The problem with many individuals, who want to learn how to play drums, is they do not know where to begin.

They are not taking the right approach to learning how to play the drums correctly. Many beginner drummers try to play advance drum patterns before learning the basic principles of what it takes to play drums.

There are two ways to learn to play drums. You can pay a drum instructor to teach you or you can learn to play the drums on your own.

Now, before you consider on paying a drum instructor to teach you, you need to understand that it can cost you to $55 per hour per drum session.

Another way you can learn to play drums and save money is on your own. Learning to play drums on your own is not a hard task.

The most important factor on learning on your own is to discipline yourself and develop a daily or weekly routine for your drumming.

There is a popular saying most people say " What You Put In, Is What You Get Out Of"! This is very true.

The only way to learn and get better is by practicing. You've probably heard "Practice Makes Perfect"! That is not true.

Perfect practices that end with an accomplishment are considered a perfect practice.

When practicing on the drums a drummer needs to set mini goals that are reasonable to achieve on what he or she will learn for each practice session.

Take your time and focus on what you want to learn first.

Before you even sit on the drums create a schedule on what you want to learn for each practice.

Below are some examples to give you an idea what to practice on prior to practicing on drums.

1.) How to hit a cymbal the correct way

2.) How to maintain tempo

3.) How to play double strokes

4.) How to play solos

If you want to learn to play as good as a professional drummer you're going to have to dedicate more than just a few hours a week.

Don't expect to play like a professional drummer who's been playing six to seven days a week for the past seventeen years by hardly practicing.

Practicing the drums relates to how a professional athlete prepares his or her day in and day out for the sport they play.

There is not much difference between a professional athlete and a drummer when it comes to practicing. You are only as good as what you put in.

When I teach students how to play drums, I strongly recommend for them to learn in steps.

Sometimes beginner drummers get overwhelmed when trying to play everything at once without knowing how to play, especially if they decide not to learn drum notation.

Below are some helpful tips to begin with to speed up the learning process when practicing drums.

1.) Drumstick - Buy yourself a name brand drumstick like Pro-Mark, Zildjian or Vic Firth. These drumstick are very sturdy, reliable and durable. Don't settle for cheap drumsticks. They will not last long and it will cost you a lot in the long run.

2.) How to hold drumstick - This is a very crucial step because you need to find the right grip that enables you to play comfortably, get the right bounce and maximize the performance of the drumstick.

3.) How to start off drumming - Learn to maintain the tempo on the hi-hat with your left or right hand. Start with a basic pattern, keep it simple and don't get ahead of yourself. While playing the hi-hat integrate the bass drum playing a simple bass drum pattern. Last step while playing hi-hat and bass drum integrate the snare into the drum beat.

Applying the simple steps above helps build self confidence. Once you master a drum beat, then you can incorporate the rest of the drum hardware into your drum beat.

Never settle on being average. Always strive to be creative and develop your own style of playing the drums. The more time you dedicate to practicing on the drums will make you much better.

In conclusion, take your time when learning how to play drums. Start off with the basic principles until you have mastered the basics.

Once you master the basics then you can gradually work on learning the advance. There are many drummers that have not reached their full potential because they try to learn the advanced drumming first rather than learning the basics.