San Diego Drum Lessons

Learning Drums? Are Acoustic or Electronic Drum Sets better for student drummers?

2012-01-08T14:11:00.000-08:00

Starting to play drums in San Diego? Are electronic or acoustic drums better for student drummers? This is a question that I get asked time and time again. Thanks for checking in to my first drum blog post of 2012 – regarding the benefits of electronic drum kits, and their more traditional counterpart; the acoustic drum set.

Whether you go for an electronic or acoustic drum set depends very much upon yourcircumstances. The overriding factor for most students (especially parents!) is noise. Of course, we all want to stay on good terms with room mates, family and neighbors, and there is no doubt about it; drums are loud! Naturally, one of the huge benefits of an electronic drum set is that you can control the volume. However, did you know that there are various noise reduction options available for acoustic drums? Companies such as Vic Firth and Sound Percussion manufacture drum dampening pads. They reduce the response of the drums significantly, and there are options available for cymbals too. It’s not as much fun as playing without the pads – but at least it gives you the opportunity to practice without disturbing anyone else. If you want to play an acoustic set but are concerned about your neighbors – go and discuss it with them. In most cases I have experienced; neighbors are generally open to it if there are agreed times – generally not too early in the morning, and not after 8pm at night. Of course, this depends greatly on whether you live in a house, apartment or condo -so if you feel that noise, even reduced, will not be an option; then electronic drums may be the way to go.

Electronic drums are great, in fact I use a Roland TD20K in my drum studio. However, in the interest of being objective, I will say this. No matter how good your electronic drum set is – they do not feel the same, or have the same response as an acoustic drum or cymbal set. Close, but not the same. In fact, with luxuries such as mesh drum heads, and touch sensitive sensors – we can get away with a lot on an electronic drum set that just wouldn’t work on an acoustic set. That’s worth bearing in mind when making your decision. When working on technique in my studio, I always have practice pads and acoustic drums available so that we don’t hide the gaps in our technique behind those electronic safety nets!

Space is also a major consideration when choosing between electronic and acoustic drums. Some of the more compact electronic drums like the Roland TD4K and TD9K take up considerably less space then an acoustic set, but again, that comes with compromises. The pads are smaller then acoustic drums, which means that in some cases, you have to adjust your body positioning to suit what you are working with- not the ideal approach when learning correct posture and technique. (But not the end of the world, either). Since the larger electronic drum sets like the Roland TD12K and TD20K take up nearly the same floor area as an acoustic set, space becomes less of a decision factor at this point, and playing position is more realistic.

With regards to brands and models for electronic drums; I typically recommend Roland products. Not just because I play them, but because I have had considerable experience in demonstrating and selling all of the major products from my years in the drum retail business. Roland always seem to be one step ahead of the competition, and have a range to suit all budgets and levels of playing. Check out the Roland V-Drums website for more details on the range. Be sure to compare against other popular manufacturers such as Yamaha; who also make great electronic drums.

Budget, especially in these hard economic times, is naturally a consideration. Roland Electronic drum sets vary in price from $600 to $6000 plus. Be careful of cheap imitations! The $200 electronic drum sets that you can pick up from popular electronic stores are $200 for a reason! You are much better off going to your local music store, or shopping on-line with a reputable music store. As with all musical instruments – you get what you pay for! Better equipment – acoustic or electronic – will inspire you to practice more, and will be more fun to play. You can get a reasonable starter acoustic drum set from around $300-$400. This typically includes 5 drums, hardware (that’s the stands that hold everything) and a basic cymbal set. Be warned though. The cymbals that are included with starter drum sets at this price point are never the most musical (that’s a polite way of saying they can, in many cases, sound really nasty!). It is always a good idea to consider upgrading the basic cymbal pack included with starter drum sets.

So we have already established that electronic drums don’t feel the same as acoustic drums. That said; they certainly have a lot of fun features that their acoustic counterparts can’t touch! For example, most have a variety of different drum kit sounds, play-along songs, and built-in metronomes. One of the coolest features on most models is that you can run your iPod directly through the module (that’s the sound source – “brain”, if you like) and play along to your favorite tunes – all while balancing the sound and controlling the volume – a BIG plus, in my opinion.

In conclusion, the electronic vs acoustic question depends very much on your personal circumstances. Neighbors, space, budget – all play a big part in the decision making process. Nowadays, you can generally get either with a nominal budget. If space and noise is an issue, then electronic drums could be a better option for you. If you feel this is less of a consideration, then nothing satisfies like the feel of hitting an acoustic drum, and feeling the power and depth of that kick drum! Whichever you go for, both are great options, and most importantly, will get you playing the drums and having fun!

For more information on noise reduction for drums (which is generally one of the main decision factors), click here to see my YouTube video from a couple of years ago. The information is still very much up to date, and you may find it useful. If you would like to talk to me about the various options available on the market (Roland or any other)- send me an email, or feel free to call me. Thanks for checking in!

San Diego Drum Lessons - Update November 2011

2011-11-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

As a drum teacher in San Diego, I have a responsibility not only to make my lessons as enjoyable, informative and effective as possible, but also to help build awareness and promote the fantastic industry in which I am very privileged to work. Drum lessons in San Diego are offered six days a week at San Diego Drum Lessons – with Professional Drummer and Drum Set Instructor, Simon DasGupta.

Welcome to my November update. Since I returned from a trip to England in late October, things have been truly hectic – and that’s a great situation to be in – especially in this economy. Thank you to all of my students for your continued business – I truly appreciate the opportunity to help you! If you are interested in becoming a drum student, and learning drums (and embarking on what could be one of the most fulfilling things you do!) please feel free to call me, or fill out the enquiry form on this website.

