We want you to have a fun and successful learning experience. This short read will help!
1. Set a realistic pace - You'll have a lot more fun!
Drum Ambition has 5 Modules. We recommend that you watch one to two videos per week and formulate a practice plan that allows enough time to work on the lesson contents. Practice guidance is given at the end of each video, and it's essential to feel comfortable with a lesson (Videos and any accompanying audio files) before moving on. Beware - Moving on too quickly can lead to frustration later down the line. These are essential fundamentals, and our curriculum has been thoughtfully planned to give you the best experience.
2. Watch the Music Notation Videos in Module 1.
Naturally, you'll want to jump into the drum set instruction videos, but don't miss the 10 short Music Notation Videos in Module 1. Learning to read basic music notation will be a great benefit on this amazing journey. You'll see that Module 1 has 30 Lessons, divided into 20 "Video Lessons" (Beats and Fills) and 10 "Notation Lessons." We recommend watching Module 1 in this order:
Lesson 1
Notation 1
Lesson 2
Notation 2 etc
Continue on this alternating basis until you have watched all 10 Music Notation lessons, by which time, you will have also watched the first 10 Video Lessons on Beats and Fills as well. Once you have completed these 10 Notation Lessons, you will have everything you need to understand the entire curriculum and will have built some useful control along the way. This article explains how.
3. Don't miss the Sheet Music and extra Audio Files.
All lessons come with sheet music, which you can download and print if you wish. Certain videos in Module 1 come with extra audio file examples and exercises, and all videos in Modules 2, 3, 4, and 5 include them. The extra audio file exercises are usually more challenging than the basic examples shown in the videos. It's highly recommended to look at these and be comfortable with them before moving on to the next video.
4. Take the Special Feature Videos at your own pace - they are supplemental to the main content.
As with all Modules, you can access the Special Feature Videos from your Dashboard. These are a series of extracurricular mini-lessons (in addition to our 5 main Modules) and cover topics such as bass drum technique, grip, posture, positioning your drums, stick tricks, drum set assembly, rudiments, and frequently asked questions. These are all topics that you might want to consider looking at throughout your journey. Simon references these videos often, and you will be prompted to view them if they relate to a video lesson you are working on.
5. Have fun!
It's Number 5, but this is by far the most important tip! If you are not enjoying a lesson or finding it frustrating, it is usually due to a breakdown in one or more of the above tips. Whatever you do, don't lose the fun element! People often find exercises frustrating when they have moved on too quickly from the last lesson, without attention to the practice guidelines.
Getting help.
If you have any questions, you can email [email protected]. Also, it's a good idea to browse our Frequently Asked Questions.
