Drum experts, talk to me

[Lwek]

I'm totally new into the musical intrument stuff so bare with me. I'm under a new graduation requirements(**** the No Child Left Behind) and I'm required to have 3 trimesters in the fine arts department. So I chose to play an instrument for my sophmore year. The Drums.

First I would like to know the difference between a drum set and percussions.

Second, I just found out today that there are 5 piece, 6 piece, 7 piece, etc, drum sets. Which one do you think a typical senior high school requires you to have? (Like, are 5 piece for beginners or something...?)

Third, is this 5 piece drum set good? When I say good, I mean, nice looking, durable, right drum set for a starter, trustable company...

Last, is the electric guitar a better choice?

[Ntrik_]

Definitely go with electric guitar...

With good finger coordination.. you'll do well...

[RuneyPoo]

No Child Left Behind Act, I found that to be the gayest shit ever in life. -Kills-

Go with drums, it helps in the future. My friend right now has been being begged because he is good with his hands and beats, he can make up all his own. He works with me too, he sits there when McDonalds is empty and beats down on the grill, it entertains us highly because he puts such a good beat into it.

So I'd go with drums...

[Lwek]

Originally Posted by NtRik_

Definitely go with electric guitar...

With good finger coordination.. you'll do well...

I choose the drums because I don't have any friends that play the drums. I have tons of friends that play the guitar.

Another question, do I have to read music notes?

[Gimmi]

Drums I heard dont need to know them, for like street drumming ? so I guess if you can impress your teacher then you wont need to

[Ntrik_]

Originally Posted by Lwek

I choose the drums because I don't have any friends that play the drums. I have tons of friends that play the guitar.

Another question, do I have to read music notes?

erm.. not relaly.. as far I as I know it.

[hobo_ted]

Originally Posted by Lwek

I choose the drums because I don't have any friends that play the drums. I have tons of friends that play the guitar.

Another question, do I have to read music notes?

That would most likely depend on your teacher and what kind of band class you take. You would probably have to learn how to read music if you wanted to do concert band, but maybe not for jazz. I am in jazz band and our director usually just tells the drums what style to play in and they get to do the rest.

[jd-inflames]

You have to be able to read rythms and you are supposed to know the percussive staff...which is rather simple really. Instead of having notes you have which drum to beat on >.<

[Static]

get a double bass pedal and run as fast as you can while sitting down.

[Bret]

Originally Posted by Static

get a double bass pedal and run as fast as you can while sitting down.

lol. yeah, that would work nicely.

[TrongaMonga]

No, you don't have to read musical notes. There's no such thing for a drum set. All you usually have to do is to listen to the music, then start playing in a way it'll look nice with the music.

As for the number, it depends. Do you have different coordination in all your members (that is, you can move all of the four in different rythms), and fast? If not, it'll be hard to even play drums. If slow, get the lowest number of drums possible. If fast, get it as well. You'll need to pratice.

As for the ebay stuff, I have no idea. I'd have to try it to know if it is good. I only played drums for a year...

[Tipsy]

Originally Posted by Lwek

First I would like to know the difference between a drum set and percussions.

Percussion is basically anything that you hit with your hands. Drum set is just a bunch of percussion instruments put into one big thing. Percussion can be anything from playing a snare drum to playing a trash can. Your not the only one stuck in band... :susp

Second, I just found out today that there are 5 piece, 6 piece, 7 piece, etc, drum sets. Which one do you think a typical senior high school requires you to have? (Like, are 5 piece for beginners or something...?)

At my school you just need drum sticks and they've got everything else there.

Last, is the electric guitar a better choice?

I'm pretty sure there are no electric guitars in generic band, unless your doing jazz band.

[Lwek]

Yeah, I kind of figured that the school would provide the drum set. But what I want to know is what kind of drum set should I get for my house?

TrongaMonga, remember, I'm a starter in this so I have no idea what you mean by moving different rhythms.

Yeah I know it's kind of a little late to start an instrument in 10th grade... Oh well...

Ok, this is the hardest choice I have decide today and I need your help.
Which of these classes should I choose(remember, I want to be a drummer, nothing else)?

1. Varsity Band
   Students in the Varsity Band will continue to develop their musicianship through the study and performace of a variety of literature. They will work together to gain fundamental ensemble experience, explore relationships between musical concepts and other disciplines, and refelct upon music and muscial performaces through discussion and written dialogue. Students may also have an opportunity to work on solo literature and in small ensembles. The band will perform several times throughout the year. Registration for this musical esemble is to be considered a full-year commitment on the part of the student.
   
