Getting started on Percussion
Being a percussionist can be the greatest thing in the world, and let's face it - everyone loves hitting things.
Since time began people has been hitting things to create a beat or a rhythm, and why? It must have something to do with what it does inside our brains. It makes us feel good. So shaking or hitting something to create music might be one of the easiest and simplest way to feel good and make the world seem like a better place.
We can play fast when we are excited, we can play loud when we are frustrated. We can play soft to when we are sad, or slowly to help us relax. If drumming sounds like a good way to express yourself, let's get started.
Since time began people has been hitting things to create a beat or a rhythm, and why? It must have something to do with what it does inside our brains. It makes us feel good. So shaking or hitting something to create music might be one of the easiest and simplest way to feel good and make the world seem like a better place.
We can play fast when we are excited, we can play loud when we are frustrated. We can play soft to when we are sad, or slowly to help us relax. If drumming sounds like a good way to express yourself, let's get started.
Getting an Instrument
A percussion instrument is an instrument that we hit or shake to make music. They are divided into tuned and un-tuned instruments. A tuned percussion instrument is an instrument that is tuned to musical notes like a piano and includes instrument such as the glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba and timpani. Tuned percussion is an important instrument in orchestras and concert bands.
|
Un-tuned percussion instruments include drums such as those that are found on a drum kit, hand drums, snare drums, shakers, cymbals and tambourines. Untuned percussion instruments are widely used in in all styles of modern music.
|
|
If you want to get better at anything you have to practice and learning to play an insturmnt is no differnt. Having an instrument at home to practice on is important if you want to see development in your playing. To get started, getting some drum sticks and a practice pad is a good place to start. Practice pads are around $30 and sticks between $15 and $30.
When you are ready to get an instrument there are 3 possibilities-
Buy New, buy Secondhand or Hire.
Scroll down the page for further information on these three options
Buy New
Acoustic Drum Kit
When looking for a drum kit we are usually looking for what we describe as a 5 piece drum kit. This means 5 drums plus cymbals. A set of cymbals ideally has a set of Hi-Hats, a Crash cymbals and a Ride cymbal.
New entry level drum kits are usually around $600 and usually include Hi-Hats, 1 cymbal and a stool.
A common brand is dxp such as this one
When looking for a drum kit we are usually looking for what we describe as a 5 piece drum kit. This means 5 drums plus cymbals. A set of cymbals ideally has a set of Hi-Hats, a Crash cymbals and a Ride cymbal.
New entry level drum kits are usually around $600 and usually include Hi-Hats, 1 cymbal and a stool.
A common brand is dxp such as this one
|
Better sounding and more expensive kits usually don’t come with cymbals or a stool but, a cymbal pack consisting of Hi-Hats, a crash and a Ride are often bundled together into a package price.
A Pearl Export drum kit an intermediate level kit and is good example of this. Planet Z cymbals are the bottom range of Zildian cymbals. Brands to look for include Mapex, Sonor Tama, Pearl, PDP, Ludwig and Yamaha. |
|
Electric Drum Kit
Electric kits have the benefit of providing quiet practice as well as offering a wide variety of different sounds which can be a lot of fun to play around with. Prices currently start around $800 for an Alesis nitro Mesh kit
Look for brands such as Alesis, Roland, and Yamaha.
Electric kits have the benefit of providing quiet practice as well as offering a wide variety of different sounds which can be a lot of fun to play around with. Prices currently start around $800 for an Alesis nitro Mesh kit
Look for brands such as Alesis, Roland, and Yamaha.
Tuned Percussion
Tuned instruments can be expensive to buy new. A glockenspiel is usually a good way to get experience on a tuned instrument. These are usually around $180 such as this one
Tuned instruments can be expensive to buy new. A glockenspiel is usually a good way to get experience on a tuned instrument. These are usually around $180 such as this one
A 3 1/2 octave desk xylophone starts at around $1900 or $2600 for one with a standard frame stand.
A marimba produces a deeper and warmer sound than a xylophone and start around $2700 for a 3.3 octave instrument with a folding stand or $3000 for one with a standard frame with wheels.
A marimba produces a deeper and warmer sound than a xylophone and start around $2700 for a 3.3 octave instrument with a folding stand or $3000 for one with a standard frame with wheels.
A vibraphone is like a xylophone but it has metal bars and a sustain pedal like a piano. This allows it to produce a much smoother, richer, and more luscious sound. It is widely used in Jazz music.
Music Corner North currently have some excellent ex hire percussion packs available at the moment that include a practice pad, a snare drum and stand, as well as glockenspiel, sticks and mallets all in a handy carry case for $200. This is excellent value given that the glockenspiel itself is worth almost $200.
Buy - Secondhand
Second hand instruments offer excellent value for money. If a drum kit was bought new for $1000 you can expect to play between $500 and $600 for it second hand which may give you a better kit than buying an entry level for $600. There are usually lots of kits available on Gumtree or Facebook market place. And as a bonus, if the kits is looked after and maintained while you have it you can usually resell it when you have finished with it for the same price that you bought it for. So hours of learning and fun costing you almost nothing.
Now that is a win.
Now that is a win.
Look for a kit with 5 drums and a set of cymbals consisting of Hi-Hats, Crash, and a Ride. If they call it an 8 or nine piece kit it is probably not. Only the drums should be counted when describing the size of a kit. If it is a entry level kit ($600 new) the original cymbals are usually very poor quality. Look for a kit when someone has replaced the original cymbals with better quality cymbals such as those made by Paiste, Sabian or Zildjian.
Look for the major brands such as Pearl, Tama or Yamaha. If you need to find replacement parts for your kit, it is much easier if have one of these.
Hire
Studio 19 in a new player in the Australian hire market who partners with music shops by purchasing instruments on your behalf and then hiring them back to you. You can hire new instruments or near new instruments with a minimum hire period of 6 months.
Prices for both acoustic and electric drum kits start at around $20 a month for ‘pre loved’ instruments’ or $39 a month for new. Instrument hire can be arrange via participating shops such as Musicorp, Derringers, or Music Corner North.
The percussion pack consisting of a practice pad, a snare drum and a glockenspiel that can be bought for $200 from Music Corner North can also be hired for $24 a month through Musiccorp.
Xylophones, Marimba and vibraphones can also be hired through Musicorp. Prices start around $110 a month. Hire can also be arranged though local Adelaide vibes virtuoso Nick Parnell. His prices start at $245 for 3 months plus a $99 delivery
Prices for both acoustic and electric drum kits start at around $20 a month for ‘pre loved’ instruments’ or $39 a month for new. Instrument hire can be arrange via participating shops such as Musicorp, Derringers, or Music Corner North.
The percussion pack consisting of a practice pad, a snare drum and a glockenspiel that can be bought for $200 from Music Corner North can also be hired for $24 a month through Musiccorp.
Xylophones, Marimba and vibraphones can also be hired through Musicorp. Prices start around $110 a month. Hire can also be arranged though local Adelaide vibes virtuoso Nick Parnell. His prices start at $245 for 3 months plus a $99 delivery
