I've been playing drums for 15 years or so, and I'm capable enough. However, I'm self taught, and I have a lot of bad habits. I've never learned rudiments or been disciplined enough to stick with paradiddles.

Plus, I've an underdeveloped sense of feel or dynamics, and this frustrates me to no end. I'm beginning to think that I should take regular lessons to improve my fundamentals.

I'm wary though - I'm afraid I'll just end up playing whatever the teacher is interested in, or that I'll lose a creative side of drumming and become more machine-like.

I also don't know how to vet drum teachers - what should I look for? Versatility of styles? Barbara Woodhouse-like discipline? A willingness to accept that I don't want to play jazz?

Any suggestions welcome! If you know of any good drum teachers in the metro Boston area, that would also kick arse.

learning rudiments is really easy. you don't need lessons for that at all. pick up a book at the library, or better yet buy one of those $15 instructional videos that just run through all the rudiments and show you how to do them. most of those videos will also include some resources on basic sticking and procedure, how to sit/hit the snare/keep your wrists safe

if you think you have an underdevelopped sense of dynamics after 15 years i don't see how a teacher will help you out with that one. especially if you don't want to play jazz.

honestly, instructional videos will probably help you out more than anything else. also find the most difficult grooves you can and really try to figure them out. even if you're just learning to play one groove that's really difficult and requires you to hit shit in places and at times that you aren't comfortable with, you'll immediately improve your rhythm and independence and get a lot better. it will also open you up to new ideas.

i like to fast forward to the part of the video where the drummer being taped starts showing off (it's in almost every drum video i've ever seen) and then try and duplicate it, you usually have to watch it for hours and there's a lot of trial and error but it's really worth it in the end

Practice rudiments on a pillow. Learn how to do a double stroke roll on a pillow. It helped me a great deal.

definitely good advice

if you only practice on a snare you'll find you get sloppy on the toms

Chance wrote:Practice rudiments on a pillow. Learn how to do a double stroke roll on a pillow. It helped me a great deal.

Dude, you stroke your roll on a pillow?

That's it, I'm coming to this message board as often as I can now. Thank you n.c.!!!!!!

Get this book. It's all you need.

I had been playing since I was a kid (without lessons) when I went to college and got a little more serious about jazz (I hate jazz, but it was fun to play in the school's jazz ensembles). A percussion prof. (who was an amazing drummer) when asked about lessons from him, said "don't waste your time, just get the Jim Chapin book". It's an awesome book. It is full of 4 bar exercises designed to work on limb independence and poly-rhythms. I worked really hard through that book for 6 months or so (always with a metronome!) and saw improvements in my playing. I could play really well before, and the untrained ear wouldn't probably have noticed a difference, but other music people at school actually complimented my improved time, which was pretty cool knowing that I had had issues with rushing/dragging etc. Plus it gave me a whole new pallet of interesting things to play with. LOVE that book. I would recommend it to ANYONE wanting to improve their playing. I've since taught younger dudes with that book. It's amazing.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions - and I think I'll be buying Mr. Chapin's book. Cheers!

Chance wrote:Practice rudiments on a pillow. Learn how to do a double stroke roll on a pillow. It helped me a great deal.

TOTALLY. It gets you playing rolls correctly, with your fingers. You'll be able to control your strokes a lot better.

(And who doesn't want to have better control of their stroke?)

Strange thing is that I have been feeling the same way.

I had to start rethinking the way I play drums, because I do not have the use of my right index finger any longer. The tendons were all cut a couple of years ago, and the two painful hand surgeries I had, to fix my hand, left me with no real usage of that finger.

Sucks ass for a drummer, but I have to move on.

I have struggled on for almost two years, played shows, and even recorded an album.

I noticed my right hand was getting tired quicker, and I was playing with a death grip.

Interestingly, I talked to other drummers about my problem, and was informed that the correct way to hold sticks did not depend on the index finger, but rather the middle finger. The Moller Technique. This more relaxed grip has helped tremendously.

Anyway, I have started to really look at the way I play drums. I mean really looking in a mirror at myself play. I noticed some bad things, such as i have been playing with my left wrist turned awkwardly to the snare. No wonder my left wrist always feels tight. To confirm it, I even had my daughter look at the way I play drums. Without any leading comments from me she told me that left arm looked stiff.

Well if my untrained daughter can see faults that I have and help me, I am not above asking the help of a professional teacher.

It is like anything else in life. It is alright to ask for help.

Maybe, you could find a friend, who might be able to help. A friend of mine suggested that I practice in front of a mirror to see how I play. I did and saw some obvious mistakes.

You can buy a lot of books to help yourself. I see that Jim Chapin has been suggested. I would also look into getting a copy of stick control, by George Lawrence Stone. Most of the books are self explanatory.

I am thinking about at least practicing with another drummer. One for motivation, two is that they may help point out flaws, I have not noticed about myself, and three that I might learn from something they do right.

Hell, it might even be fun.

If you feel that someone might be able to help you, by all means ask.