When you do begin to know or think that you know enough to begin teaching others how to play the drum set?

I have been playing since age 10, I'm 38 now. Is that long enough of active experience to qualify me to try and teach what I know.

Not everyone that knows how to play knows how to teach. I guess I am concerned that I might suck at teaching and end up wasting the time and money of some parent while trying to teach little Johnny or Susie how make music on a drum set.

Posted - 03/13/2010 :  18:35:47    

I think 28 years playing experience is a very good informal teaching qualification and you wont suck at it if you remember how you began to learn.

Posted - 03/23/2010 :  19:48:49  

I think you are the only one who can answer your question.

I think everyone starts out wanting to learn set, but in doing so, I think that skips a lot of the basics. I started by studying snare for three years. That was learning my rudiments, reading music, learning dynamics, and all that technical stuff. Then I moved on to set playing.

The biggest obstacle to your teaching will be the students. As in any teacher-student relationship, the teacher is there to guide, but it is up to the student to practice and learn. Playing ability is not absorbed; is it learned through practice.

I wish you luck in your endeavors.

Posted - 03/24/2010 :  08:18:37  

I would say you have plenty to offer as a teacher. I started drumming at age 12 and at 19 yrs. I was teaching and selling in a music store. Patience will be your best virtue. along with good communication skills. Find out what direction your student wants to go with drumming. I always made rudiments my foundation for teaching and expanded those principals from single snare to full drum set. Talk with other teachers ( of all instruments) and they will give you great guidelines to follow. Good luck. Just do it. You will learn as you go.

Posted - 03/25/2010 :  07:09:05  

I am going to go for it. When my buddy expands his music store into the space next to him, I am going to offer up my services as a drum teacher.