Congratulations and Reflection

Well, congratulations, everyone!

I hope you've really enjoyed the process of working through these pieces. Here are some key areas we've covered:

• Basic drumstick technique
• Bass drum technique
• How to read drum notation
• Different tempos
• Using the metronome

It's always a long journey in a wonderful way. You know, I've been on this journey for 30 years myself, playing the drums, and it's endlessly inspiring. There’s always a lot to learn, and you never know it all. You do get better, and it’s a very rewarding journey.

First Steps

It's fantastic that you've taken these first steps.

Advice: Listen to Varied Music

Another bit of advice is to listen to a lot of varied music. Don't just feel restricted to one genre or another. I know we all have our favorites—I do as well! But I try to listen to a lot of different styles and players across all the decades, seeing what people are doing now.

My Favorite Way to Practice

My favorite way to practice, still all these years on, is putting on music that I like—some that I don’t really know—and just trying to work out what’s happening on the kit. You might ask yourself:

• How are they getting that hi-hat sound?
• What’s happening on the bell of the ride cymbal?
• What about the toms?

It’s a really good way to expand your knowledge and your vocabulary.

Final Thoughts

So, enjoy it! It’s a great, fun journey.