Instruments & Lessons

Choosing the Right Instrument

At Rock Band Land we believe strongly that a young rocker's direction towards music (and the arts in general) should be led by their own interests, must be fun, and there must be a context and an outlet for what they are learning. If these criteria are met, we believe a rocker is more likely to stick with their instrument, and music in general. At the very least, they will have fond memories and a positive foundation set for them as they branch out into other forms of artistic expression throughout their childhood and adult lives.

Set your own interests and thoughts aside and let your rocker pick the instrument that they want to start with. They have to be excited about the instrument to play it, and eventually to put in hard work that will require them to be competent on it. 

Drums and piano are initially the easiest for rockers to experience a sense of achievement and success at. Large gross motor movements allow them to work the instrument and create simple, clear rhythmic and melodic ideas. Guitars and other stringed instruments are significantly harder to succeed with at first as the fine motor skills and dexterity required to play them correctly is initially far greater than to play piano or drums. However, once a child becomes serious about an instrument and begins taking lessons the learning curve on any instrument will be steep and the proper coordination and technique will have to be developed. This will be challenging and that is again why we believe the lessons and musical experience must be fun. 

We will mostly be discussing the basic rock instruments here, but all instruments are a fine starting point for your rocker whether they are traditional instruments (horns, reed instruments, strings, percussion, etc.) or more experimental or electronic based instruments or tools (samplers, synths, mixers, effects, recording gear, etc.), and definitely don't forget that your rocker's voice is an instrument and choral groups, vocal lessons, home karaoke, and home recording are great ways to further encourage and explore that instrument. 

There is no set age for when lessons will be right for your rocker. Things to be considered are: the sincerity of their interest (does your rocker want lessons or do you want them to have lessons?), their willingness to practice on their own, and their ability to focus for forty five minutes to an hour on the lesson. We have found that 7 seems to be the age when focus, attention, and desire come together and the rockers start to grow and develop as musicians. This is not a hard rule, and we’ve had a few younger rockers who have done well with lessons, but it’s rare that we’ve seen rockers younger than 7 able to commit to lessons and regular practice.

My rocker is showing interest in several instruments, which one should we start with?

If your rocker wants to play several instruments, that is great, and if you have instruments at home for them to play on, even better. But, when it comes time for lessons there will have to be a greater focus, for the time being anyway, on one of them. Ask your rocker which one they would like to take lessons on, then give it a month and ask them again. If their answer is consistent start thinking about looking into lessons. If their answer changes, give it some time and then try the exercise again in another month. 

There is no hurry

I know in SF we are trying to cram as much art, cultural, and learning experiences into our kids and their schedules as possible, but there is no ticking clock or checklist that is going to keep them from any given life experience if we don't provide the road map for that experience now. We all have the ability to start new, creative projects at any age, so if your rocker is not necessarily drawn to a particular instrument right now that's completely fine, please resist the temptation to push an instrument on them. We've seen several rockers stop playing because a parent has pushed too hard, but we've never seen it fail if we wait to give lessons until we are absolutely certain that the rocker's interest is there. 

Instruments

Guitars

In an ideal world, every guitar would also come with a personal guitar technician, a personal repair person to keep it in tune and functioning as your rocker progresses. As this is not the case, any purchase of a guitar is an investment in you or your rocker’s ability to take care of it. Even a crappy guitar is not a toy, and should be treated with care and respect.

Take your kid to Guitar Center. The guitar industry has changed a lot in the last 5 years, and so has our opinions about newly issued models. These days you can probably find a new guitar online for $50, but you should avoid these like the plague (unless it’s a ukelele). We would not have said it five years ago but it is a requirement that you go to Guitar Center, before it’s too late. There may never exist again a Wal-Mart of musical instruments, so go see it while it still exists.

Guitars require maintenance. That means you, as a parent, will at a minimum need to learn how to 1) tune the guitar 2) change a string. Often times with electric guitars the first thing to go is the input jack, so plan on tightening the nut on the jack with of the guitar every week or so, just with your fingers is fine. Better yet, teach your kids these basic maintenance skills. There’s nothing more discouraging to a kid’s practice than a busted instrument.

Left-handed guitars exist. If your kid is left-handed, you will set them up for success if you get the the correctly oriented guitar. Some kids may opt to play right-handed, which is ok too. Some right-handed guitars can be set up for left-handed people by a professional repair person.

Ages 4 - 6

Ukeleles
If all your kid wants to do is strum and pose and scream, look no further than a classic Uke for $50 or so. They may break immediately, but the fun will be worth it. They also make good firewood.

1/2 sized electric & acoustic guitars
Models that are worth buying are constantly changing, so it’s best to go to Guitar Center to see what’s available before dropping $200+ on a decent small guitar. Not all “Short-scale, mini, micro” etc. sized guitars are the same, and most are not suitable for this age group.

