Monday, December 2nd
2024 Drum Lesson Program Reviews
Dave Weckl
- Prices from $25 to $30 per month
- Monthly, bi-monthly, and annual payments
- 70+ hours of content
- Continuous updates
- Taught by a pro
- Access via mobile app
- Guest speakers
- Facebook group for interacting
Dave Weckl is an online program for drum lessons based on the life and experience of one drummer: Dave Weckl. He started playing drums at 8 years old and began performing as a pro drummer in the 1980s. He worked with famous artists like Paul Simon, Anthony Jackson, and Mike Stern. Today, he teaches with a hands-on approach. Even over the internet, you can talk directly with Dave to get your drumming questions answered. His program covers everything from how to put together your first set of drums to the process of recording and mixing. Designed as a subscription, students can access Dave's expertise for as long as they need.
Over 70 hours of content
Dave Weckl's drum lessons include 14 different drumming topics that include between 5 and 10 different lessons. Videos are high-resolution and offer between two minutes and 24 minutes in length (reaching over 70 hours of lessons in total). Each of the different topics has a preview video to give you an idea of what Dave Weckl's teaching style will sound like, and Dave continues updating the curriculum over time. Some of the course topics include:
- Master Your Setup
- The Art of Tuning Your Drums
- Complete Hand Development
- Foot Development
- Make it Groove/Make it Swing
- Drum Solo Course
- Alternative Weapons
Dave also invites guest instructors including Mike Stern, Tom Kennedy, and Oz Noy to give you different perspectives on drumming and more insights into the industry.
Beginner to helpful pro tips
Dave Weckl is designed for drummers of all ages and playing levels. You can start from the very beginning if you've never owned a set of drums before, and the program will guide you to advanced processes like mixing music or "Breakout Topics” for those who want to go pro. However, it's unclear from just the lesson materials how advanced the drumming skills will get. In terms of accessing the lessons, Dave Weckl is available on Mac or PC, and the Dave Weckl app can help you learn on the go. According to his personal website, Dave is now offering private lessons online using Zoom, but the cost is outside of the membership fee.
Prices from $25 to $30 per month
Dave Weckl is a subscription plan, and there are three different payment periods. First, you can choose a monthly plan which costs $30 per month. Dave Weckl also offers a six-month plan, which is billed twice per year at $165 each cycle. This is $2.50 off each month from paying monthly. Finally, there is an annual plan which costs $300 per year. This saves you $5 per month on the original monthly cost. If you want to grab private lessons, 30 minutes will cost $125 and a full hour is $225.
No guarantees or previews, but cancel any time
Currently, there is no guarantee offered by Dave Weckl. The only promise on the course site is that you can cancel your membership at any time. Since Dave Weckl offers videos as your "preview”, there also isn't a trial period for this course. Without that, it may be best to choose a monthly membership at first, just to try out the program before you commit to a longer plan.
Not a lot of buzz, but praise for quality
There aren't a lot of reviews out there for Dave Weckl. The program does not have a page on the Better Business Bureau, and feedback on third-party websites is mostly limited to forum comments and blog reviews. One pro drumming site appreciated Dave Weckl's "comprehensive curriculum” that covers a wide range of topics, including advanced concepts. It is also a self-paced learning program, making it easy for students to learn as they can. On the flip side, some complaints include that while there is a Facebook group for interactivity, most of the program is 100% video and done by yourself. Further, Dave Weckl doesn't focus on any particular music genre.
A good option for general knowledge
While we'd love to see more reviews for Dave Weckl to get a better read on the program, it sounds like most customers in forums and blogs are pretty pleased with the quality of these drum lessons. Now, if you're looking to be the next big jazz drummer or to focus on classical drums, you may be disappointed by this program, as it talks mostly about general drumming concepts. Since what Dave Weckl teaches is comprehensive, this is still a solid choice for beginners and earns a balanced rating in our review.
More Drum Lesson Program Reviews
The 10 Best Drum Lesson Programs
Where is the Best Place to Take Drum Lessons?
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.
Drum Lesson Program FAQ
Continued from above...
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!
Compare Drum Lesson Programs
Select any 2 Drum Lesson Programs to compare them head to head
Trending Drum Lessons News
Related Drum Lesson Program Reviews
Since you're interested in Drum Lesson Programs, here are some other reviews you might find interesting.
Newest Reviews
