Welcome to Rogue Valley Drum School!

We’re excited to be a part of your journey on the drums and help you grow on this wonderful, frustrating, and ever so rewarding instrument. Before we get started with lessons, let’s make sure you have everything you need to succeed.

Every week be sure to bring:

-a pair of sticks (if you forget be prepared to do 5 push-ups per stick!)

-your dedicated notebook for drum lessons

-an open and curious mind

Practicing is the KEY to progress. Each lesson we will learn new things that will both challenge and push you closer to your goals. Without practice at home, progress cannot take place. Please do your best to practice consistently. There is no magic number for all students as each student is an individual with their own needs and goals. To start, I recommend practicing AT LEAST 10 minutes/session 3x/week for younger students. For a more serious student, I would recommend starting with 30 minutes/session 4-5x/week. The more time you put in the faster you will progress and trust me, this instrument is a lot more fun as you get better! Talk to me about practicing in a lesson and we’ll develop a personalized practice routine for you to follow!

Home Necessities:

For most new students, I usually recommend that unless they are certain that they’ll stick with drums long term, that they wait at least a few lessons before they purchase their first kit. A drum set is an invaluable investment and kits vary from a wide array of prices. I have had students find used kits as cheap as $100 and spend as much as $900 on a brand new and higher-level kit. If you’re brand new to drums, I wouldn’t recommend spending more than $800 on a new kit. If you’re looking to save some money definitely look into buying used at Hillcrest Music in Phoenix, on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or Reverb.com. In the meantime, I’d start with a pair of sticks and a practice pad!

I’m often asked what drum sets I recommend. Though most brands make some excellent drums it’s important to find one that will hold up and sound good. Here are a few of my go-to’s:

-Ludwig Backbeat or Accent ($400-$430 and all inclusive!)

-Tama Imperialstar ($700 all inclusive)

-Yamaha Stage Custom ($650 drums only)

-Gretsch Catalina Club ($700 drums only)

-Ludwig Breakbeats ($400) or Pocket Kit  ($250/all inclusive) for students 6 y/o and under

*Prices are for buying new; you can always find these cheaper used.

Because drum sets are traditionally sold in separate components (drums, hardware, and cymbals), if you buy a kit that’s not “all inclusive” you’ll also need to buy a set of cymbals, stands, a drum throne and a music stand. If you’re buying new, I’d look into these hardware and cymbal packs:

-PDP by DW Z5 Hardware Pack ($80 but will need to buy additional cymbal stand)

-Ludwig's 400 Series Hardware Pack ($175)

-Yamaha HW-680 Single-Braced Hardware Pack ($260)

-Tama Classic Series 4-piece Hardware Pack w/ Bag ($280 for the more serious and future gigging drummer, lightweight and cool vintage aesthetic)

As always let me know if you have any questions. We are so grateful to have you as a part of our growing Rogue Valley Drum School family!

Sincerely,

Daniel Blackburn

Instructor/Owner-operator