Ages 7 - 12

At 7 or 8, your kid needs something they can “grow into”, so most short-scale, 3/4 sized, smaller neck, lightweight guitars are on the table. These sizes will suit most adults too, but if your kid has hands the size of a gorilla at age 12 you’ll want to think about sizing up again.

Electric Guitar Example #1
Electric Guitar Example #2
Electric Guitar Example #3
Electric Bass (Our Top Pick for basses)
Acoustic Guitar

Ages 13+

At 13 you should not be picking your kid’s guitar out for them. Take them to the guitar store and let them pick. They will be 10x more likely to be motivated to play a guitar they chose than one you chose for them.

Accessories for both electric and acoustic
Strap
Any strap will do, but this is a good opportunity to let your kid decide how to customize their style.

Strap locks
Rubber strap locks are a must for kids, as the first discouraging thing that happens is the strap coming off. Avoid the tears with strap locks.

Picks
Dunlops don't break. For some reason, most of the others do. The different colors mean different thicknesses, and I think the orange dunlops are a good medium. 

Tuner
The Snark tuner is a basic simple solution that you just clip on to the head of the guitar. There are also good apps (like Cleartune) for your phone that work just as well, if not better.

Accessories for electric guitar only
Guitar Amp
We like the Fender Mustang as an entry level amp, though there is a new model so we’re unsure on it’s playability.

Cable
Coiled cables are a nightmare. Depending on what your guitar’s input looks like, get one with a right angle on one end to limit damage to the guitar's input. Cables break all the time, so keep an ear out for extra crackle and noise, this may signify the need for a replacement.

Optional accessories for both electric and acoustic
Gig bag / case
Definitely recommended. Get one with the guitar if there is one. A simple flimsy case is better than nothing. Here's a good one for the Ibanez Mikro. 

KEYBOARDS

If you have the room, just get a free / cheap old piano. They are way more fun. If that's not an option, or would like something more portable, there are 3 different types of electronic keyboards I would recommend for our young rockers.

Portable Keyboard - Packs a whole lot of fun into an inexpensive device. A great introduction to all things with a keyboard - synths, organs, pianos, sequencers, samplers, there is something for every beginning musician here. 

Digital Piano - Full size, weighted keys, very 'real' feeling instrument, but much smaller and less unruly than a real piano. Ideal for rockers that are serious about learning piano. Often has a limited number of options. 

Synthesizer - Professional rock and roll instrument. Better for more advanced players who would like to play keyboard in a band. 

Midi Controller - requires a computer and special software to function. 

Do you know what you want? Here are my recommendations for each.

Portable Keyboard
I am biased towards Casio rather than Yamaha in this case, since that's what I grew up with. Any Casio keyboard over $120 is worth getting, and the features grow exponentially as the price goes up. 

Casio CT Series
I like these better than the LK series (which feature light up keys) since they seem to be more about exploring music as a whole rather than learning simple piano songs.

Digital Piano
Casio Privia
Low-end but realistic feeling piano. You can find similar keyboards much less expensive used. 

Synthesizer
If you are seriously in the market for a synth, but are short on cash, there are many used and barely used deals on ebay. I would hesitate to buy a new synth since there is already so many used options that people are just dying to get rid of. With the advent of software that can do way more things than synths, they are becoming somewhat obsolete. However, synths are a great option for kids because everything is built in. It pays to do your research when shopping for a synth but I have a few suggestions.

Alesis Micron
This is my favorite synthesizer. It is really simple and only has 37 keys, but it is a great performance keyboard with a lot of great sounds on it. 

Roland Juno-DS61
It's worth checking out ebay for better deals on this. This synth has a lot of power and is really fun to dive into.

MicroKorg
Unlike anything else on this list, but a really fun instrument.

Midi Controller
For kids that are good with computers. Recommended for ages 10 and up.
Novation  has a line of powerful controllers that come with really sophisticated software for those mad scientists out there. 

Accessories
Each style of keyboard needs a different kind of accessory. 

Portable Keyboard
Really all you need is an X stand, which you can adjust for standing or sitting easily. Some stands are sturdier than others, and you generally get what you pay for.

Digital Piano
Make sure you have a good stand, bench, and sustain pedal with this keyboard, for your child to be prepared correctly to play on a real piano. The fold out stand is better than an X stand because you need to fit your feet underneath the keyboard. I do not recommend setting the stand up for standing. 

Synth
You'll need an  X stand. You also need to amplify these keyboards, since they don't have built in speakers. Good headphones are fine, or you can rig up a computer speaker with an adapter. There are amps for keyboards, like there are amps for guitars. Here is a basic one. You'll also need an instrument Cable.

Midi Controller
Same as the others, but you'll need a computer and software. 

