Drumming 1A
Time: 14:00 - 15:30
Location: Keeley Street
- Course Code: ME633A
- Dates: 03/05/25 - 12/07/25
- Time: 14:00 - 15:30
- Taught: Sat, Daytime
- Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Paul Chivers
Course Code: ME633A
Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
As a beginner, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of drum set playing - starting with set up of the drum kit, posture, stick grip and control, some starter rudiments and essential co-ordination exercises - hand to hand and hand to foot. This training aims to teach kit drumming up to the standard whereby you can function in a band.
What will we cover?
- Stick control exercises, warm-ups and rudiments
- Introduction to drum notation: 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 notes, triplets, rests
- Basic co-ordination on drumset: hand/hand, hand/foot
- Rudimentary exercises
- Essential grooves
- weekly practice of playing together.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Demonstrate good posture and stick control
- Demonstrate a sound and varied practice routine
- Play some rudiments: paradiddle, double strokes
- Demonstrate developed co-ordination skills on the drumkit, applying rudimentary forms to the drumset
- Play a variety of grooves.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No prior experience of drumming required, but any music experience will be of advantage.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
As much practical work as possible with practice pads. Some kit work where co-ordination exercises involve hand/foot techniques. Demonstrations and recorded examples, listening, playing along. Build a practice regime. Resources will be available also in the google classroom.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Bring your own sticks, note pad; all practice pads and kit are provided. Written material (exercises and samples) will be provided by your tutor, and you may be required to purchase a drum tutor book.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Drumming 1B.
Paul has spent most of his adult life playing with sound, making music, and helping others to do the same. In the late 1980s, with 0.5 MB of digital memory, he played his own compositions at clubs and parties around the M25. He first taught music technology in 1990, whilst programming and recording with Asian Dub Foundation, Coldcut, Jeff Wayne, Juno Reactor and, latterly, Dub Colossus. He also studied with jazz drummer and pedagogue John Stevens, and with West African, Brazilian, and Cuban drummers. Paul ran his own recording studio in Belzise Park for 20 years and his interest in audio editing and performing brought him to sound art, leading to a Masters at Middlesex University in 2011, researching mashup culture, multiple simultaneous audio streams and associated issues of ownership. Paul has taught for Community Music, WAC Arts, and now at City Lit, where he teaches Sound Art for Music and for Learning Disabilities, Afrocentric drumming and other practical music courses. He also teaches at Guildhall, as professor of Electronic and Produced Music. He has run three recording studios and now likes to spend time enjoying the countryside and the sounds of nature.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