I have been very busy this last week teaching drums, and preparing for our very first drum clinic this coming weekend, with Nashville session great Rich Redmond. I have been overwhelmed by the response from my students and the local San Diego drum community, and am delighted that this event has sold out. Check back next month for a write-up on this event, which is being co-hosted by my very good friends at Studio West, and co sponsored by DW Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, ProMark Sticks and Direct Sound Headphones. We are also going to be doing a video production of the clinic, and will be making exerts available on the San Diego Drum Lessons and Studio West YouTube Channels.

As a drum teacher in San Diego, I have a responsibility not only to make my lessons as enjoyable, informative and effective as possible, but also to help build awareness and promote the fantastic industry in which I am very privileged to work. Drum clinics are a great way to do this – and I am proud and indeed fortunate that my friend and owner of Studio West, Peter Dyson – shares this vision. We plan to co-host more drum clinics in the future with more big-name drummers – so make sure you check this website regularly for any future announcements.

And speaking of Studio West and great drummers, I was very privileged to be invited by Peter to Studio West in October to sit in on a recording session with the awesome Gregg Bissonette. Just having the opportunity to sit in the control room of Studio A and watch a true legend laying down drum tracks with his brother Matt on bass was a jaw-dropping moment for me. I have hosted drum clinics with Gregg in England, and he is definitely a name that may feature in a San Diego Drum Lessons / Studio West event in the future. Peter also has some great ideas on drummers to feature, so again, keep checking in!

For my own playing, I have been keeping myself busy in my studio working on various styles that continue to push me in positive ways. I am also being asked to do some sessions myself at Studio West – so I will keep you posted on anything I am involved with. In terms of live performance, I am booked for some theatre shows in San Diego in the Summer of 2012 – there are a couple of things in the pipeline that are pending confirmation – I’ll be sure to keep you updated!

San Diego Drum Lessons - Update October 2011

2011-10-16T21:39:00.000-07:00

San Diego Drum Lessons and Studio West present an evening with Rich Redmond! Yes, I am pleased to tell you that this event is 100% confirmed – please click here for full details. I strongly advise anyone interested in attending this event to book tickets as soon as possible. The event is already over half sold, and that’s before Studio West start their own campaign. Since I announced the show last month, I am delighted that Drum Workshop (DW Drums), Sabian Cymbals, Pro Mark Drum Sticks and Remo Drum Heads are all on-board, co-sponsoring the event.

I recently returned from Las Vegas, where I was lucky to see the new Elton John show: The Million Dollar Piano. Anyone that knows me will already know that I am massive fan of Elton’s drummer Nigel Olsson, and percussionist John Mahon, but it was a real treat that this show features the legendary British Percussionist Ray Cooper. His biography is very impressive indeed, and although he doesn’t have an official website, you can see his page on Drummerworld.com, by clicking here. By the way, if you have never seen it, Drummerworld.com is a fantastic on-line resource to learn about drummers and percussionists – check it out! So if you decide to go and see the show for yourself, be prepared for a real drum and percussion extravaganza! The ticket prices are typically Vegas high – but worth every cent.

Playing-wise; I have a couple of things in the mix right now that I’m pretty excited about. I am working in the studio with some local writers, and have been working hard on my own playing in the last few weeks. This has mainly involved working on my jazz, Brazilian and Afro-Cuban chops – it has been very humbling indeed, but hugely rewarding at the same time. I got a call last week to come in as a sub for the show “Memphis”. Unfortunately I had to turn it down due to the said Elton John concert, but it’s always nice to get called for these things, as I have been working hard over the last two years to build a name for myself on the local theatre scene – something I love to do.

Thanks for checking in!

San Diego Drum Lessons and Studio West present An Evening With Rich Redmond - in conjunction with DW Drums, Sabian and Remo.

2011-09-29T14:39:00.000-07:00

San Diego Drum Lessons and Studio West are excited to present An Evening With Rich Redmond. - in conjunction with DW Drums, Sabian and Remo.

A few weeks ago, I was in Nashville studying with a great drummer called Rich Redmond. I have attached a link to his website so you can check out his credentials. Rich is the drumming powerhouse behind Nashville superstar Jason Aldean. (Whose latest album is currently Number 4 in the US album charts). In addition to playing in front of over a million people on tour this year; Rich has played on all of Jason’s Platinum selling albums. He is also a very talented educator, producer and writer – and his enthusiasm and passion for his work comes across in everything he does. Take my word for it – this guy can play.

I am delighted to let you know that, in conjunction with Studio West, San Diego Drum Lessons will be bringing Rich in from Nashville to do a drum clinic for us. The confirmed date is Friday 2nd December 2011. Doors open at 630pm, and the show starts at 730pm. There will be an opportunity to mix and look around the famous Studio West facilities before the show.

A drum clinic is an intimate event that every drummer and enthusiast should have the opportunity to see; regardless of your level of playing, or your aspirations. This is an opportunity for you to see a first call session drummer up close, in a studio environment. Typically, the evening involves performance (demonstration of techniques, playing along with backing tracks), questions and answers, and a chance to mingle with dozens of other drummers and drum enthusiasts. There will also be a raffle with a chance to win some cool drum/Studio West related prizes.

The clinic will be in the legendary Studio A at Studio West – so you will get to see the region’s top recording studio at the same time, while being assured of the best sound, audio and visual facilities available for the performance. Clients of Studio West include Blink 182, Jewel, and Duran Duran among many others.