Drums

There are several variables to consider when purchasing drum sets: volume, cost, size, style, components, and whether to get an acoustic or an electric set.

Set & Kit - These words are interchangeable when talking about drums. They both refer to all the components necessary to drum.

Volume - Drums are loud. There are ways to dampen drums - we put two layers of muslin beneath each drum head at RBL, and even with that dampening the drums can still be loud. You can purchase practice pads to cover the heads, but these also dampen the fun of playing and will most likely not encourage your rocker to practice. Before you buy drums decide if your home and neighbors can handle the sound. If so, continue reading. If not, you might want to skip ahead to the Electric Drums section.

Cost - Drum set and drum components can be expensive, but as with most things you pay for quality. The nice thing about buying drums is that if cared for they retain their value. If you invest in a decent set now and your rocker stays with it, then everybody wins. If they don't you could still resell the set and get most of what you paid for back. 

For a basic starter set new or used you should expect to pay at least $300 - $600.

Size - The size of a set is crucial. Just because your Uncle Mickey has a killer set in his basement that hasn't been used since he mastered Shout At The Devil back in '84, that doesn't mean that the kit is match for your young rocker. The biggest mistake that I see parents make is that they buy drums that are way too big for their rocker. To develop good technique drums need to be sized right. You can't really go too small because you can always adjust the height of drums with the hardware, but you can easily go too big. 

Drums are sized by the kick drum and they range from about 14 inches up to 30 or so. For our rockers I would encourage you to not go above an 18 inch kick.  Fortunately small sets have become very fashionable as of late and there are many high quality, small options out there. See below.

Number of Drums - To drum all your rocker technically needs are their hands and feet and a surface to play on, and if they are studying drum set they don't need a huge kit. More doesn't necessarily mean better. Ideally all drummers studying at RBL will have a set with a kick, snare, two toms (rack or hi tom and floor or low tom), a hi hat, and a cymbal. It's a basic set up and all they will need for many years to come. 

New Or Used - Because drums retain their value, buying used sets is a great option and you can usually get more for your money. The drawback is that you have to do a bit more work and often piece a kit together, but the cool thing about that is that when done you have built a truly unique set. I've built many sets from random mismatched parts that have sounded great together.

New is fine. It's easy and your drums will be shiny, and you can get insurance (you don't need insurance for drums - they are designed to be beaten aggressively). The big drawback to new is that, if buying an all-in-one set, the hardware, cymbals, and heads will most likely include cheap gear that will have to be replaced eventually.

Components of a Drum Set -
The main parts to a set are:
Drums / Drum Shells -These are the cut cylinders that make the shape of the drum set (kick drum, toms, and snare). When heads are applied and hit with a stick, air is pushed through the cylinders and depending on the materials used and the tension in place make sounds that we recognize and drums. There are lengthy debates about the qualities of different materials and woods, and if you want to dig deep in that area, be my guest, but for younger rockers the materials are less important. Mostly you'll want to be sure that the drums aren't thin and cheap, but strong and resilient. Some "kids" kits are poorly made. Whatever you buy you'll want to last for many years.  

Shells can run from a few hundred to a few thousands of dollars. Before buying drums, it’s important to note that when you purchase a new “drum set” the companies are almsot always just referring to the shells and heads, you’ll need to also purchase all the other parts.

Hardware - The hardware on a drum set is all the metal parts that hold the set (drums and cymbals) in place. Most all-in-one kits have relatively cheap hardware. If you are not moving the drums much this isn't too much of an issue at first, but if you are adjusting it regularly for different sized drummers or moving the set often then cheap hardware tends to break. For younger, new drummers it's less of an issue, but, when gigging, a drummer definitely wants to know that they can rely on their hardware to stay in place.    

Hardware can easily cost several hundreds of dollars. Google "Drum Hardware Packs" and there will be some options for as low as $150 that include the kick pedal.

Cymbals - Cymbals are the metal discs that rest above a set and are used to accent and drive beats. Cymbals range in sizes for various applications and can range in price dramatically. Cymbals are a great investment and usually the first upgrade to a new drummer's kit. You can easily spend many hundreds of dollars on a single cymbal, and honestly it's worth it. 

For new drummers though starter packs of cymbals are a great option. Just Google "Cymbal Packs". The prices will range from $150 - a few hundred dollars. There's generally not a huge difference in these and any will work for a young drummer. New drummers will ideally have hi-hats (two cymbals on a stand to the left of a drummer), a crash (the cymbal they will bash), and a ride cymbal (think jazz), but just hi-hats and a crash / ride combo would be fine too.

When looking for cymbals for new drummer make sure that they are of decent thickness - some kids kits come with what are basically pie tins for cymbals - and that they are free of cracks. 

