EQUIPMENT PAGE

equipment Essentials:

The equipment necessary to get started is very basic: drum sticks and a practice pad. While drums sticks are essential for the first few lessons ($7.00 to $8.00), it is possible to start out with using only a thick mouse pad as a practice pad. Within a few weeks, however, a quality pad ($15.00 - $35.00), hardy pad stand, and budget music will become necessary. Listed below is the recommended equipment that is necessary to help you achieve your goals. Go to the Resources page to learn more about recommended sticks, pads, and stands.

Drum Sticks
Drum Sticks- Beginners should use large hickory sticks like Promark's 2B. The larger stick will force you to learn to hold the stick properly. After you advance to the drum set, you will need to step down in size to either a 5A or 5B. Approximate cost is $6.00 to $8.00.
Drum Pad Practice Pad - After you pass though the mouse pad phase, you will need a good quality practice pad. There are lots of choices. One recommendation is Remo's RT0 Grey Tunable Drum Practice Pad. I recommend an 8" or 10" size. The 6" is a little too small and the 12" is too big of a target for beginners. Approximate cost is $14.00 to $25.00.
Snar Drum Stand Snare Drum Stand - I recommend using a low budget snare stand with a full closing basket like the Pearl S-70W in lieu of a practice pad stand ($35.00). The quality of most practice pad stands are usually well below even low budget snare stands. Approximate cost is $40.00 to $50.00.
Music Stand Portable Music Stand with Case - Even a very low budget music stand will prove very useful and is very portable. The sample shown here will cost around $12.00 and comes with a convenient carrying case. Approximate cost is $14.00 to $25.00.
START-UP COST Total approximate cost: sticks, pad, snare stand, and music stand - $74.00 to $108.00.
Snare Pad Vacuum Pad for Snare Drum - For those that already have a snare drum and stand, consider this rubber practice pad that lays directly on the drum head. It has a thick raised center that drops the volume dramatically but allows for good stick response. Comes in 13" for a 13" snare and 14" for a standard snare. Approximate cost is $10.00 to $15.00.
START-UP COST Total approximate cost to add rubber vacuum pad, subtract remo pad, and subtract snare stand - $44.00 to $65.00.
Metronome1 Digital Metronome - The benefits of practicing with a metronome is quite simple: practice makes perfect. The more you practice playing good timing the better you will play good timing. The metronome I recommend for starters is the Korg MA30. Approximate cost is $14.00 to $17.00.
   
Metronome2 Advanced Digital Metronome - As you develop, you will discover that a more advanced fully featured metronome like the Tama will be very useful. Approximate cost is $90.00 to $100.00.