pianno lessons.... or drum lessons?

[Waterwiper]

So I've been playing drums for about 5 months now self tought and I think I'm doin ok. Thing is is I've always wanted to play pianno. Drums are much easier to be self tought then pianno and I was just wonderin what exactle did drums lessons do for you? how quick did you advance? how long did you take them? is it absolutly necessary to take them as a drummer? I'm really havin a tough time decidin which to play. Keys or Drums.

[kmarcher87]

I was in your same position a while back until I choose piano fully over drums. I have taken lessons in both. Drum lessons are very tecnique based, I was taught new and challenging rudiments, beats, rhythm theory, and just new styles. While taking piano lessons I learned alot of music theory, scales, chords, inversions, and basic piano songs. I also brought in piano/keyboard songs to my teacher to teach me.

Overall I learned more in piano lessons but they are definatly more complicated and much more to remember. Drummers don't need to worry about scales patterns, chords, or anything pitch related, obviously. Drum lessons were more fun but piano was more complex. Drums are much more coordination than anything else and can be self taught better than piano.

Good luck in making your decision. :thumb:

[Sunshine]

I've been "playing" for 6 months. No instructor.

And personally, I've found that I lack direction. I mean, I have some beginner books, I can look on the internet, I can constantly ask "So...what next?" but...I just got the opportunity at drum lessons, and I took 'em. Start this Wednesday, in fact.

So, I don't know, maybe I just suck at self-learning, but an instructor can give you direction and tell you when you're doing stuff wrong and crap. But if you think you've handled all that on your own...well...I guess, go for the piano. Which has 1 'n,' just in case you were wondering.

[Auronthewarrior]

hum. I never took drum lessons myself.. I dont think its need... I offer drum lessons though :)

[styler]

imo piano is much harder than drums.

i know each instrument has there harder and easier parts. but i think the harder parts on piano outweigh the drums. even though the same principles are played with both instruments. if you have to, pick piano for lessons, and do your research for the drums.

[Juicy_Forlorn]

I both piano and drum lessons, and I would say that you likely need a teacher more for piano than drums. It would be nice if you could get both though.

I find in the summer for the few months that I don't have lessons, I get in a bit of a rut sometimes with my drumming and am not sure what to work on. But then once my lessons start again in the fall I'm inspired again and play a lot more.

[Ming-a-Ling]

If I had to choose, I would choose piano, just because it's something I'd really like to learn. But, I never had a teacher for drums either, and I really wish that I did.

[eatsleepandblink]

I'd take the piano lessons over drum lessons. Many people have been self taught on the drums and turned out ok, of course lessons help tons, but i do think it is something that you can do on your own. Piano however, i do believe needs lessons, theres just so much that you need to learn from a teacher for piano. Though if it were possible, id go ahead and get lessons for both.

[Loser]

I don't think piano needs lessons as much as drums, personally.

[Caleb3221]

Keep in mind it IS possible to teach yourself piano, too. Mose Allison did fine for himself. But, in essense, you are probably going to require some form of instruction to really excel at your chosen instrument, so take lessons in whichever you want to be best at, and both if possible. (Yes, yes, there are great self taught drummers, but I'd bet most of them did not completley isolate themselves from all instructions-mabye not formal lessons at the start, but there are other methods of instruction).

[Waterwiper]

There more on the internet about drums then piano to to learn from.... just to add.... But heres another question. If I took drum lessons first for awhile to elarn the basics and technique and everything then switched to piano how would htat work? Or is drums lessons one of thise things that once you start theres really no place to stop?

[RyMac59]

Id say take drum lessons for a short bit, or find a drummer to teach you basic tecnique. Its very important to learn it correctly the first time, other wise bad technique becomes habit and its hard to change. Once you know what you are doing you should be fine. Buy some more books and learn to play in many styles. Then play along with cds of all different types. Once you're a somewhat solid drummer, play with other people as much as you can. That will improve you way more than lessons will.

[Waterwiper]

I play along with cds all the time but i hardly ever read drummer books (just rather look for stuff on the internet cause i dont know sheet music and hardly any termonology they use) but I look at videos all the time and I'm in a band. Do you think thats a good foundation enough to not need an instructor for drums?

[Caleb3221]

There is never anything that will replace real instruction, but I would definatley reccoment learning to read sheet music if you plan on continuing without one. It will help you immensley, and is a very basic but incredibly useful skill to have.

[Waterwiper]

Yeah, I figured whichever lessons I choose to take I'll be tought sheet music. But I've decided to take piano lessons and just told my mom to set them up for me at the guitar center.... Woot woot.

[DxRocker]

Learning piano will be beneficial to your drumming as well.

I would try and think about going to a regular music school (you can do this next to normal school as well, on weekends etc) and try to find a private drums instructor.

Not only will you learn the piano, you will be given instruction in other groovy area's like composition etc. Playing drums is playing music. Knowing music can thus only help :D

[Det_Nosnip]

If you feel that you'll stick with it, I would go with piano. You'll learn more about the nature of music in general, which will make you a better musician overall. When your bandmates talk about chord progressions and key signatures, you won't be clueless, and if you have any natural inclination for composition, you'll be able to get your ideas out alot better. Plus, if you get a good piano teacher who focuses on developing melodic ideas, that will help out a good deal with drumming.

[crazyguy832]

Piano has helped me so much with my drumming it isn't even funny. I'd also have to say it's much easier to teach yourself drums than piano (although, if you're doing stuff wrong... you're going to hurt yourself more). I'd say take at LEAST one or two drum lessons at some point during your first year; but, if you have to pick, I'd say stick with piano.

