The instructor’s proficiency on the instrument, the instructor’s teaching skills, and the type of bass drum playing style you wish to learn are the most important factors to consider when choosing the best bass drum lessons. When looking for bass drum lessons, cost and location are also important considerations. Another consideration, particularly when looking for the best bass drum lessons for kids, is whether or not the bass drum teacher has a good reputation in the community. Finally, finding the best bass drum lessons may require experimenting with various instructors and methods until you find one that works for you.
Students require instructors with sufficient skill to assist them in improving their playing, but a new bass drummer does not require a highly advanced instructor to get started. A suitable instructor for a beginner student can simply be someone who knows how to play the drum well enough to provide general instruction on its mechanics. Students who are already proficient on the instrument but want to improve to a professional level should seek out one-on-one instruction from a bass drum instructor. Learning in a group setting, such as a bass drum class, can be beneficial to beginning bass drummers. Advanced students should take bass drum lessons from a skilled instructor, because a skilled bass drummer is more likely to have experience and advice tailored to advanced bass drummers.
Bass drum lesson styles are generally divided into two categories: musical genre and playing technique. Students who want to learn the standalone bass drum require different types of bass drum lessons than students who want to improve their skills on the kit bass drum. Jazz, rock, and country music are just a few of the musical genres that use a bass drum as part of a kit.
Because the various types of bass drums are played in such a variety of ways, finding a bass drum instructor who specializes in your preferred type of bass drum can help you get the most out of your bass drum lessons. When a bass drum is played in a kit, it is hit with a beater, which is a mechanized mallet attached to a pedal. Other types of bass drums are struck with handheld mallets or directly with the hands and fingers on either side. Classical music, marching music, and polka-based music are among the genres that frequently employ a hand-struck bass drum. An instructor with experience playing in your preferred genre can provide you with specific pointers on how to play that style of music.