Why BANG! Is Better
The School
BANG! is different. Our environment is relaxed, not stressful , like some music schools. Our teachers are very very good, but they check their egos at the door. We believe you should be able to hear your drum teacher before you decide to take lessons (check out our “LISTEN” section on this website). We believe in intelligently focused hard work to achieve results. We believe in non-judgemental, friendly learning with an emphasis on enjoying the process. Drums are fun!
When it comes to drumming, you get back what you put in. If you spend significant time practicing material that is selected and designed to meet your goals as a drummer, you will undoubtedly get better.
We love the drums and their history — did you know that the drum set is a purely American invention? The study of drumming history reveals that all “the greats” have learned by studying those that preceeded them. It is the most efficient way to learn. From this notion comes one of BANG’s favorite learning concepts…
Our Unique Philosophy: Efficient Learning
Our teaching method is partially based on one of our favorite mottos: “Play Drums Like Your Idols. And then…” This concept results in a very very efficient way to learn the drums. This means that one’s progression should accelerate at a greater rate than that of others who do not use this method.
The most important teachers you can have are the drummers who inspire you…at least initially. Once you can play things that your favorite drummers can play, you can add your spin to it and make your playing sound unique…this is how one develops an individual style.
Imagine how many hours the great drummers spent in the practice room, working on their craft. By simply figuring out some of the things they played by listening to their recorded performances, you will get the benefit of their thousands of hours of practice almost instantly!
This leads to another concept that we believe in: “Useful Technique and Independence.”
Useful Technique & Independence
Useful technique and independence is one important concept that many drum instructors overlook.
Technique is only useful if it is applicable to the drumset in musical ways. But there are many drum teaching methods, passed down from drummer to drummer that are taught because …well, because “that’s how it’s done.”
We’ve questioned many of these methods because we’ve discovered through studying the playing of our drum idols that there are certain techniques (specific drum rudiments, for example) that are much more useful than others. This means that a lot of the exercises being taught by rote by other drum teachers are a WASTE of time!
We’ll show you which techniques are useful and we’ll tell you to skip the patterns that are not.
Finally, we’ll show you some technical patterns that SHOULD be rudiments but are not. BANG’s use of these key learning concepts means that you can get better faster than your fellow drummers!