Do Online Drum Lessons Really Work?

Do Online Drum Lessons Really Work?

I was teaching face to face drum lessons at a music school when the restrictions put into place to due to covid caused the music school to temporarily close.

I doubted that online lessons would be of great benefit to students.

Some of my students, like me, doubted that online lessons would work.

Never the less I decided to set up a studio in a spare bedroom and was pleasantly surprised with the progress students were making.

As it became clear that the lockdown would continue for sometime and the online lessons were going well I decided that a purpose built studio (which I have always wanted ) was required.

This proved a good decision as the music school recently permanently closed its doors.

The students taking online lessons were making excellent, faster progress.

I wondered why this was. I can only surmise that their focus on a familiar screen concentrated their attention.

Lessons taking place in their own home, a familiar environment, on their own drum kit meant they were more at ease.

My original doubts were dispelled.

The only downsides I can think of are latency (a slight delay in the sound) and poor internet signal, both can be annoying but solutions are available.

My most advanced students are studying Grade 5 Rockschool, which has some pretty fast fills in it, and we are coping quite well with both of these irritations.

The tracks in Rockschool and Trinity Music College are only a couple of minutes long, so if there is an interruption or delay we repeat the track. ( in drumming repetition is good. ) When the students progress to Grade 6, they are obviously taking their education seriously, I will suggest that they purchase an audio interface which can be purchased for under £100 and this should help with the latency.

The poor signal can sometimes be down to another member of the family using the internet elsewhere in the house, this is easily solved by asking that for the duration of the lesson other members of the household don't use the internet, also signal boosters are available.

Why pay for lessons when if you click on YouTube there are thousands of drum tutors showing you how to do it?

This is a question that I have heard a few times. There are some amazing drummers on You Tube and I frequently pick up tips and fills from them myself but it is not structured learning. A good experienced online tutor will structure your learning process, picking up errors and offer exercises and advice on how to develop into a competent musician. I have had students merrily smiling away playing a track totally oblivious to the fact that they were playing it wrong.

I teach Rockschool, Trinity Music College, London Music College and The Percussive Arts Societies 40 Drum Rudiments.

Recent exam results have been great, of the last five students to take exams, four achieved distinctions and one achieved a very high merit. Amazing results!

The students are enjoying the lessons and we are still able to build a good rapport.

I have students in Kent, Rugby, Stockton on Tees, Oban, London, in addition students nearer to home.

So do online lessons really work?

When you compare the advantages of no travel time and traffic problems, no parking problems or payments, the comfort of lessons at home using your own kit etc. with the slight irritation of the odd time lag or poor signal..........

A resounding yes! Online lessons come out on top every time.

If you would like to try a sample lesson go to www.grahamfielden-drumschool.co.uk or www.drumlesson121.co.uk

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