This is quite a first for drummers in the San Diego area, and I really hope that you can be part of it. The ticket price is $30 to cover our costs, and there are limited places on offer. If you would like to come along, please call Studio West on 858 592 9497 to reserve your place. You can pay by credit or debit card – Just ask for Peter Dyson, or Jesse Maxson. Please don’t wait to buy tickets if you are interested in coming – the attendance is strictly limited to 70 people, and this event will sell out.

Thanks for checking in!

September 2011 - Nashville Trip.

2011-09-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

San Diego Drum Lessons offers one to one, personalized drum lessons in the San Diego area; with Professional Drummer – Simon DasGupta. Drum lessons in San Diego are available six days a week, from a modern and fully equipped drum studio in Rancho Penasquitos.

Thank you for checking in. September was a great month – starting with a trip to Nashville, Tennessee. I have always been intrigued by the music scene in Nashville, so I decided to spend Labor Day Weekend in Music City. My objective for the trip was to combine pleasure with business – so I set about researching some top Nashville drummers that might be fun to study with.

As if by fate; two weeks before my trip, I got an email from Rich Redmond – the drumming powerhouse behind Nashville Superstar Jason Aldean. Rich is in San Diego in October playing at the Cricket Wireless Amphitheater in Chula Vista – and he wanted to see if I would be interested in organizing a clinic (workshop) with him, for the students of San Diego Drum Lessons. As it happens, I am not about the weekend he is in town, so with regret, I had to decline. However, I did notice that he had a break in touring with Jason at the same time I was traveling to Nashville, so I arranged a drum lesson with him during my trip. Amazing how things work out.

My lesson with Rich was at the famous Forks Drum Closet in Nashville. Having come from a retail drum store background in the UK, I am very hard to impress when it comes to drum shops. Forks, however; blew me away. Aside from the fact that I was greeted with a hug from one of the owners, the store has one of the most comprehensive stock holdings I have seen, and the store itself is immaculate and very well organized. At the rear of the store are a couple of teaching studios, frequented by Rich Redmond, and a certain Chester Thompson. This is where I took my 90 minute lesson with one of Nashville’s first-call session musicians.

The day after my lesson, I got together with Rich for coffee, and I floated the idea of bringing him out to San Diego to do a drum clinic for my students. We are still in the process of ironing out the details, but it looks like it might happen in early December. This will be done in conjunction with my friends at Studio West – San Diego’s premier recording studio and accredited Pro-Tools school. Please be sure to check back here for details, as the spaces will be limited for this event. If you are interested in attending, you can pre-register your interest by emailing me at sandiegodrumlessons@gmail.com.

Nashville really caught my imagination, and I had a great three nights there. Music row is a sight to be seen – it literally is, as captured so aptly in Jason Aldean’s lyrics: “Hollywood with a touch of twang”. I was impressed by the countless bands busting their backs night after night – mostly living on tips collected from a jar being passed around during performances. Nashville is a competitive scene, and just because you play there, you have no guarantee of success. One singer that I met had been playing the scene for over 20 years. Rich himself said that as a session musician, it can take you ten years to gain any notoriety on the scene.

In terms of my own playing – I have a booking to play Footloose at San Diego Junior Theatre next Summer, and am hoping that some more shows will come in as the local theaters finalize their 2011/12 show roster. Other then that, I have been studying mostly Latin grooves recently- really pushing my four way co-ordination to the limit. Very challenging, but hugely rewarding. Hit me up if you want to join in! Thanks for checking in!

San Diego Drum Lessons - August 2011

2011-08-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

Drum Teacher in San Diego? San Diego Drum Lessons offers one-to-one drum lessons in the San Diego area. Please click on the contacts page to get started today!

Thank you for checking in! This year has been very interesting on the playing front for a number of reasons. Firstly, my entire calendar was thrown up in the air when I was hospitalized in April with a niggling back complaint that required corrective surgery – completely unrelated to drumming, I should add. This meant that I had to turn down a number of shows that I would loved to have done, including Annie The Musical (Moonlight Theatre), Hairspray (Moonlight Theatre), Cabaret (Cygnet Theatre), A Chorus Line (Lyceum Theatre), and A Year With Frog and Toad (San Diego Junior Theatre). To further rub salt in the wounds, I had to pull out of The Marvelous Wonderettes at Moonlight because during rehearsals for Hairspray (The one show Idid do) at San Diego Junior Theatre, I felt that my playing was not going to hold up so soon after surgery…. although that concern turned out to be unfounded.

Once again, it was a privilege to work at the Prado Theatre in Balboa Park, for the San Diego Junior Theatre production of Hairspray, which closed last weekend after a four week production run. For this show, I was part of a 15 piece orchestra, playing a musical book that was just written for drums! And, a lot of drums. In fact; I don’t think I have ever been kept so busy during a show – which often seemed more of a physical work out then a musical – but in a good way! So while this was challenging physically during rehearsals so soon after surgery, it actually helped me build my playing to where I started to feel much stronger again – and I totally started to regret pulling out of The Marvelous Wonderettes. I guess the body really is an amazing thing! I also had the pleasure of playing Hairspray with prominent local percussionist Chuck Elledge – one of San Diego’s first call players – and it’s not hard to see why. It had been a long time since I played a show with a percussionist, and it felt great – and I learned a lot from Chuck, which is always one of the main aims of any show I participate in. You never stop learning – that’s for sure. I’ve attached a YouTube link of the show, so check it out!

