Seeing your child humming, tapping the table, or headbanging doesn’t always mean he is ready to take drum lessons yet. However, this indication may be your stepping stone in honing a special music skill for your child. There are several considerations that parents like you need to contemplate when enrolling their children in a music school, specifically drum lessons for kids in Singapore.

shutterstock_936300311. When is your child ready?

Based on our extensive research, drums are the easiest musical instruments to pick up and learn. Drums are also ideal for students of all ages. However, kids between ages six to seven are the easiest to teach drumming for kids lessons because these ages are where most students gain their needed mental focus.

However, do you discern whether your child is ready to hold his first-ever drum sticks? Well, we suggest that you look for deliberate signs such as body language. If you suddenly saw your child pick up the stick and hold it the way a drummer should, this could already be a sign. If he can count up to at least for, maybe he can already understand the basic drum notion, which uses basic counting skills and timing. Your child must also have a basic rhythmic ability, dedicated focus, and enough maturity level to commit.

 

TeacherPhoto22. Basic drumming skills that will be developed

In enrolling your children in basic drum lessons for kids in Singapore, here are the most basic drumming skills that will be developed:

  • Gripping the Drumstick

Gripping is actually one of the most basic drumming skills that every drummer kid must develop. Gripping the drumstick determines how well a drummer controls the drum stick. Balancing your grip with the stick also determines how well you can balance your every stroke and every beat.

There are various gripping techniques that a drummer kid may use, like the American grip, the traditional grip, the German grip, and the French grip. Nonetheless, every drummer kid must establish a good fulcrum.

  • Basic Drum Beat

You can’t let your kids play the drum the way they always wanted it to be. Sometimes, letting them smash their sticks with the drums to express their mood or feelings is good. However, letting them do this all the time may not be beneficial for their ability to focus on their basic drum beat.

Enrolling in a music school may help them develop this skill. After a few drumming lessons, they will play with the cymbal pattern using hi-hat or ride cymbal, and even move to learning other timbres using the rim of the drum, tambourine, or cowbell.

  • Stroke Technique

Music schools will also help your children develop essential stroke techniques like rebound and controlled strokes. The rebound stroke is great for building speed, while the rebound stroke uses stops, following almost the same motions and techniques used in rebound strokes. These techniques will help your child focus on relaxation, the economy of motion, and accuracy—all essential in developing their drumming techniques.

  • Developing Rudiments

This is where the best music school comes in handy. You may teach your child any drumming lessons through video tutorials or any other ways. Still, only music school can teach him the rudiments of drumming. Rudiments are the most critical skill that needs to be developed because it develops every drummer’s proficiency. Music schools often teach kids the basic rudiments like closed and open rolls, paradiddles, and flams.

  • Reading Sheet Music

Without a professional drumming teacher, you won’t be able to let your child or even any adult understand the ideals of reading a piece of sheet music. This is not as easy as it sounds, so professional help is always needed to learn this skill.

You can’t exactly expect your child to be like Nick Cannon in the 2002 film Drumline, where he learned to play the drums by listening without even knowing how to read the music sheet.

3. Essential beginner drumming techniques

Here are the essential techniques that a beginner drummer must always know and follow:

shutterstock_704226190

  • Select and set up your drums correctly – a poorly constructed drum set will restrict yourmovement and fluidity around it. Misfit drum sets may also affect your playing techniques, so choose the best size and drum set for your child.
  • Don’t hold your drum sticks too tight – learn how to control your music and every beat by learning how to control how you grip your sticks. The Matched grip is the most common, but you can also learn other types of grips.

To hold your stick, you must make a gun shape with your hand and hover it above your snare drum, palms facing up. Balance the stick using your index finger’s first joint, relax your thumb, and place it on top of the stick. Wrap the remaining fingers around the stick with your palms, facing downwards.

  • Build Muscle Memory – most beginner drummers want to play fast to release everything they want to convey to their listeners. Frequently, they also get carried away. However, it’s always essential to practice building your muscle memory first. Allow yourself to grasp this new technique to further your drumming skills.

There are still other essential techniques that need to be learned and mastered. However, the most critical thing to be taught to children is how to value their parents and improve their communication skills through learning how to play the drums.

TeacherPhoto2Conclusion

Discovering and developing your children’s skills in their early years is a better way to take the first step in turning them into the best that they can be. Music can improve their confidence, listening skills, patience, focus, and even mental abilities.  It’s always best to help them unlock their musical skills through proper guidance. Therefore, why not enrol them in the best drum lessons for kids in Singapore to teach them the basics.

If you are unsure where to enrol your child, you may check out the best drum lessons for kids Singapore offered by CRISTOFORI, one of Singapore’s best music schools. CRISTOFORI offers a Beginner-Friendly Drum Course Structure comprises of comprehensive and versatile techniques, graded institutional courses, and educational emphasis on performance at affordable prices.