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Question
Peter. I'm 60years old I used to play years ago and I want to play again. My question is what kind of set should I get? I do want a good rich sound and I
want Zildjian cymbals for sure. Please help Thank You
Answer
Roger
Get the best set you can afford ( I play Yamaha Drums )Try Maple Custom Vintage.
Before you go Zildjian though check out Paiste Tradtional Med thin 22" ride.
and 18"Crash Ride. They are the greatest cymbals I have ever owned.
I also recommend Vic Firth sticks and Aquarian Drum Heads ( Satin Finish )
Have Fun !!
Peter Magadini
Question
Do you advise buying cymbals off the internet?
Answer
Roger:
I really don't. I think you should try your cymbals first.
The best cymbals to buy though, if you can not do that, are
Paiste because, if you know what you want ,
they are the most consistent from one cymbal to the next.
Peter Magadini
Question
Hey Mr. Magadini, my name is Jordan Loftis and I'm a percussion Major at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. What have been the most instrumental
elements (pun shamefully intended) in your success as a musician? (Aside from you just being an exceptional musician, obviously that is a pivotal component
to anyone's musical success)
Answer
Jordan
I think, to be a success at something, is just the fact that that's what you do.
The success part is really what comes with it if you do it well.
Sometimes success is measured in recognition, but the real success
(and I think all professionals agree)
is with how you feel about yourself as a consistent & creative musician
and that you are never that good that it cannot get better.
There are African and East Indians and other drummers too, that humble
me every time I hear them play. So I don't look for short cuts
(but I do look for good teachers )
Peter Magadini
Question
My 12 year old son is set to begin drum lessons in March (just thru school to begin with). He played the piano from ages 3 to 8 -- currently he's
on his fourth year of trumpet (and will continue to play). I've been told that we need a keyboard at home for him to be able to properly learn the drums.
Is this true? Also, can you recommend any electronic drum set (room is a huge issue at our house -- and the noise)? Practicing on an electronic
drum set vs. traditional acoustic drum set -- is there a huge difference that would make it difficult for him to make the transition between the sets?
Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks!
Answer
Hi Julie:
I think an electronic set is not the way to go.
Yamaha makes a terrific starter set ( Rydeen )
and there are many good books and dvd's out there as well
I have one called
Learn to Play The Drumset
Keyboard helps all musicians but it is not necessary
especially in that he already plays the trumpet.
Hope this helps.
Peter Magadini
Question
My son is left handed and is learning the drums. His teacher suggests we change his set up to right hand just so that he wont have problems jamming on
right hand kits.He(teacher also says the rudiments are all written for the righty. I personally don't think so, because reading music does'nt say right
hand left hand or foot and vice versa the notations depict which component has to be played. So should I change the teacher or set up? Because where
jamming is concerned, You realy dont have to switch the set up I can prove this on my utube page www.youtube.com/wattsnmusic where I am right handed playing
on a left hand set up kit.I am not a professional drummer just a self taught one.
Answer
I believe that left handed drummers should play left handed set-up
and right handed drummers play right handed set-up.
However, being left handed and playing on a right handed set up
is probably the best of both worlds.
( providing you are playing the ride cymbal on the left and leading with your left.)
If it is a young student you may try this otherwise keep it natural.
Peter Magadini
Question
I am left handed and just started playing drums. I had no one to tell me how to set up so I set up opposite to what everyone else does cos it feels
right i.e. left foot on bass, left hand on hihat and right hand on snare. But I can't find any evidence of left hand drummers - do people play drums left
handed (this is probably a stupid question) but I don't want to learn the wrong way from the start.
Answer
JC
Most left handed drummers set-up the drums exactly opposite from right handers. There are some exceptions. If you do everything as a left handed person than
that means drums set as well ( as far as I am concerned ) So don't worry about it.
Peter Magadini
Question
Been playing drums for about 10 years now, self taught, influenced by Jimmy Chamberlin. The main down-side I've found to being self taught, is my
ability to tune the damn things!!! Despite making research into this (ie, getting the same pitch from every lug, etc), I still have difficulty getting
my drums to sound the way I want. What makes it even more frustrating, is that I know what a well-tuned drum should sound like.
Answer
So much depends on the heads and the sound that you are looking for.
I suggest that you contact Aquarian drum heads (www.aquariandrumheads.com)
and explain to them exactly what kind of sound that you want to have from your drums.
I think they will be able to tell you what you need to know.
( both the types of heads and how you should tune them )
Hope this helps
Peter Magadini
Question I am looking for professional opinions on changing the style of how
someone plays the drums. My son is self taught and plays with the bass drum
positioned to his left foot and I guess pretty much the opposite way of how most
drummers set up. He is now in high school show band and the teacher is having
him learn the "correct" way to play. He now is trying to adjust to the "normal"
position and is having trouble with his rhythm and is very uncomfortable. My
question is, should you make a child change his setup. The way I see it is it's
like trying to make a left handed person write right handed.
Any information you can give me on this, I would appreciate it.
Answer I had to think about this one. At first I thought you where asking because
your child is left handed and they where trying to change him. However
what I gather is that the child is right handed and the teacher is trying to
have him play that way. Every right handed drummer I have ever known has played
with the right foot playing the bass drum and set up right handed.( some
play left handed on top and play right with the feet ) Having said all that ,
it really is up to the individual. But I tend to agree with the teacher. One
good reason is that when he goes to play on anybody else's drum set for any
reason that he will always have to be changing the set-up .Also , if he is right
handed he may find it easier to play that way down the road.