SDJT Production of Hairspray. August 2011

And, neatly segueing into the subject of learning, I have been studying jazz drumming with Dr Dave Whitman these past few months. Many of my students seem surprised when I tell them I still take drum lessons – but I have a teacher, my teacher has a teacher – and on it goes. One of my first drum teachers told that me learning drums is a “lifetime of study”, and he was certainly right. That’s not to say that you can’t be as good as you want quickly with the right instruction, but moreover, that you will never know everything. And to be honest, it’s that very realization that keeps me going – the wonder of what I will learn next, and the privilege of being able to share it with others. Back to Dr. Dave though, before I go off on a complete tangent. Dave Whitman is the San Diego State University (SDSU) Aztecs Drum Line Coach – and if that doesn’t impress you in itself (which it certainly does for me), then I can tell you that he holds a Doctorate in Percussion Performance – a qualification that I didn’t even know existed until recently. So, it has been very interesting playing the role of the student again, and having to practice my homework. (Something I apparently never had the time to do when learning the piano recently).

So what’s up next for me? Well, as of now, I don’t know. Teaching, of course is my priority – and we’ll see what comes in show-wise over the next few months. Shows are a bit like London buses, you wait forever for one to show up, and then three turn up at the same time. That is the nature of the business. Thanks for checking in!

San Diego Drum Lessons - New Website!

2011-05-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

San Diego drum set lessons are available six days a week, with Professional Drummer, Simon DasGupta. Drum lessons in San Diego are tailored to your level and objectives, and are always on a one-to-one, personalized basis.

Click here to check out the brand new website of San Diego Drum Lessons. The new site, launched in May 2011, is designed to show you my passion for teaching the drums, and give you all the information you need to make an informed decision on whether my style of teaching is right for you.

You should find out everything you need to know about drum lessons right here. If, however, you have further questions after browsing the site - please feel free to contact me. Also, I am always open to feedback and suggestions on how I may improve my website, or any aspect of my service to you.

As well as the main pages of the new San Diego Drum Lessons website, please be sure to browse through the FAQ Frequently Asked Questions section. Here you will find the answers to many commonly asked questions about your drum lessons like: "Do I need a drum set at home if I am taking drum lessons", "Are you qualified to teach and do you have background checks?", "Am I too old or too young to learn to play the drums", "What can I do to reduce noise" and many, many more important questions.

I plan to make my new website as informative as possible - so watch out for new innovations over the next few weeks, including regular news updates, and video messages. I want to take drum lessons in San Diego to a new standard - and I want YOU to be part of it! So contact me today, and let's get started on one of the most rewarding journeys you may ever take. Thanks for checking in!

A busy Summer ahead - AND the importance of reading music!

2011-05-09T19:50:00.001-07:00

San Diego Drum Lessons is based in Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego. All drum set lessons are individual "one to one" sessions with Professional Drummer - Simon DasGupta; the author of this blog / news section.

Thanks for checking in. Firstly - I would like to keep you up to date with various happenings coming up. Having been forced to turn down a number of musicals this Summer due to my schedule, I am happy to confirm that I will be playing two shows in the coming months. The first, is the San Diego Junior Theater production of the award winning hit musical Hairspray. SDJT is based at the Casa Del Prado Theater in Balboa Park, and runs from July 29th until August 14th. SDJT is about to enter it's 63rd season, and I am excited to be asked back, following my involvement in the shows Fame and Willy Wonka last year. Secondly, In September, I am very excited to have been asked to play at the Moonlight Amphitheater in Vista. I will be playing drums for the show The Marvelous Wondrettes. This show runs from September 14th until October 1st. Just a note - the links to the shows Hairspray and TMW above are official websites of the musicals for information only. They are not the cast, crew or production involved in the shows in San Diego and Vista.

If you are interested in working as a drummer in the orchestra for theater productions, you have to understand that it is a massive time commitment. To give you an idea, just the two shows listed above will be played around 40 times (both shows combined, not each); including orchestral rehearsals and dress rehearsals. Add to that dozens of hours of your own preparation time, and you get the picture of just how big the commitment actually is. When I undertake musicals, my goal is to know the show inside out before I sit behind the drums in the first rehearsal. That way, you already have the charts down, and you can spend more time watching the Music Director rather then reading the dots. And that's another thing - if you are serious about working in theater, you must have a high degree of sight reading skills.

Drum Lessons in San Diego with myself include all aspects of music notation and reading. Regardless of your level, I will have you reading basic drum notation in the very first drum lesson. If you are an experienced drummer, but never learned to read, I can fast-track you to where you need to be using a series of really good books and exercises. Remember, you are much more employable as a drummer in professional situations if you read music, but equally important - if you can read, you have access to hundreds of books with amazing grooves and fills that you may never have thought of playing. I am continually amazed and inspired by what I find in the multitude of drum books available. There is also another big benefit. Learning to read opens up questions on technique, sticking, counting music - and understanding of the importance of the drum set rudiments. You can really take your drumming to the next level by focussing on these areas. I can break down music notation in to understandable and manageable sections - and make it interesting and fun.

If you have any questions about drum lessons, sight reading, technique- or anything drum related, please feel free to send me an email: sandiegodrumlessons@gmail.com. I want to make playing the drums to your desired level a reality for you.

San Diego Drum Lessons - Update January 2011

2011-01-04T21:58:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to all friends of San Diego Drum Lessons. I wish you all the very best in health and happiness in the year ahead! My new year's resolution is to be more consistent with updating my blog! This will be made easier by an exciting change - my new website, which will be launched at the end of this month. The trustee orange website has been up and running for three years now; and while I have received a number of compliments from drum students and those enquiring about Drum Lessons in San Diego - it is time for a fresh look. The new website will have an integrated blog/news function, which means that you will no longer be directed to the blogger.com website. My Web developers also tell me that I need to be much more proactive with Twitter and Facebook too - so those pages are getting a little make-over as well - again, to be completed towards the end of the month.

