PART 2
For the drums, it’s a bit different than for the piano (See part 1). But not for the worse. Read on!
So many drummers are prevented from pursuing their passion because they can’t fit a full drum set in their apartment. This is a real concern for the urban folks taking piano and drum lessons in Chicago, where space and noise can be limiting factors.
Fortunately, there are some solutions to this problem. First of all, a full drum set can be muffled to the extent that it won’t make much noise at all. A few towels on the drums and cymbals works like a charm, if you averse to buying pads specific for this task. However, if you have a neighbor living underneath who complains a lot and can’t stand noise, it might be difficult to do something about the pounding of your bass drum pedal through their ceiling.
Second, if you don’t have room for a drum set, but your budget isn’t too limited, you can always opt for an electronic kit. These electronic instruments are often quite reliable, and provide excellent sound quality. Many electronic drum kits are available in the used market as well, which makes them a great option for students who are interested in piano and drum lessons in Chicago but may be tight on space.
Third, if you don’t have room, your budget is limited, and your neighbors are sensitive to noise, there’s a solution for that too: practice pads! These are usually the most affordable substitutes for drum sets. They may run you $200 to $250 new. You will still need a few basic gears like a bass drum pedal, hi-hat pedal, cymbals, and a seat, however, these can often be found on the used market for cheap.
Finally, when all else fails, you can always turn to a rehearsal studio. Those can be rented per hour for a fee and they provide a real acoustic kit that you can wail on to your heart content. I don’t know the average price for the city of Chicago, but I can tell you that the one close to me charges $10 per hour during the day and $20 on weekend and in the evening.
Now, if you don’t want to go with any of these costly options, the cheapest of all the cheap solutions will always be pots and pans. That’s a lot of fun, too!
The moral of this blog? When there’s a will, there’s a way. Even if you’re pursuing piano and drum lessons in Chicago without a lot of space, money, or the quietest neighbors, you can still find a way to practice and enjoy your music. Get drumming!
