Some people hear the phrase “online drum lessons” and immediately get confused. They imagine an acoustic drum kit in an apartment. Of course, if that is the only option, lessons may be unrealistic because of the noise. Neighbors will usually stop that very quickly. But if you live in a private house, or have another place where acoustic drums can be set up without disturbing anyone, the biggest problem is already much smaller.
There are other solutions too. With the right setup, online drum lessons are possible in many different living situations. Let’s look at a few examples.
Electronic drum kit
An electronic kit is not completely silent either. It is much quieter than an acoustic kit, but the impact vibrations still travel through the floor. That means there is still a chance of disturbing neighbors. One hour-long lesson per week, especially not late at night, may be fine in many apartments. Still, it makes sense to think about a simple platform for the kit. The goal is to absorb the vibration before it reaches the floor structure. You can find many DIY platform ideas online, including tennis-ball platforms. In my opinion, a simpler solution is often to place several dense and soft layers under the kit: blankets, foam, rugs, or carpet. This can noticeably reduce how much your playing is heard and felt below.
Rehearsal studios
Why not? In many cases, this is an even better and more effective solution.
If you practice seriously on your own, rehearsal rooms and studios with acoustic drums usually become a normal part of a drummer’s life anyway. A common independent practice session may last two to four hours. Within that time, you can connect with the teacher for a lesson, and then continue practicing on your own.
Practice pads
Sometimes a whole lesson can be devoted to technique, and one practice pad is enough for that. Some students use this option and alternate online technical lessons with in-person lessons, even if they are able to come to the studio regularly.
Gear for online lessons
The simplest option is a laptop with a built-in camera. You just need to choose an angle where your hands and body are visible enough, and we can already work. A smartphone or tablet can work in the same way. A phone mounted on a tripod is often the most flexible option for finding a good camera angle. If you want, you can also use the phone as a webcam together with a laptop. This setup lets you see me and any notation materials I share on screen more clearly.
You can also use a regular external webcam with a laptop. Some models can be mounted on a tripod.
There are several options for sound as well.
The simplest one is the same laptop and its built-in microphone. A more advanced version uses an external microphone and audio interface. With an acoustic drum kit, this can improve the quality of the sound I hear.
If the online lesson is done on practice pads, the laptop’s built-in microphone is usually enough. With an electronic drum kit, my students usually use one of two approaches.
First: they send the drum sound to a regular home speaker, so I can hear what the student is playing on the kit.
Second: they use an external audio interface, such as the Steinberg UR12. The drum module and a lavalier microphone, for example a Boya BY-M4C, are routed into the interface. In this setup, headphones are also needed.
As you can see, the technical setup for online drum lessons can be simple or more advanced. The main thing is interest and willingness to work. A solution can always be found, and I can help choose and configure the gear.