In October/November 2010, I once again had the privilege of working with the San Diego Junior Theater on their four week production of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka. This show really seemed to catch the imagination of San Diego theater enthusiasts - every show was sold out. (That's 700 seats per show - very impressive). Musically, this was a good challenge for me. For the Fame production in the Summer, the Musical Director, Richard Morrison, was also playing piano/keyboards, and as such, there was not a lot of conducting cues to follow. Willy Wonka was a very different show. With Richard conducting an orchestra consisting of drums/percussion (me!), upright bass, two pianos, cello, violin, trumpet, French horn, clarinet, trombone and oboe - this was a very different approach to the full on rock/pop show from the Summer! As usual, I had a great time, learned a lot (which is always the main thing), and met some fantastic local San Diego Musicians.

Unfortunately, I had to turn down the March production of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It is a super fun show from what I have heard, but there is a tuned percussion part in there that I am not confident with. (I am a drum set player primarily, not a percussionist). However, this has prompted me to fulfil another ambition for 2011 - to learn the piano. (it really helps with tuned percussion!). So, as a little Christmas gift to myself, I purchased a Yamaha CP33 Stage Piano, and I started lessons in the first week of January. As a drummer and being used to drum notation, I am not used to reading bass and treble clef music, so it is a real challenge, and I am enjoying every second (although I am sure it will come with it's frustrations!). It is also a useful experience for me to be back in the role of student for change.

2011 looks like it is going to be a great year. I am hoping to work more in local San Diego theater - and I am excited to be working with Marie Haddad on her up-coming 2011 album release. There will be some live shows that go with this - and Marie just recently did her first show in New York City - so congratulations Marie! I will post any live dates on my brand spanking new website at the end of the month.

Thank you 2010 for being a great musical year for me. As well as playing extensively on the local San Diego Music Scene, I played in two theater productions, recorded an album, and saw some amazing live shows. My favorite musical memories of 2010, aside from the above, was being privileged to have seen Elton John with Leon Russell, Norah Jones, Rush, Muse and many more. Above all, I am blessed to teach the drums and make a difference in people's lives (to some extent, at least) every day of the week. There's never a dull moment, and I am truly grateful to be able to do what I do.

Drum Lessons are going very well - I still have space. So if you, or anyone you know would like to take drum lessons in San Diego, please do contact me. Thanks for checking in!

Update - August 2010

2010-08-17T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hello to all friends and students of San Diego Drum Lessons! It's been a while since I checked in - and I apologise for that! I have been extremely busy with drum lessons, and musical projects that I am very excited about.

So - just to update you on what's happening. The middle of 2010 has really rung in the changes. I am no longer working with Veronica May. Regrettably, that particular project seems to have run it's course. Veronica is now to be found playing solo in and around San Diego, and with her new "Old Time" band "The Forget-Me-Nots". I haven't seen them personally, but I have heard that they are fantastic so you should definitely check them out. And... it goes without saying that I wish Veronica the very best for the future, and thanks for the opportunity - it was fun! Unfortunately, it looks like the album we were working on for the last year will now never see the light of day which is a real shame; but serves as a reminder of how things can change overnight in the music business.

I am delighted, however, to be working with two extremely talented writers and musicians - Marie Haddad , and Jordan Reimer. You can check out their respective websites by clicking the links. I did my first show with Marie at the recent San Diego County Fair in front of several hundred people - and we are soon (along with fantastic bass player Jason Hee) to be collaborating on Marie's follow up album to "A Beautiful Road", which you can check out on her website. Jordan Reimer is an up and coming (and very talented) writer and performer, and at just 17 years old, is nominated for the Best Acoustic Category in the upcoming San Diego Music Awards. Please check out this link, and vote for Jordan! I am super-excited to let you know that Jeff Johnson (of Veronica May and the To Do List) is on bass guitar for this project, and we are currently working with Jordan to get ready for some live shows - probably commencing in October. I will definitely keep you posted.

There is no-one in San Diego that has not been touched by the unfortunate fates of Amber Dubois and Chelsea King. I was recently asked to play on a version of Tim McGraw's song "My Little Girl" which was actually played during the sentencing of John Gardner. I don't really want to say too much about this because it was an extremely sad project to work on, but if you are interested, you can see the video that was played at his sentencing - along with soundtrack that I played on here. My thoughts and prayers go out to both families. The video you see was commissioned by Amber's family, which is why Chelsea is not featured.

Last, but by no means least - I have had the absolute privilege of working with the San Diego Junior Theatre Company on their recent production of the hit musical FAME. I just finished the shows after a production run of four weeks, and had a fantastic experience. So much so that I am going to write a separate blog very soon on this topic alone. I am also very proud to announce that I have been re-hired for the autumn production of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka The Musical. The San Diego Junior Theatre is located at the Casa Del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park - a 700 seat facility that is practically sold out every time there is a show - high praise indeed for a theatre company about to enter it's 63rd season! (The longest running Junior Theatre Company in the USA, by the way). Thank you to my student Angie Sampson for getting me in on this via Reed Supremo Amy Kalal. And a BIG thank you to Musical Director Richard Morrison for the opportunity.

As far as drum lessons go - I am happy to say that my active student roster is over 50 right now - but I still have space! So if you, or anyone you know wants to learn to play the drums, contact me today! Thanks for checking in!

