So you need a drum kit...
Your child has had their first drum lesson and loved it! But you now need to get them something to practice on… Don’t worry, I understand your concern. Drums are big, expensive and LOUD! I have this conversation with every new parent and you have options.
Acoustic Drums
Where possible, an acoustic drum set is always best. If you don’t have noise limitations at home I’d always encourage families to go an acoustic set. But don’t plan on storing it in the garage or a shed. There is a lot of metal on acoustic drum sets and rust is their biggest enemy! If you don’t have much space inside electronic kits have a smaller footprint.
With an acoustic drum set you will need the drums, cymbals, hardware and often a drum stool. Just be careful looking at sets in store or online, make sure they include the following. A Bass drum, 3 tom toms, snare drum, hi hat cymbals, and either a crash or ride (preferably both). You will also need a hi hat stand, snare stand, bass drum pedal, stool, and 1 or 2 cymbal stands. This is a standard 5 piece drum set configuration.
Try and stay with the major brands like Yamaha, Pearl, Tama and PDP. Their entry level kits are all built to a high standard with the technology from their professional lines being filtered down. If you are looking at a second hand kit don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are more than happy to have a look and provide advice.
Low Volume Drums
If noise limitations will ever stop the student from practicing I’d recommend getting a Low Volume or Electronic drum set. Kids have enough distractions now days, if they are keen to practice we want to remove as many hurdles as possible. Low Volume kits take a regular acoustic drum set and replaces the drum heads and cymbals with mesh heads and low volume cymbals. This is the set up we use in our teaching rooms as it provides the closest experience to acoustic drums with reduced volume.
Currently no brand sells a Low Volume Drum kit. You have to take an acoustic drum set and convert it to Low Volume. This is something we can help you do for around $450. Converting a second-hand drum kit is a great option. We try to keep some in stock, so don’t hesitate to give us a call to discuss options.
Electronic Drums
Electronic kits have come along way in the last 5 years, they feel a lot more natural and have no real disadvantage compared to acoustic sets. The only negative I find is that students can rely on the volume control vs learning to play with dynamics.
If an electric drum set sounds like the best option stick with either Yamaha or Roland. There are cheaper brands out but I find they aren’t as durable. Over the years I’ve been able to see which kits hold up to students hitting them everyday, and at this point only Yamaha and Roland. There will be plenty of options on the second hand market so get in touch if you find something. You will need to get headphones or a speaker to plug into the kit as they don’t produce sound by themselves. The following are my recommends as of August 2022.
Yamaha DTX402K Plus pack $799 (RRP $1099). I prefer this Yamaha over the Roland TD-1k in the same price range. The TD-1k is built off a central stand so has a smaller foot print, but has less ability to adjust the size. Both are great though.
Roland TD-1K $829 (RRP $899). This kit only slightly beats the Yamaha DTX452k pack because it has mesh vs rubber pads. They feel nicer but you will need to buy a bass drum pedal, stool and headphones with this kit, so the price will go up. The DTX452K is a great pack to stay under $900.
Hiring Drums
If you aren’t sure that your child will stick with drums and want to test it out for a few months, hiring a kit is another great option. We’ve had many students hire through our partnership with Studio19. If you have your eye on something and want to know if it can be rented, just get in touch with our team.
Find out more about Rentals
Don’t for get to check out our online store for a sample of our range. If you have your eye on something, just give us a buzz and we can get you a price and eta.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d prefer to help you find something that suits so it’s no bother.