Learning Music - Tips

Hey,

I've moved onto snare this year into a pretty much completely new line and have now got our first lot of music - we've done the ballad where we're all in pit. We don't rehearse very often but by the time we get back together again I'll be expected to have learnt it, or at least made a good start.

I'm not much of a drummer (I play piano, guitar, cello, ukulele and a bit of bass) so was wondering for any tips about how to learn drum music or is it like piano and it's just a case of slow repetition for the harder sections.

Thanks

basically think of the notes as rythms. Thats how I learned. Usually there is an emphasis on rudiments, which are like little rhythms that are frequently used. Learn those :) Thats how I learned i dont know its that helpful or not. Lol im the first freshman on my high schools snareline in its 45 year existence! :DD But yeah just you know feel it out watch some In The Lot footage of drum corps and stuff. Again, thats how I learned :) OH and the biggest thingss, get a practice pad and PRACTICE ALOT. like, ALOT. :)

You can practice any instrument with slow repetition. :)

haha thanks, now i had better get practising !

To respond to your question and continue with Alec's : In rudimental snare drumming, the basics are the most important thing. If you've never played snare before, start with 8 on a hand. After that you go on with an accent/tap exercise for control. When you start drumming you won't have the control you'd like to have so start slowly with this exercise and be sure to put the same strength in every note, the only difference should be the height. Common exercises are a double beat, para diddle and triplet diddle exercise, because you'll find this patterns a lot in the book you play. When you know all these basic things, you are prepared to play a drumbook. You'll recognize the patterns from the exercises in the book. The best way of learning is really doing it a lot. Here's a link to 40 essential rudiments from vic firth:
vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.php

Good luck and have fun:)