San Diego Drum Lessons working with Miss San Diego Contestant

2010-05-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

Firstly, my apologies for not updating this blog recently. Drum lessons in San Diego seem to be in high demand right now (thankfully), and I have been super busy, and very grateful to be so!

There have been a lot of great things happening recently; but I have been meaning to write about a very cool project that I was involved with back in January 2010. I was contacted by Melissa Mattingly, who was competing in the Miss San Diego 2010 Pageant. As part of her talent repertoire, she was hoping to put together a short drum solo.

Having not met Melissa before, my first concern was that we had less then two weeks to put together a solo, and I did not know if this was possible because I had no idea what level of playing she had already reached. These concerns were immediately set aside when I met her for the first time at my drum studio in Rancho Penasquitos. Melissa was already a good drummer. More then anything, she needed direction on how to construct a drum solo that would have a good impact on the audience and the judges. With this in mind, the key was to identify her strengths, and work with these, while adding some new, manageable sections that were attainable in the time frame we had. My personal aim was to push Melissa to add elements to her performance that were new, and maybe a little outside her initial comfort zone, but with an emphasis on using her existing skills and technique. She rose to the challenge magnificently.

The Miss San Diego 2010 Pageant was held at the the Lyceum Theater in downtown San Diego on 10th January. My DW drum kit was chosen for the performance (which actually complimented Melissa's dress very well!). I was on hand on the day to provide assistance - The last thing I wanted was for Melissa to be worried about stage helpers setting up a drum kit in a 30 second turnaround. The volunteer helpers are awesome, but there would have been no way they could have accurately positioned a drum kit in that time.

When the time came for the performance, I think I was probably more nervous then Melissa. Having known how much hard work she had put into every aspect of her repertoire, I wanted her to do well - And that she did. The audience clapped along as Melissa totally rocked her drum solo. At the very end, it was very satisfying for me to hear the cheers and applause from the sell-out Lyceum audience in appreciation of the solo. It was strong, confident, and delivered with complete grace and composure - I was very proud of her!

SoCal Drum Society building notoriety in San Diego.

2010-01-10T19:40:00.000-08:00

San Diego Drum Lessons wishes to congratulate local drummers Duncan Moore and Craig Zarkos on the founding of the SoCal Drum Society. Check out this feature that appeared in todays San Diego Union Tribune.

The SoCal Drum Society started off as a web based group powered by meetup.com, but has since graduated to it's own domain, which you can visit by clicking here. The aim is for drummers all over our area to meet up monthly, and talk about all aspects of drums and drumming, with performances and "drum clinics" to boot. Once again, this proves the point that drummers are indeed a rare breed - always noted for the willingness to help each other out, trade ideas, and generally support each other. Well done Duncan and Craig, and best of luck with the venture. I for one will be making it up to a get-together before long.

At San Diego Drum Lessons; all lessons are conducted by Simon DasGupta. We are not a third party lesson organizer. Click here to visit our testimonials!

Local North County Drummer in National Finals for Guitar Center Drum Off.

2010-01-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

San Diego Drum Lessons wishes to congratulate local drummer Troy Molsberry of Carlsbad CA, who recently beat over 4000 drummers to reach the Finals of the Guitar Center Drum Off competition. You can see the full article in the North County Times, by clicking on this link.
It's great to see local drummers progressing, and we wish Troy all the best. Back in 2004/05, I was the General Manager of the Drum Department at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, and we hosted several of the stage competitions of the Drum Off event, so I know that the competition will have been intense for Troy. I also helped organize the 2004/05 Final at the Wiltern Theater in LA, so have first hand experience of what a big event this is. The year I was involved in the organization, Josh Freese was the featured drummer, including a set by The Vandals. I am sure Tommy Lee will bring some additional spice to the event!

If you are looking for drum lessons in the San Diego area, give me a call. Once again; Congratulations Troy. Image courtesy of North County Times.

Drums for your iPhone! Whatever next?

2009-12-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

Just taking a break from drum lessons in San Diego to tell you about a brilliant article I have seen on a UK drum shop website. The shop is called DrumWright, and they are probably one of the most innovative drum shops in the UK, in my opinion.

Anyway, if you are an iPhone fan like me; then you will definitely want to check out this blog by DrumWright that features the Top five drum applications for the iPhone. Be warned; once you get stuck in to playing with these things, you can literally wonder where the rest of the day has gone! The blog features the drum apps Digidrummer, Free Drum Pad, 3D Drum Kit Pro, Kanon Drum, and Drum Meister. (which is my favorite purely down to the cool name!). You can check out demonstrations of these apps on YouTube. Here's a cool one I saw on the Drum Meister.

You have to wonder how much more innovative these phones can get. I was blown a way with the Shazam application. This app literally listens to music, and then tells you the title of the song, the artist, and a link to purchase it on iTunes. One of my drum students also recently referred me to an app called ShopSavvy. This has a barcode scanner where you scan the product, and it will tell you the best web price, or where you can buy it locally, along with prices, and GPS directions! Through using this, he found the best price on an Evans snare drum head as most music shops offer a price match policy - amazing!

And it goes without saying that if you have Twitter, MySpace or Facebook on your iPhone, then please send me an invite! By the way; you can also follow DrumWright on Facebook and Twitter. Just go to their homepage! Happy holidays everyone!

Rock Drummers can be as fit as Top Athletes - it's official!