[Icky_Mettle]

I don't think piano needs lessons as much as drums, personally.
Hmm...I disagree!

[crazyguy832]

Piano requires lessons a lot more than drums, imo.

[LostRythym]

Piano can be self taught.

[crazyguy832]

Errr... yes, as can any instrument.

HOWEVER, there are so many things my piano teacher pointed out I'm doing wrong that it just isn't funny. ANY teacher can do that. I want you to try to pass, well, any Royal Conservatory piano exam without a teacher. You MIGHT be able to fludge 4, but past that... no freakin' way.

[moogoogaipan]

either and all can be self-taught.

to counter some ill-informed posts
Piano is no more difficult than Drums to learn
Piano has technique issues, just like drums have technique issues.
Drummers don't have to learn theory, but learning theory doesn't make piano harder. Theory is a whole different ballgame... I'm better at theory than some of the instrumentalists in my classes... some, mind you.

[FockerTheLopper]

Are you a drummer or pianist when you answer that you know what to get lessons in

I know more theory than anyone in my jazz band exept the pianist and maybe the lead bari sax player. I'm only in high school though so kids don't really care for theory.

[rohbit]

I'd say Piano is the equivalent of drums for fingers, except you have to consider much more than keeping the beat.

[crazyguy832]

Piano aint drums for fingers, buddy.

It's more like musical typing.

[moogoogaipan]

Are you a drummer or pianist when you answer that you know what to get lessons in

I know more theory than anyone in my jazz band exept the pianist and maybe the lead bari sax player. I'm only in high school though so kids don't really care for theory.
A little of both... a combination... a Vibraphonist.
I have to take piano classes in college.. from none other than Jerry Coker and eventually Donald Brown... but there's nothing that makes it any more difficult or less difficult than drums.
Being a virtuoso on any instrument will be hard to attain, without a doubt...
but training in either will prep you for both.
Sure, piano has the capability to create denser polyrhythms than drums... but it's not used that often... such as not every drummer can pull off 4 polyrythms between all their limbs.

That's my point.

[NCDrummer]

Both if you can.

Drumming just rules all. and it can help out being a piano man...It'll help timing....I'm taking Piano now so it helps alot. and taking piano will help if you a drummer in a band...better communication between band members will help alot. Cause if you don't know what a guitarist is talking about you won't be able to lend your help.

[rohbit]

Piano aint drums for fingers, buddy.

It's more like musical typing.

The piano is a percussive instrument. The way you play piano is very similar to the way you play drums, except instead of using your feet and hands/arms, you use your feet and fingers.

The interdependence involved in learning piano is transposed onto drums and vice versa. Alot of drummers in percussion programs at Universities take piano as well because the process of playing piano relates directly to the drumset (that and music theory etc.).

[moogoogaipan]

The piano is a percussive instrument. The way you play piano is very similar to the way you play drums, except instead of using your feet and hands/arms, you use your feet and fingers.

The interdependence involved in learning piano is transposed onto drums and vice versa. Alot of drummers in percussion programs at Universities take piano as well because the process of playing piano relates directly to the drumset (that and music theory etc.).
exactly

[Sunshine]

And, as it's been said.

Music theory doesn't make it harder. They have entire classes on music theory by itself...I took a quarter for Computer Music [we thought it'd be the cool midi stuff, it was actually using real programs to compose piano music onto the computer...go figure].

I also took a quarter of piano. I think there's more high schools with keyboarding [not computer, but keyboard as in piano] classes than drumset classes...

But you already decided on the piano lessons. So. Have at it.

[DxRocker]

I would even say that music theory makes it more interesting

[Det_Nosnip]

So long as you treat it properly, Music theory is incredibly benefitial. That is, treating it as a system that is meant to be broken rather than as dogma.

[Jezen]

hum. I never took drum lessons myself.. I dont think its need... I offer drum lessons though :)

..Are you kidding? Dude, stop teaching now before you seriously injure your students..

[Det_Nosnip]

:lol: That's pretty arrogant, really...to offer lessons when you've had none yourself.

[crazyguy832]

The piano is a percussive instrument. The way you play piano is very similar to the way you play drums, except instead of using your feet and hands/arms, you use your feet and fingers.

The interdependence involved in learning piano is transposed onto drums and vice versa. Alot of drummers in percussion programs at Universities take piano as well because the process of playing piano relates directly to the drumset (that and music theory etc.).
Yeah, yeah, it's percussive.

:rolleyes:

Piano is a melodic/rhythmic instrument, though. Drums are pure rhythmic.

I'm also going to say that the independence I learnt in piano was a HUGE help when I started drumming.

[Yawnyd]

Piano because you will learn music theory and never get that feeling of 'I wish I could write a song'

Drumming because it is just, like, wow.

From what I gather in this thread, most say piano.

They both get to sit down though.

[crazyguy832]

They both get to sit down though.
#1 reason to play drums and piano.

:chug:

[fastlane]

my opinion is take the piano lessons. youll learn notes and theory and a bunch of other good stuff. drum lessons is technique and rudiments really. but if it was me id take piano. i have a friend that has taken them for over 9 years and he can pretty much play any instrument. piano,guitar,banjo,bass,trombone in the band :P. with that much knowledge of notes and stuff youll be a better musician overall.

edit: and as said above youll nvr have to worry about writing your own song!!!