PERCUSSION
INVIGORATE AND IMPROVE | Mark Shelton
Photo by ASBA Drums on Unsplash
College music school in ten words or less: Eat, Sleep, Practice Eat, Sleep, Rehearse Eat, Sleep, Perform
Yes, I summarized it in only nine.
Involvement in a structured music program, such as a high school band or a university music curriculum, brings with it some forced growth. Remaining in the activity requires practicing and progress. Upon completing my college training, I recognized the importance of continuing my growth as a musician. However, I had to self-motivate and find ways to improve.
What’ s your situation? Is your musicianship progressing, or are you at the same level as five years ago? Worse, have your skills and interests diminished over time?
If you are actively involved in music, you likely remember the joy and satisfaction produced by making even small progress. Would you like to invigorate your skills, but are not sure how to get started? Read on, I have some suggestions.
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION One-on-one lessons with a qualified teacher is the best learning situation. When taking private lessons on a regular basis, you are more likely to practice. There is an accountability factor in play when your teacher assesses your level of preparation at the outset of the lesson.
Finding a qualified teacher within comfortable driving distance can be a challenge, depending on where you reside. With remote instruction, you can study with a teacher located in another town, state, or country. Keep in mind, there can be challenges with real-time, web-based instruction due to technology issues such as sound quality and latency.
While it might be the pricier option, a private session with an in-person teacher provides you with unique, real-time instruction. The instructor can easily observe your playing from a variety of
angles and hear subtle details.
Whether live stream or in-person, a private teacher has the capability to deliver the encouragement( or straight talk) needed for progress.
“ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.”( Proverbs 25:11-12 WEB)
VIDEO TUTORIALS With a little digging around my house, I can locate VHS tapes featuring instruction on djembe, congas, and frame drums. Those resources gave way to DVDs and web-based video teaching. With a computer and an internet connection, you can find loads of free( or subscription) tutorials covering a broad range of percussion topics— and high-quality DVDs are still available.
My YouTube channel( www. youtube. com /
96 September 2025 Subscribe for Free...