2009-12-15T18:22:00.000-08:00

San Diego Drum Lessons recently received a question asking what my view is on drumming as a form of exercise. The best advice I could give was to refer to an official study that was done in 2008, which suggests that working drummers can be as fit as top athletes. For those of you interested in this study, here is the link to the BBC website.

For myself, I always try and do additional exercise though. I try to run at least four times a week, up to four miles in each session*. But, sitting in a teaching studio all day with occasional shows probably does not qualify me as a "working drummer" as described in the article. Certainly if you are touring, and playing at a high intensity most nights, then you could probably fall in the category of the musicians they are talking about in the article. Everyone else should still consider additional exercise.

Don't forget that mental health can be as important a consideration as physical health (and both are linked), and playing the drums is a proven way of reducing stress. So if you are looking for drum lessons in San Diego as a way of reducing stress, give me a call!

* My personal exercise regime is out of preference, and unrelated to drum set playing!

New video: Options on noise reduction for your drum practice

2009-11-01T16:04:00.000-08:00

Check out our new video: Options on noise reduction for your drum practice!

If you have any questions for which you would like a video response; email Simon DasGupta direct: sandiegodrumlessons@gmail.com

A trip down memory lane, and the importance of sight reading.

2009-10-08T14:54:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd take a break from today's drum lessons to let you know that I recently took a cruise from San Diego down to Mexico, on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas. Having worked for so long on the Splendour of the Seas, this was a real trip down memory lane for me.

It's been over ten years since I was last on a Royal Caribbean ship, and it didn't disappoint. My wife and I had a great week, and it was interesting to see how the entertainment has evolved in the ten years since I worked in the theaters and lounge rooms as a young (and very inexperienced) drummer.

The musicianship on the Radiance was absolutely first class - and it makes me very grateful that I had the opportunity to work amongst some fine players in the same environment. If you have read my first couple of blogs about how I ended up living in the USA, you will know more of the story.

The one thing I learned from working for the cruise lines is the importance of sight reading. It was something that I had previously thought unimportant, as I had a good ability to learn by listening; which in itself is a great skill to have. My view is that if you really want to make a go of a career as a working musician, sight reading will always be helpful, and in many cases, put you ahead of other players that do not read. If you want to work on ships, or in theater, you really have to read at a high level. I have many students that come to me now who are already fine players, that want to learn how to read music, or improve on their reading skills.

However, it's not just about work opportunities. Have you see the number of drum books available today? All of these gems have a wealth of information, but almost all require an understanding of drum notation. So whether you want to be a working drummer, or just be able to get access to loads of exciting information; sight reading, in my opinion, is one of the best investments in time you will make.

It's also great to talk to other musicians in terms that everyone can relate to. Sight reading is great for this too since you learn about important areas such as time signatures, counting music and musical phrases and terminology.

If you have any questions regarding this, you can contact me through my website. If you are interested in taking drum lessons in the San Diego area, give me a call!

San Diego Drum Lessons - What are we about?

2009-09-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

San Diego Drum Lessons was founded in February 2008 by me, Simon DasGupta. As you would expect, I offer drum lessons in San Diego! I have been fortunate enough to have taken drum lessons and Master Classes with some very good drum teachers; including studio legend John JR Robinson, and Moeller Technique Guru Jim Chapin (Who sadly passed away recently). I wanted to take what I considered to be the best elements from all of my teachers, interpret it in my own way, and impart that knowledge on to drummers in San Diego. I have also organized many of what drummers call "drum clinics" in the UK, and have gained a huge amount of knowledge from these events. Rather then list all of the drummers I have worked with, it's easier, if you are interested, to view them here.

San Diego Drum Lessons started in my home studio in Rancho Penasquitos in San Diego, with just a handful of students. Recovering from major back surgery in 2007 (unrelated to drumming) I was keen to get back into teaching, really as a form of income while I was waiting to be fit enough to return to a work. But something happened in those early months of 2008. My back surgery, coupled with a real worry that had things worked out differently, I may have never played again, made me realized that actually, I didn't want to return working for anyone else. This was the perfect time to take that risk and start my own business, and do what I love - play and teach drums.

My friends at Flare Imaging in England designed a killer website for me, and my brother-in-law (who works for Yellow Book USA) organized an advert for me in the San Diego Yellow Book. Both of these were instrumental in getting me started as the local music shops (who will remain nameless) wanted nothing to do with helping me. The reluctance of the local music retailers to help me only served to make me try harder to succeed without their help.

My philosophy on drum lessons is that, above all, I want my students to have fun. After all, isn't that why we got into playing a musical instrument in the first place? Sure; there are important fundamentals that all students need to know, but why not have fun while learning? From the feedback I have received to date, my students relate to me best because I am easy going, while still delivering important information and tailoring my drum lessons on a personalized, one to one basis.

San Diego Drum Lessons has grown from a handful of students in 2008 to around 5o students now, and I pride myself on that fact that I personally instruct each and every lesson. There are a lot of third party "organizers" who like to find students and farm them out to various teachers, taking their commission of course - and with little regard to understanding the needs, aspirations and motivations of the students.

So, if you are interested in taking drum lessons, why not give me a try! You will find all of the information you need, including my contact details on my website.

Guy Babylon 1956-2009

2009-09-09T21:26:00.000-07:00

I was upset to learn of the passing of Guy Babylon, who died in Los Angeles on 2nd September aged just 52 years old.

I admired Guy as a musician, and was very lucky to see him perform four times in the last year. At a recent Elton John show in Las Vegas earlier in the year, I was extremely fortunate to be sitting about 20 feet from him, and could see, as well as hear the enormous contribution he made to Sir Elton's band.

