Yes, every musician should learn to play drums as it can help contribute to shaping their musicality, style and giving a deeper understanding of music and all it entails.
You’ll learn great rhythm and timing when you play the drums - something that is important if you ever plan to play in a band or an orchestra. These skills are useful for other instruments, which will make you a better musician and make it easier for you to help other musicians in your band or if you’d like to move on to teaching.
If you want to start getting fitter but working out isn’t your style, then you can use playing the drums as a key part of your exercise routine. Playing the drums is a great cardiovascular workout especially when you’re playing demanding fast songs.
Research shows that drumming can burn the same amount of calories that cycling or running does, which reinforces why drummers will remove their shirts during gigs when they’re under the hot spotlights of a stage.
Good drummers are in high demand. They’re expected to have great musical knowledge and be able to play a variety of musical genres and have a good understanding of other musicians.
Most people who want to play an instrument or want to play in a band want to either be the front person who gets all the attention or the guitar player who gets crazy solos that the crowd is in awe of.
Most aspiring musicians don’t dream of being a drummer, so there's a lack of good ones around and the demand for them is only growing. So, if you want to make it in a musical career, learning the drums will help you move forward.
If you play the drums, you may find it easier to write your own music as you’ll know exactly what kind of drum music to have within the songs without having to explain it to another drummer or someone who won’t play it how you imagined it.
Are drums fun to play?
Yes, drums are definitely fun to play. Even if you don’t plan on training to be a professional drummer, they are a great way to let your hair down and have some fun.
This is not to say that learning the drums isn’t hard, because it is, and it’ll still require a lot of practice and focused attention but the joy of getting through a song without a fault for the first time is euphoric and you’ll feel like an absolute rockstar, even if you’re sat in the back room of your home.
Playing the drums is a good form of stress relief. Like boxing can relieve stress from hitting a punch bag or sparring with a trainer, the physical action of striking the drum kit, the vibrations they create, and the loud noise can help overcome negative emotions and help you feel lighter even after 10 minutes of playing. Many drummers compare the endorphins they feel when drumming to the runner’s high that people experience after a great run.
Many professional drummers or those who are in a band will say that the least fun part about being a drummer is having to lug your kit around with you when you have a gig somewhere.
You always have to be the first one to arrive at the location so you’ve got enough time to set up and you’ll always be the last to leave as you have to disassemble your kit to take it home with you again.
It can be a bit miserable seeing bandmates simply put covers on their instruments and chuck the case over their shoulders and leave whilst you sit on the stage.
As you gain more experience performing, you’ll become accustomed to quickly assembling and disassembling your drum kit at venues as you’ll have to give time to the next act to come on stage.
Are drums worth learning?
Yes, drums like any instrument are worth learning regardless of if you’re an adult or a child. If you’re interested in joining a band, then being able to play the drums is very desirable as they provide rhythm and dynamics and they also set the timing for each song for the other musicians in the band.
If you’re someone who struggles with stress or even low confidence, then drums can be a great way to relieve any frustrations you have and release your inhibitions.
Drumming is extremely powerful and highly demanding songs can be breathtaking to watch from the crowd, however, it’s surprising how many highly-regarded drummers are softly spoken and quiet characters.
Not every drummer is a crazy rockstar but the instrument can help people be who they want to be and show everyone what they’re made of, even if you can’t say it in words.
Not only will you learn so much in regards to music when doing your training, but you’ll be able to make new friends through performing or if you’re in a band and they’ll also be able to give advice and help you become a better drummer.
No matter how long you’ve been playing the drums, you’ll always find new things to learn whether that’s through other drummers or other musical instrumentalists.
Whether you’re looking to play for fun or start a professional music career, learning drums will be worth your time.
What can you learn from drums?
You’ll learn good musicality when playing the drums as you’ll develop strong rhythmic and timing skills which will be invaluable taking forward in your training and if you ever consider joining a band.
You’ll also learn self-discipline and acceptance when playing the drums as getting to where you want to be can take years and you’ll need to be able to put in the time to achieve your goals. You’ll come to learn when it is best to give up on a session if you keep making mistakes and to come back to it another day with a fresh mind.
You’ll also learn the difference between focused practice and jamming sessions as both are beneficial to building your skills and confidence as a drummer but there is a time and a place for each.
Even the best drummers in the world are still learning after decades of playing the drums and you’ll quickly come to accept that the journey of learning to play the drums never comes to an end.
When should I start playing drums?
For children, the age of 6 or 7 is the best time to start learning the drums as they'll be old enough to understand instructions, however, it all comes down to whether a child is willing to learn to play an instrument or not.
You can start playing the drums at any age and some people may find they have more time and patience to start learning an instrument later on in their life. Indeed, people have taken up the drums after they retired and are loving it!