Drum (Level I-IV)
DRUM COURSE SUMMARY (Levels I-IV)
Let's face it, playing drums is cool! It may seem a daunting task, but our structured yet informal classes will soon have you up and running and, before you know it, you'll be jamming with fellow classmates and playing with a band!
The classes only take a couple of hours per week, and you have to put in some of your own practice, but as the courses are focused, structured and organized you'll be amazed at the progress you can make!
Each level contains a perfect balance between technique, theory and the building of practical skills, all delivered in a supportive and encouraging environment. Simply put, this is the most enjoyable way to learn to play and meet like-minded people!
GENERAL COURSE DETAILS
| Course Name: | Drum (Levels I-IV) |
| Commencement: |
Level 1 - 2nd July 2008 |
| Duration: | 2 hours/week for 10 weeks, part-time |
| Class Times: |
Level 1 - Wednesdays 7-9pm |
| Cost: | £299 |
| Entry Req: |
No assessment/audition is required. Following discussion with staff, students are allocated to one of three levels of class depending on experience and ability |
DRUM COURSE OUTLINES:
DRUMS 1
This course is for the absolute beginner but who is keen to get behind a kit and start to make some noise!
The course starts with an introduction to all of the elements of the kit, including how to set them up and what to look for if you are buying a drum set. You will learn how to hold the sticks and all of the basic foot and hand techniques, and will then start to play some simple classic groves, building up your coordination skills along the way, and ultimately adding some simple fills to the mix.
All of the material discussed is presented with real examples, so the course is always fun and builds up your abilities through learning to play music. Lots of interaction within the class and drumming together will soon build your confidence!
Finally, in week ten of the course we provide a student band for the class so that everyone can get their first taste of playing drums in a band, all within an encouraging and supportive environment!
LEVEL I COURSE OUTLINE
- Introduction to the fundamentals such as posture, grip and drum kit set-up
- Recognise and play drum parts by learning the basic elements of drum notation
- Start playing classic grooves and fills
- Develop performance skills and build confidence by playing along to tracks.
DRUMS 2
Have you have been playing drums for a few months? Can you play a few grooves and fills? Then this is the course for you.Here you will continue developing your technical skills, working on movement around the drums to enable you to play even more impressive drum fills and grooves! You will also begin to address one of the most important aspects of playing drums; namely timekeeping.
The course is built around lots of musical examples you will recognise so not only will learning be fun, but you'll leave with lots of cool things to play. Plus, because there will be lots of interaction and playing together, your confidence will grow.
In addition, one unit of the course is a Live Performance Workshop where we provide a backing band for the class to workshop a song and apply some of the material studied!
LEVEL II COURSE OUTLINE
- Introducing the ride cymbal, you'll learn to create more diverse grooves and patterns
- By exploring different ways of moving around the drums, you'll learn to play more exciting fills.
- Learn to recognise different drum parts by developing your reading skills
- Improve your timekeeping and applying the things you've learnt when playing along with backing tracks.
DRUMS 3
Have been playing for about a year? Are you comfortable playing a reasonable number of grooves, fills and songs but don't yet have the skills for more complex patterns? This course will help you break through that barrier!
You will be introduced to the basic elements of dynamic control and start to understand the use of accents. You will also learn about phrasing and tackle some more demanding grooves and fills including snare and bass drum variations.
In addition, you will spend two of the units on two chosen styles. This will enable you to get a specific drums perspective on how to play two popular styles, understanding the key elements within those styles. In drums III these styles are 'Blues' and 'Rock'.
Finally, as in the other levels, one unit is an LPW where you will be backed by an Institute 'House Band' and perform in a real band environment.
LEVEL III COURSE OUTLINE
- Increasing mobility around the drum kit to create more interesting fills and patterns
- Incorporating the kick drum into fills
- Developing your reading skills, both in terms of rhythm and drum charts
- Developing your stylistic awareness by playing examples from the leading exponents of those styles
- Developing your timekeeping and applying the things you've learnt when playing along with backing tracks.
DRUMS 4
Can play reasonably fluidly? Have you mastered some of the more complex grooves, fills and techniques, but have yet to develop your technical skills and dynamic control?Drums VI is designed to develop your technical skills, introduce some rhythm theory and start to build real strength, stamina and control. You will be introduced to rudiments whilst developing different sticking and accent patterns, consider linear phrasing and start to play in time signatures other than 4/4. All of this material is discussed within the context of the drumming greats, with real musical examples from artists and songs to help you grasp the subject.
Contemporary music is rich mix of many diverse genres. In Drums VI we make two of the units 'style specific' to give you the opportunity to investigate the great exponents and heritage of a genre, which in Drums VI are 'Advanced Rock' and 'Funk'.
In addition, one unit is an LPW giving you an opportunity to play with an Institute 'House Band', gain live experience and apply what you have learnt.
LEVEL IV COURSE OUTLINE
- Introduction to rudiments and how to use them on the kit
- Rhythm theory and playing in time signatures other than 4/4
- Developing four-way coordination skills and patterns
- Extending you mobility around the drum kit
- Extending your stylistic awareness by playing examples from the leading exponents of the chosen styles
- Developing your timekeeping and applying the things you've learnt when playing along with backing tracks.