Guy had played over 1,300 shows for Elton John in a relationship that lasted over twenty years. He was also a successful arranger and composer in his own right; winning a Grammy Award in 2001 for his arrangement of the stage musical Aida.

You can read the official Elton John.com press release by clicking here.

My life has been enriched more than I could possibly express thanks to musicians like Guy Babylon. Rest in Peace.

It's very cool being in a band in San Diego.

2009-08-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

I thought I would take a break from the "How I came to live in the USA" blog, but check back soon because I definitely plan to finish it.

I played a show last night at U31 in San Diego with the super talented Veronica May. I am very lucky to have been in her band for over a year now. Veronica won the "Best Acoustic Act" at the 2008 San Diego Music Awards, and she is nominated again this year as well. (I believe that the only people to have won it twice in a row are Jewel and Jason Mraz). She has a very unique style, and I would definitely encourage you to check out her music either on my own MySpace page, or Veronica's MySpace page. The official Veronica May and the To Do List website is on the way, so please look out for it!

The great thing about playing for Veronica is that as a drummer, the music is very challenging, and there is never a dull a moment. Also, I am very fortunate to play with (aside from Veronica), some very talented musicians in Jeff Johnson (bass) and Megan Jane (guitar). Along with PJ Phillips and Steve Giles, Jeff is probably one of the most solid and melodic bass players I have had the pleasure of working with. Megan is a local music superstar by all accounts, and was recently (and very deservedly) featured in the local news. Check out this link to see the article! We will be releasing our first studio album in December 2009, on Kings Ransom Records of San Diego.

So, to return to my theme; it is very cool being in a band in San Diego. Most of the venues here come complete with a decent stage area, a good sound system, and more often then not, a sound engineer. In London, it's pretty hit and miss with regard to this. There is a popular misconception that playing the London music scene is the be all and end all of being in a band. Well, I have to tell you that playing in San Diego is much better. Not only are the facilities better, but the audiences are also better. The chances of playing in front of a decent crowd in London on a Wednesday night are not very good at all, whereas last night; U31 was packed with a great crowd who had come specifically to listen to good local live music.

There is also, I have noticed, a really good camaraderie among the local musicians here. It is a big scene, but everyone seems to know each other. Most musicians (like Jeff and Megan) are in several bands, and I wonder how they actually manage to do all of the rehearsals and shows while fitting in the other important things - you know; hanging out with boyfriends or girlfriends, eating and sleeping...

Last night, I had to smile to myself. After we finished our set, we loaded the drums straight out of the load-in door to the street where I proceeded to pack down my equipment. It was around 1130pm, 82 degrees, and a beautiful San Diego evening. I couldn't help thinking about the number of times I have been soaked to death running my equipment down the slippery London streets (and that's just the Summer!). I do miss playing in London, but I love playing in San Diego. I'd even take it over playing the strip in Hollywood, which is fun, but hugely overrated.

So, if you are local, come out and catch a Veronica May and the To Do List show soon, or look out for our album on iTunes, CD Baby etc, hopefully from December 2009. Details of CD release party to come! While you're at it why not sign up to be a friend of VMTDL on Facebook? Thanks for reading. Stay tuned.

Let's be friends on Facebook!

2009-08-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

In addition to Twitter and MySpace, San Diego Drum Lessons now has a Facebook page. Click here for more details!

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

2009-06-25T21:18:00.001-07:00

I am deeply upset about the loss of Michael Jackson earlier today. The world has lost a true legend. His musical legacy is there for all to see, as are his well documented personal issues. Whatever your views on the latter, his contribution to history cannot be denied.

My very first live show experience was a rather special one. I saw Michael Jackson on the "Bad" Tour when I was just fifteen years old. It was at Roundhay Park in Leeds (England); with an audience of over 100'000 people. That night also happened to be Michael's 30th birthday, and I will never forget the sound of 100'000 plus fans singing Happy Birthday, and the genuine tears he cried after the tribute had finished. That moment will live with me forever.

I remember being absolutely captivated by his awesome showmanship, and his incredible live band. (One of the backing vocalists happened to be Sheryl Crow - largely unknown at this time). There is no doubt in my mind that this was a defining moment in my life as an aspiring young musician. I can quite honestly say that twenty years on from that show, I have yet to witness anything that comes remotely close. This is a very sad loss.

Welcome!

2009-05-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, and welcome to the first blog by San Diego Drum Lessons.

My name is Simon DasGupta, and I run the business, and I am also an active musician around San Diego. I give one-to-one personalized drum lessons in the San Diego area, and I am also the drummer for award winning local song-writer Veronica May.

This first post is really a test, and I am going to send the blog to my web designers to see if they can make it look nice and posh like my website, MySpace and Twitter pages. (I am originally from the UK, so you will get used to phrases like "posh" and so forth!). This may take a couple of weeks, but we'll see what happens.

So the main point is just to say hello! I will post fairly regularly, and I plan to keep you updated on various aspects of drums, teaching and my work with Veronica May and the To Do List. I won't lie; I am also trying to improve my Google rankings by having as much of a web presence as possible.

In the meantime, if you are interested in taking drum lessons, please check out my website. I hope that you will find it informative and entertaining, and give you a better picture of what I am about, and my approach to teaching. Playing the drums is so much fun, and whether you are an existing player looking to improve on what you do (we have all been there) or you are totally new to drums; I can help you every step of the way. What makes me different to other drum teachers is that I always aim to make lessons as fun and entertaining as possible - my testimonials suggest that I am doing things right!

So - thank you for visiting this blog, and I look forward to providing you with some more updates in the near future.