Hi! My name is Akanksha, and I am a Drum teacher by profession. I’d like to share the experiences of my student, Vedant, and his parents as they tried to find a suitable drum kit. We’ll find out why digital drums proved the ideal choice for them.
Contributed by Akanksha Salvi for Roland India
In a country like India, where most people live in apartments and very close to their neighbours, the noise of the Drums is a big issue.
Vedant has been learning the Drums for the last three years and I was impressed by his dedication and passion for the instrument. So, I suggested to his parents that they buy him a drum kit to improve his practice experience.
His parents, with little knowledge about Drums, were overwhelmed by the options when they visited music stores. They really didn’t know what to choose, so they came to me for advice.
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I knew it was important for Vedant to try various options, so I accompanied him and his mother to a local music store with a variety of drum kits on the floor. We instantly noticed that while the acoustic drums felt great, they were too loud and would take up too much space in Vedant’s house!
Then I recommended that he try out Digital Drums, also known as Electronic Drums. These are electronic instruments which emulate acoustic drums, just like digital keyboards can be used instead of pianos or organs. And guess what? He loved them! They were a perfect match for his needs.
But we still had to convince Vedant’s mother, who had a few questions:
Will an Electronic Drum kit take up too much space in our apartment?
I understand the problem of living in an apartment. Space limitations mean we have to make the most of what we have. Luckily, most electronic drums have a smaller footprint than their acoustic counterparts, but Vedant would still have a range of drums and cymbals in his kit. And because you don’t need a big drum to make a big sound, electronic kits can provide a full sound range without filling the room with equipment.
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Since I live in a building and have many neighbours, will the Digital Drums cause disturbance?
Not at all! In fact, with a Digital Drum kit, you can connect a pair of headphones and play almost silently. And even then, you can control the volume with a dial. That’s something you really can’t do with acoustic drums. This means even if Vedant wants to practise at night when you and the neighbours are resting, he can play without disturbing any of you.
Fun Fact: For recording enthusiasts, Digital Drums make it easy to create professional-sounding tracks without the need for microphones.
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Will my child outgrow his Electronic Drum kit?
Not at all! Unlike ‘child-sized acoustic kits’, Digital Drums are designed around a rack and can easily be adjusted as your child grows. In fact, adults and children use exactly the same kits. All the pads and cymbals are on flexible mounts that can be moved up or down and closer or further apart. And as your son becomes a more advanced player, it’s easy to add more drums and cymbals to the kit.
Will my son able to play sounds other than Drums using Digital Drums?
He sure can! One of the best features of Digital Drums is that you have the freedom to change the sound of the Drums just with the touch of a button. For example, he can choose a traditional drum kit, or easily switch to tabla, mridangam, dholak, a funky hip-hop drum kit, or just about any sound you can imagine in a few seconds!
Fun Fact: With numbers of sound effects at fingertips, you can do more with an Electronic Drum kit when it comes to sound.
Will he able to record what he plays using an Electronic Drum (Digital Drum) kit?
Absolutely!! Most Digital Drum sets include some built-in recording options. Vedant can record himself and his favourite songs from his phone directly onto the drum kit – or even onto his laptop.
What other features does an Electronic Drum (Digital Drum) kit have?
Most Digital Drums come equipped with various teaching tools built in. Roland kits, for example, have a Coach Mode – a virtual coach that helps you to improve your playing with a metronome and to develop a good sense of timing and tempo. The training tools also provide real-time feedback on performance. This is a bit like having a Drum teacher in the room with you and encouraging you to become a better drummer.
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Conclusion
Many years ago, apartment living and proximity to your neighbours meant only people with sound-proof studios could consider having a drum kit at home. Nowadays, Digital Drums can bring drumming to any home, allowing your child to practise quietly with headphones, without disturbing anyone at all. The kits are smaller than acoustic drums, so they won’t take up too much space. And, moreover, they can play different styles of music using a single Digital Drum kit!
It’s been three years since Vedant started learning on Digital Drums and he loves his kit and spends a lot of time practising. The skills and confidence he has gained over the years have prepared him well for public performance – and I can’t wait to see where his drumming takes him.
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