it right from the start and not get bad habbits!

My grip is ok and my teacher has pointed out things I am doing wrong so I can correct them...the thing is... could I do just as well going by myself ???and spending the money on instructional DVD's etc that I can replay over and over also I want to start a covers band so I could spend the money on drum music and work my way through the stuff I until |I got it.


so what do you guys think ??

Regards
A J

Don't ditch! Having a teacher is one of the best things to help you improve your drumming. A DVD can show you how to do it, but can't correct you on how not to do it. Take lessons for as long as you are able to, that is the most important catalyst to becoming a great drummer!

[denver_nuggs_15]

You could teach yourself how to do anything. you could become a brain surgeon without a teacher. its all just a matter of how long it will take you to learn it. with a teacher you will pick up technique, etc. much faster than with a dvd.

[That Guy]

I will echo what was previously said by our members. Stay with the lessons. You already stated that your instructor has already been able to point out some bad habits that you already had.

I know that lessons are expensive, and it might not seem that right now you are benefitting that much from what you are paying out. But Trust me, you are benefitting. Stay with the lessons until you have basics down on notation and technique.

Also, this is a big one! Don't be afraid to communicate with your instructor about what you are feeling or how you think things are going. Communication with your instructor is a vital tool. If you are unhappy with a certain teaching technique of his, let him know. If he is a good instructor, more than likely he will appreciate your honesty and probably find another approach to the same lesson.

Stick with it, you wont be unhappy. Give it your best.

[jangus]

Well I wouldn't stick with a teacher that takes every lesson out of a book like that. I don't like that at all. The book shouldn't teach the student, the teacher should.

[That Guy]

Well I wouldn't stick with a teacher that takes every lesson out of a book like that. I don't like that at all. The book shouldn't teach the student, the teacher should.

You need the book too. The instructor is there to enhance the parts from the book and keep your technique in check. Unless your just meaning that you would like your instructor to come in with originals and not stick to one book.

[zambizzi]

I started taking lessons about 9 mo. ago and I had the same thoughts about 2 or 3 months into it. However, over time my teacher would correct the bad habits I would begin to form and when I think about how quickly I've picked things up....and how much I've learned in that 9 mo. - it makes me want to continue to take lessons even longer.

There are several things I can do that my teacher can't, now...and I'm quite able to teach myself. I'm really gaining confidence in my own chops, however there's much to learn and I want to get there quickly. I'll continue to work w/ this guy for at least another year.

It's the experience that your teacher has, that you do not, that you should be drawing from...even if you don't think you're learning anything...you're probably mistaken.

[fazzybOO`]

I would stop if I were you. I've had lessons, and they all try to change my playing. I learn my technique from videos on youtube and from these forums... If you get the basics of the techniques you want in your arsenal, then the rest come with playing. Following someone elses paths and techniques exactly ruins your creativity imo. Plus who's to say the way they teach you is the best way? Who's to say buddy rich (for eg) did this or that perfectly, and that there's no way to do something better than him?

I know I'm going to get a lot of heat for this statement, but w/e, it's my opinion.

[That Guy]

I would stop if I were you. I've had lessons, and they all try to change my playing. I learn my technique from videos on youtube and from these forums... If you get the basics of the techniques you want in your arsenal, then the rest come with playing. Following someone elses paths and techniques exactly ruins your creativity imo. Plus who's to say the way they teach you is the best way? Who's to say buddy rich (for eg) did this or that perfectly, and that there's no way to do something better than him?

I know I'm going to get a lot of heat for this statement, but w/e, it's my opinion.

Hi fazzybOO. I'm not going to give you any heat for your opinion. The only concern of mind would be, how would someone be sure if thier technique is truly correct unless a professional was observing? I know many people who thought they were correct in thier technique and come to find out, what they thought was correct technique, was actually preventing them from advancing fundamentally.

But, there are plenty of self-taught drummers who are great drummers, who might not have correct technique. So, your point is valid in some instances.

[ledzepjb]

I would stop if I were you. I've had lessons, and they all try to change my playing. I learn my technique from videos on youtube and from these forums... If you get the basics of the techniques you want in your arsenal, then the rest come with playing. Following someone elses paths and techniques exactly ruins your creativity imo. Plus who's to say the way they teach you is the best way? Who's to say buddy rich (for eg) did this or that perfectly, and that there's no way to do something better than him?

I know I'm going to get a lot of heat for this statement, but w/e, it's my opinion.

Now that is exacly what i didnt want to hear!

Of course, many of the greats never took any lessons, but then again, even more of them did! Unless your teacher is horrible, lessons can only improve your playing and help you discover so many new things that you wouldnt of had with a simple forum or dvd, just like That Guy said:

how would someone be sure if their technique is truly correct unless a professional was observing?

[DestinationDrumming]

Your teacher is like having a video camera trained on you for each lesson analysing your every move. They are feeding back that info and sharing ways to improve. My teacher uses pages out of books, at one point I was having difficulty with the speed of my right foot and out came a different sheet from a different book to help correct my problem.

If it's the money then have lessons every two weeks rather than every week. That way you'll be able to do some of your own developing but still have your teachers input.

[TheSteve]

Is the teaching teaching out of the book directly or is he incorporating it in his lessons? 25 bucks for a lesson sounds like a great price but only if he's a good teacher; sometimes price doesn't matter. If you're learning a lot from these lessons then I would say stick with it but also, you've only been going for two weeks so try it out longer and then go from there. Either way always take lessons so if you're going to leave this teacher make sure you can go elsewhere. Best of luck.

[invasion]

yeah so far we have just been going through the book so I got to thinking hey.... I can do this myself and save £25..although I do understand that he can tell me what I am doing wrong so I can correct it and somtimes I haven't even been aware of the mistake !

That also got me thinking could I record my practise so I can listen back and hear what mistakes I have been making..or even better video myself.

One thing he has been going over a lot is grip, the thing is he said I can play the 8 bars or whatever through perfect except my grip is wrong at times....but I feel comfortable how I hold them and the more I try otherwise seems to make me to rigid and makes it harder to get rebound....so how important is it that Iget this grip thing correct or should I say how he holds them?? I will post picture in a bit to show you how he said I should do it .

Regards
AJ

[nhzoso]

I agree if you just started a few weeks ago you need to keep going for a few more weeks atleast. I usually take lesson from October through April, then I take a few books and dvd's and try to add my own idea's to them over the summer month's. Plus my summer's are usually chaotic and a few hobbies that I love come in to play IE: (Golf, motorcycling) So I really don't have the time for a set schedule.

I also agree with fazzyBoo to some extent. Taking lesson's from 1 person on a weekly basis for 12 month's a year can have some negative effects on your creativity. Some people will fall into a set way of just waiting for the next lesson and not try to think something through themselves.

I also think if your asking this question after a few lesson's maybe you are not satisfied with your current instructor's techniques. You should talk to him about why he is going about things in a certain way, I would even ask him what is the difference if I buy the book myself and do it or I keep paying you to show me whats in the book.

I have been playing for almost 2 years now and have had 3 instructor's. Test the water's, if you find the 1st one was the best she/he will always take you back.