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Drumming is a skill that requires interest and a strong desire to learn. It's a skill that needs drive and passion, and if you don't have these, it could be quite frustrating for you. Especially in Nigeria, where we have different drum types that could confuse you. Therefore, there is a need to continually fuel your desire to learn them.
Drums are instruments commonly used by bands most of the time, so if you're considering the band thing, you're on the right path. You could be the next Fela Kuti, a bandleader, and afro beats pioneer who played multiple musical instruments.
One of the effective ways to put your curiosity into good use without losing the vibe is to find a professional teacher or drummer with many years of experience that will offer you drum lessons and teach you how to play the drums professionally. Learning about drums will get you accustomed to the different drum types. For example, the talking drum, Omele, Bata, Bass, cymbals, snare, Djembe and many more.
Make sure you have a lot of free time for the sake of being consistent because it's going to be a long ride.
So, the question is: how can you get the ideal tutor that will teach you all you need to know about drums? To find a great drum teacher that will suit your needs, we recommend Superprof.com.
Read on everything you need to know about drum lessons in Nigeria.
What to Look Out for When Finding an Ideal Drum Teacher
To learn how to play your favourite drums, you can always watch and learn from YouTube videos online. Still, you should know that you won't be able to learn all you need to know when watching videos online. It will only increase your curiosity.
In a world where YouTube videos are rampant, you can easily learn anything online. However, learning from a tutor or teacher can't be overruled. You'll always need someone to supervise what you do. Someone to hold your hand at every step and correct your mistakes, usually not obtainable with YouTube videos.

Choosing the right drum teacher, you can work with is as important as what you want to learn. It can either boost your drive to learn or bring it down. The type of tutor you have for your drumming classes will determine how well you learn and how good you'll be with drums and drumming.
Finding the right drum tutor is dependent on some factors.
Skills
This is the most important thing you should be particular about when sourcing drum tutors. It's the skill you are after in the first place. So, just take your time and search for drummers who are great with the use of drums, not just great drummers but drummers that can pass their skill to someone else. Because not all great drummers can pass the knowledge they have to others, they just do it as their hobby.
You definitely need to get someone who can play the drum well and teach, from the beats to the proper way of holding drumsticks, through the note reading.
Playing the drums has its rudiments, and getting someone to teach you will help you know how to read musical notes, use the drums and play it well. This is especially for those interested in band music and contemporary drums. It will help you get the sound right and familiarize yourself with the drum set and music.
Personality - Are They Approachable?
To know how well you can work with your drum tutor, you have some asking around to do. Ask around about that particular drummer to know about their drumming skills and their teaching skills before signing up for their lessons. The best thing to do is meet them one on one, either physically or through phone and video calls. This will help you know if you can warm up to them or not.
The Type of Drums and Music You’re Interested In
The type of music you're interested in will determine the type of drums you'll work with and the type of teacher that will train you. Every drummer has an area where they specialize in drums and music.
In Nigeria, we have a wide range of sounds. We have juju music, highlife, Afrobeat, Fuji, Waka, Apala, reggae, soukous, Sakara, rock 'n' roll, jazz, and many more.

All these music types have the drums they play to them. That's why you have to be specific with your music type to narrow your concentration to your beat and drum of interest, which will help you when looking for a suitable tutor.
African drums can either be played with hands, sticks or both. For instance, the Bata drum requires playing with sticks, the djembe requires the hand ( your palm to be precise). In contrast, the Dundun/Gangan, commonly known as talking drum, requires both hands and a stick with a curved edge.
On the other hand, contemporary drums such as bass, snare, cymbals, which are very different from African drums, can only be played with drumsticks.
Whether you want to specialize in African drums or contemporary drums, all you need is a professional tutor with great experience in your field of interest.
The Lesson Structure and Content
After choosing the type of drums and music you're interested in, look out for tutors that have outlined learning content about your choice of drums. Ensure they can make one for you that will aid and keep you focused during learning.
Having structured content is one of the ways to be disciplined and accountable, which will help in learning all the rudiments of drums and drumming step by step.
Before signing up for drum lessons, make sure the tutor has an outlined lesson content to avoid learning randomly, which would be a waste of time.
Your Learning Habit- How Fast Can You Learn?
Everyone has a pace at which they learn. Some are fast learners, while others need a little bit of time to learn. Whatever the case may be, you must find a drum tutor ready to respect their student's learning ability and work with it.
You don't want a teacher that will always shout at you for not grasping things the way others do. Look out for tutors that are patient enough to work with you and build your confidence. You deserve nothing but the best!
Your Learning Preference
When it comes to choosing what type of method to learn drums, everyone will have a preference that might be different from the other person's. What you need to do is discover the best way for you to learn.
Going to the local music school could be your choice, while others prefer taking online classes or home lessons. It all depends on you and your choices.
Here's a beginner's guide to drum lessons in Nigeria.
Where Can I Get My Ideal Drum Tutor in Nigeria?
There are two common ways to get an ideal drum tutor. It's either you attend the local music school or book a tutor (online or in-person). Whichever one works for you. The aim is to train with the right teacher to get the adequate skill you signed up for.
Local Music Schools

You can always visit a local music school to check out their drummers, get information about their mode of operation, and have the necessary kit (the different drum sets and drumsticks) for drum classes that you can use while training.
There are many local music schools in Lagos, Nigeria, that offer great service with great drumming kits. You can always compare and choose the best for yourself. if you are interested in learning how to play the African drums, a local music school is right.
A very interesting thing about getting a tutor from a local music school is that you get to go for lessons with other people. This has a way of boosting your learning morale. It helps you express yourself easily when you're with people of like passion and hear their opinions. This could be very useful to both the students and the tutor.
Here is the equipment you need to learn drum.
Online Drum Lessons
Another way to get a drum teacher is by sourcing online experienced tutors that will suit your needs and be available for online or in-person classes. Some sites put out drum tutors, their profile, availability, and price per hour, which is very common in Lagos. You should check out Superprof.com!
All you need to do is to book a tutor and make payment online, then you're good to start your drumming journey. In addition, Superprof tutors always take the first lesson for free. This will help you know if you can work with them or not.
A very important thing you need to know about online drum lessons is that you must have your drumsticks and kits at home to be in line with your online tutor every step of the way. This is quite different from the local music school with the drums present.
Also, you need to know the availability of your tutor is to know when both of you will be free and available.
Read on the cost of drum lessons in Nigeria.
The Advantages of Getting the Ideal Drum Teacher
As a newbie that just started exploring drums, you might be asking if you need a teacher if you could learn online. The only thing to say is yes, you need a teacher because you're a beginner and may get confused at first. This is where you need someone that will help you with those baby steps and guide you through all the way.
Other advantages of getting the right drum teachers are:
- The right drum teacher will help you develop your confidence as you learn.
- With the right drum tutor, you'll be able to stay focused, disciplined and consistent.
- All the questions you have before and during the study will be answered correctly by an ideal tutor.
- Learning something new ( drumming in this case) is fun with the right teacher.
Where to Find a Drum Tutor Near You
After finding a suitable local music school, the location might seem like a challenge but don't worry. With Superprof, you can search for drum teachers near you, and you'll be surprised at the number of tutors around you, especially in Lagos.
With superprof, you'll be able to view the tutor's profile, including their course study, years of experience, and area of specialization, before contacting them.
Have a great drumming experience!
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