Peter Magadini
Question I would like to know how I can put a mic which is AKG D112 in a bass drum, which techniques should I use?
Answer Here's what I do . I put the mike through the front hole ( the front head port about the size of a saucer or a dinner plate )
in a well padded bass drum. The next thing i do is point the front of the mike at a 45 degree angle away from the from bass drum head and about 8
inches from the center of the head. If you point it directly I find that i can get a "pop" that I don't want.
This gives me the best sound from my 22x16 Beech Custom ( Yamaha ) set, which is my studio set.
Peter Magadini
Question I've been a drummer for about 8 years now. I have a drum kit which should be
considered 'obsolete' by now, but unfortunately I do not have the cash to
purchase a new one. So I was wandering...I've asked many people this
question but they haven't been able to give me the answers I need. How do I
get that 'lovely' clear crackling sound out of the toms, especially the
snare...I have tried so many modifications, but to no avail...I would really
appreciate it if you could help me in this regard.
Answer Start by using Aquaria drumheads . I endorse them and all the pro's I know love the heads ( check their web site and get a
catalog of the products. Then tune the bottoms tighter than that of the top heads, so you will always adjust your tone from the top head.
Same for the BD. Adjust the BD head from the batter side and tighten the front head more than you think.
This should work.
Peter Magadini
Question I'm 38 years old and have always wanted to learn to play the drums. A
friend of mine who plays in our church praise band is lending me his very nice
drum set because we now have an electronic set. Should I just get book 1 & 2
and the video or do I need the "Drumset Rudiments" and the "Polyrythms for the
Drumset" too. Also where is the best place to purchase them?
Answer This is a great time to start learning to play the the drums . Drums a very
spiritual, I think so anyway. Please start by going through book I only. I also suggest that you purchase
the "Learn to Play the Drumset "video. This covers all the material found in
the book. You may purchase all from
Learn to Play the Drumset Vol. I
Peter Magadini
Question I am from South India.I have copies of your book Learn to play the Drumset(vol.1&2).Iam in the intermediate stage and very much
intersted in independence.please suggest me some exercises to improve the same.
Answer In my book (#2 ) go to pages 22 and 23 and do those exercises. Then try the whole latin section which would be pages 24
( african beat ) then 26 thru 28. I also recommend Jim Chapin's book ' Co-ordinated Independence for the Advanced Drummer '( Warner Brothers )
and my most advanced work " Polyrhythms For The Drumset " ( Warner Brothers ) .
That is a difficult book , but not that hard if you just start at the beginning and master just one exercise at a time.
Try some of these suggestions then get back to me in a few months.
Peter Magadini
Question Hi Peter, My name is Jason Thomason. I am a guitarist who just turned 17. My Jazz Band instructor at school has
talked me into playing drums in the Marching Band this year for him (along with guitar in the Jazz Band).
I can read charts & musical notation just fine, but I am still freaked out. Can you tell me where I can find some info that might help me
out? I have friends that are drummers that tell me not to worry, but I am. Also, I don't have the cash to buy books or video's.
I certainly can't afford lessons. Is there a website or something you know of that might help me?
Answer There is not a lot we can do in a day or even a few days. My tip for July 4th is stay in beat and don't do anything fancy and you should be fine.
Please check out my book
Learn to Play the Drumset Vol. I . This has a lot information that will cover what you need and in a hurry.
Peter Magadini
Question How do I find the right drum teacher?
Answer Sometimes the most accessible teachers are in music stores. This can
be a good direction to go in but you should ask questions regarding the
teachers background and credentials before signing on. Local music
directors in schools also usually know who to recommend. If you are in a
big city, ask a few pros, they know who's out there doing a good job.
Peter Magadini
Question I want to play rock the teacher doesn't , what do I do?
Answer You should find a teacher that can lead you in the direction you want
to go, however be prepared to go in other directions as well. If a
teacher tries to convince you that your taste has to be the same as
his/hers then look elsewhere.
Peter Magadini
Question I study drums in school is that cool?
Answer School percussion programs and school jazz bands are an excellent way
to get started. It is cool! But be prepared to take private instruction also and practice.
Peter Magadini
Question How much practice does it take to play the drums?
Answer Drums are an interesting instrument that way. You can learn beats
that you hear on the radio fairly quickly .
When it comes to playing the whole set so you know a lot of beats and
styles (jazz,latin,fusion,reading,solos and fills)
then it takes more practice.
Peter Magadini
Question What kind of drums do I buy first?
Answer I suggest a good quality 5 piece set ( Yamaha for example ) in the
medium price range. (approx.$1000,00 to 1500.00)
Peter Magadini
Question I play already but I am ready to move on to the advanced level. How do I do this?
Answer Again, It is search for a teacher. This time it might be more
difficult. These teachers usually teach in their own studios and you
have to search them out. Ask professionals they will tell you who to
look for.
Peter Magadini
Question What kind of cymbals do you prefer?
Answer I play Paiste Cymbals, however there are several major brands. These
include Zildjian,Sabian Bosphorus.
Peter Magadini
Question Where do I go to study drums in college?
Answer This is a hard one. Almost all Colleges and Universities require you
to be a percussion major. That means all the percussion instruments.
Personally,if you have the time I think it is the best way to go. but
you have to find a school that has a jazz program as well. Learning
percussion is great for your musicality but you want to make sure that
your drum set playing is also addressed in the curriculum.
Peter Magadini
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