2. Symphonic Band
   Students in the Symphonic Band will continue to develop their musicianship through the study and performace of a variety of literature. They will work together to continue ensemble experience, explore relationships between musical concepts and other disciplines, and refelct upon music and muscial performaces through discussion and written dialogue. Students may also have an opportunity to work on solo literature and in small ensembles. The band will perform several times throughout the year. Registration for this musical esemble is to be considered a full-year commitment on the part of the student.
   
3. Concert Band
   Sutdents in this advanced band will continue to develop their musicianship through the study and performace of challenging wind band literature. They will work together to continue their ensemble experience, explore relationships between musical concepts and other disciplines, and reflect upon music and muscial performaces through duscission and written dialogue. Students may work on solo literature and in small ensembles. The Concert Band will be involved in an extensive schedule of performaces throughout the year. Registration for this muscial ensemble is to be considered a full-year commitment on the part of the student.
   
4. Garage Band
   Garage Band provides student musicians with the opportunity to experience, analyze, create, and perform music of their own time. Students will participate in sharing and discussion sessions, work in performing esembles, study basic music theory, write songs and lyrics, examine issues in the popular music business, and host artists and others who are active in the music industry.
   
5. Jazz Ensemble: Improvisation
   Improvisation is an enrichment experience for band students playing saxophone, trombone, trumpet, piano, drums, and guitar. Students will work to develop their confidence and improvisation skills. The improvisation class will perform several times throughout the trimester.
   
6. Jazz Ensemble: Big Band
   Big Band is an enrichment experience for band students playing saxophone, trombone, trumpet, piano, drums, and guitar. Students will study and perform big band literature from the 1920s to the present. The Jazz Ensemble will perform serveral times throughout the year.
   
7. World Percission
   Study, create and perform percission music from around the world.
   

[Onmyoji the Hidden]

I'd pick bass guitar, it is the next coolest instrument next to the turntables.

[Tipsy]

Varsity Band, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band are pretty much all the same, they look like just different levels of how good you are. This is all going to be generic classical I believe. For percussion, I really wouldn't go with this unless you love classical music.

Garage Band looks sort of like an actual learning about music. It says write music and music theory which is basically just studying and writing music. Just a suggestion, don't take this, music theory is a pain in the ass.

Jazz improvisation is jazz music with basically just making stuff up to fit the music your in off the top of your head. I wouldn't suggest that for just starting.

Jazz big band is basically just what it says, jazz music in a normal sized band. This is what I would choose, funner music than classical and it's not going to be that difficult.

For world percussion, I'm just taking a guess here, but it sounds like it is just a giant percussion ensamble. This is a band only uses percussion instruments so I don't think it would be that fun.

Also, I read the rest of the thread and i'll answer your other questions:

Another question, do I have to read music notes?

Basically, yes. For just drums it is just a sheet of music that has rythms all written in with C in the middle of the staff. For the percussion instruments like tympani and stuff you actually have to read notes because there is more than one note.

[TrongaMonga]

Originally Posted by Lwek

TrongaMonga, remember, I'm a starter in this so I have no idea what you mean by moving different rhythms.

Man, that's the first thing they asked me

I mean, for example, can you get your right hand beating, let's say, 4 times per second, your left hand 5 times per second, your left foot 15 times per second and your right foot 19825897127 times per second? That's what I mean. All those in different rythms.

[Mr.Underhill]

Guys, quit telling the guy what he should play, dude play whatever you want. as far as drums go, I know that drums are the hardest part to play in a band, work hard and learn the trade brother. Hardest choice though... Garage band, lets you paly with your buddies, plus you'll be palying 4/4 times :grunt

[Lwek]

Originally Posted by Mr.Underhill

Guys, quit telling the guy what he should play, dude play whatever you want. as far as drums go, I know that drums are the hardest part to play in a band, work hard and learn the trade brother. Hardest choice though... Garage band, lets you paly with your buddies, plus you'll be palying 4/4 times :grunt

What about drums makes it the hardest part to play in a band? Is it coordination?

[TrongaMonga]

Yeah, and speed of hands. You have no idea how hard it can get.

[Mr.Underhill]

Well dude, your the back beat of the band, you screw up BAM timing is gone, I'm blessed when it comes to a drummer, he's seriously the best I've met.