Drum Lessons at Mangorei School
Some kids have a primal need to whack things – rhythmically of course!
Our lessons focus on stick techniques (grip, bounce, coordination), reading rhythms and playing drum beats/fills along to the piano/guitar and backing trackings.
Taught by multi-instrumentalist Jazz musician and classroom teacher, Simon Manning-Jones.
Recommended starting age is 7.
Sign up for a free trial today!
Purchasing Drums
A simple practice pad – $25 New
Students don’t have to buy a kit immediately, but being able to practice sticking patterns, technique and coordination daily is essential.
A practice pad is essentially a piece of rubber that imitates the bounce of a real drum head.
Acoustic Kits – from $200 second hand / $1000 New
Pros: Big second hand market. Can start with a cheaper kit and upgrade them slowly (part by part) over time.
When they break you know exactly why!
Cons: Noise. Drum skin mutes are essential for in home sanity!
Electronic Kits – from $400 second hand / $800 new
Pros: Quiet. With headphones. Lots of different sounds at the click of a button.
Some units allow for backing tracks to be added into the headphone mix using an Aux cable.
Trigger pads can be replaced and are not hugely expensive ($60-$100 new.)
Cons: Will need an external speaker system to play along with others.
If something breaks in the master controller, you are looking at the whole kit breaking without any DIY remedies.
Lesson Details
Venue: Mangorei school
(Held during the school day – students must attend Mangorei school with preference for seniors)
Group Lessons
$18/week (Max 4 students per class).
Teacher: Simon Manning-Jones
Lessons scheduled on Thursdays during class time (in negotiation with classroom teachers).
Meet the tutor
Lessons in New Plymouth are taught by Simon Manning-Jones, the founder of Dynamite Music. Simon has a Masters of Teaching and Learning and is a very experienced music educator. He also works part time as a primary school teacher.
“Dynamite Music represents everything I believe beginner-music-lessons should be: affordable, effective, and fun! We give students the opportunity to explore and develop their own musical tastes and as a result, they practice more and make more progress in lessons. It has been a privilege to be that great first teacher for so many students over the years!”
Nuts and Bolts
If you are a new student, your first lesson is a free trial. You’ll then have the option to keep your time for the rest of the term (and every term after that for as long as you continue with us).
Lessons are generally booked for a full term and billed in a lump amount.