Mike's Lessons vs Stephens Drum Shed

Ever sit and listen to your favorite bands and dream of being the next lead drummer? Whether you like jazz, classic rock, or you just grew up trying to beat the high score on "The End" by the Beatles on Rock Band, we get your groove. Drums are one of the most interesting instruments out there and a great way to enjoy learning rhythm, get your cardio in, and gain all the benefits of music education at the same time.

No matter what anyone says, the drums are the most important building block of the band (we love you, lead singers, but it's the drummer's turn). Go on, pick your favorite song, and listen to it on YouTube with "no drums." You'll feel the emptiness, like the heartbeat of the piece is missing.

While all elements of a song are needed to create music magic, the drums are the basis of the beat. In the studio, the drummer usually puts his or her tracks down first to give everyone the beat to follow. And there's no age limit to learning the drums; so, no matter where you are in your journey, you can pick up drum lessons anytime.

Drums have a unique history as one of the oldest instruments known to man. While most people are familiar with the drums through our favorite bands ("Moby Dick" by Led Zeppelin, anyone? Or maybe you're a fan of "Drumming Song" by Florence + The Machine), you can find drums in almost every culture. From steel pans in Trinidad to tabla in India, drumming has been used as an ancient art form since over 7,000 BC. And drums aren't just for music. In Africa, drums have been used for long-distance communication for centuries. So, whether you're trying to be the next Ringo Starr or explore music from another culture, the drums are a great place to start.

Many recent studies show that there are plenty of benefits to drumming when you practice a few hours per week. Most drummers work on two motor skills at the same time, so regular drumming practice can help you improve your ability to perform multiple large body movements in different directions at the same time. Drummers also have more symmetrical brains because regular drumming can make your brain more efficient. Cool, right?

Plus, drummers tend to have better connections between different hemispheres of their brains, so you don't have to worry anymore about being "Right" or "Left" brained; you'll be doing it all once you start drumming. The benefit that most surprised us was that drummers tend to be calmer, and drumming can have positive impacts on those with ADHD. Drumming really helps you get all that energy out.

Ready to rock and roll? Great! - but now you might be stumped at where to find the best drum lessons. It can be costly to pay for private instruction, and not everybody has the time. Luckily, there are plenty of online drum lessons to choose from. Here are a few things to consider as you browse different courses and teachers:

• Cost. People make a career out of music, so it can get pricey to pick up lessons. As you browse drum lessons, make sure that the course or teacher offers what you need within a budget you can handle. You'll want to look at who is teaching and how far you'll get with the instruction (do they stop at beginner or can you go all the way to advanced or professional?) to make sure the cost and value are worth it.
• Methods. Learning anything is a personal experience, and you know how you learn best. So, keep an eye out for drum lessons that teach the way you like to learn. Whether that's synchronous online video lessons or distance learning from videos and booklets, you'll want to be comfortable learning throughout your drumming journey.
• Guarantees. Sometimes things don't work out, and that's okay. But you want to make sure when you sign up for drum lessons that there's a guarantee or refund policy to support you if you change your mind. Some courses offer a trial period to test the drum lessons for yourself. Either way, you want to make sure you can move on to a better teacher or course if the first one doesn't work out.
• Reputation. There are plenty of other drummers (pros and beginners too) who have tried lessons and left reviews. Check out what they have to say to help guide you toward your best pick. Third-party review sites like the Better Business Bureau are a great way to see if drum lessons from a particular teacher are worth your time.

To help you start laying down a beat, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked today's top drum lessons. We hope this gets your toes tapping (ideally on that snare drum) and pretty soon, you could be one of the next names in music history. Let us know when we can buy your new album!