Low Volume Cymbals - When we moved into Castle Bing Bong we invested in Zildjian Low Volume Cymbals for all of our drums, including the teachers’ kits, and they were a complete game changer for us. For home practice they are ideal because they respond very similarly to real stage cymbals, but at about an 80% decrease in volume. Google “Zildjian Low Volume Cymbals” or “Zildjian Low Volume Cymbal Packs”. These will run from $150 - $300 depending on the pack you select. With these your rocker would be fine with hi-hats and a ride / crash combo. I wouldn’t personally use these for gigging, but our rockers use them at our shows and they sound pretty good.

Pedals - Pedals are the levered contraptions at a drummer's feet that make contact with the kick drum or that open and close the hi-hat. Like cymbals you can pay a lot for a quality pedal and it's also almost always worth it.  A good pedal should be well built, and the beater (the part that hits the drumhead) should swivel smoothly and fluidly with significant bounce back.  

Pedals can run from about $75 to many hundreds of dollars. 

Drumheads - Drumheads are the plastic sheet that cover the holes in the drum shells and that when tightened are struck by sticks and make the drum sounds. Drumheads come in a variety of thicknesses and designs and make a huge difference in how a drum sounds. You can completely change the sound of a given drum by switching out the heads. 

Heads cost about $25 - $50 per head. 

Thrones - A “throne” is a drummer's seat. It's an underrated component of a set that makes a big difference as your drummer will ideally be sitting for hours at a time practicing. It's important to have a comfortable seat that is positioned correctly to encourage good posture and technique. 

Thrones range from $75 - $300.

We use hydraulic thrones at RBL (about $175 a pop) so we can quickly adjust the heights for the many rockers who play on our kits. Google “Roc-N-Soc Hydraulic Throne”.

Sticks - Sticks are the part of the instrument that hit the drums. There is a wide variety of sticks available but for new drummers it's crucial for them to be using sticks sized correctly for them. I encourage most young drummers to stay away from adult sized sticks and the added weight and length will effect their control negatively and tire their arms out sooner. 

Sticks are about $10 per pair. 

These are the two different sticks that we use for our rockers in RBL. 

For all beginning, younger rockers (Ages 4-8), Google :Vic Firth American Classic Kidsticks”

For rockers a little older, stronger, or more experienced (Ages 9 and up), Google “Vic Firth American Custom SD1 Jr. Drum Sticks”.These are the sticks that RBL drum teachers use while at the castle.

Where to Buy - San Francisco used to have an incredible drum shop that unfortunately closed a few years back. There are really no local, independent store options to buy drums. It's a bummer. If you are going the used route, then Craigslist is the way to go. There's a wide variety posted up there, but, if you are diligent in your search and don't mind driving a bit to pick up the kit, then you can find some really good gear on there. 

To buy in-store Guitar Center is really the only local option and it sucks (at least the one on Van Ness does). Their drum department is absolutely neglected, almost abandoned - the last time I was there there was no employee present so I got a 15 foot ladder and helped myself to the things I needed in their storage - but they can have some decent options. Also, because they are a mega-corporation and deal in huge volume, you can haggle and usually get a deal on gear. Don't be afraid to push them on the price a bit. 

If you know what set you want, especially if it's new, the internet obviously is always at your disposal. You might be able to get a better deal from an east coast store. Musicians Friend is owned by Guitar Center, do with that info what you will, and Sweetwater tends to have really good customer service.

What To Buy: 
Here is a comprehensive list of quality, compact kits.

Please note whether the drums are being sold as just shells or with all hardware cymbals. Higher quality drums are generally sold as just the shells.  

From the drums included on that site we have the Ludwig Questlove Breakbeats Kit, The Pearl Rhythm Traveler (comes with hardware and cymbals), The Sonor Martini SE, and I have gigged and recorded with the Breakbeats, Sonor Safari, and Gretsch Catalina Club kits.

Google:
“Gretsch Drums Catalina Club CT1-J484”"
“Ludwig Breakbeats 2022 By Questlove 4-piece”
“Sonor AQ2 Safari 4-piece Shell Pack”

All-In-One Starter Packs
Unfortunatly there aren’t many great options for all-in-one kits. The best option as of drafting this list would be to Google “Ludwig BackBeat Complete 5-Piece Drum Set With Hardware and Cymbals”. We have this kit at RBL, it’s decent. The cymbals are garbage, and the hardwarde and pedals ae cheap, but it’s a decent price to get started and you can upgrade cymbals easily enough.

Electric Kits - Whenever possible we would always advocate for acoustic drums over electric drums, but if your living situation calls for the quieter, electric option there are some great electric kits on the market. The big issue with them is that they get really expensive really quick. You have to pay upwards of $1500 to even start getting into the quality gear. For intro / starter packages there are some decent models. I haven't noticed a huge difference between the kits, but would encourage you to get one where the kick pedal hits perpendicular to the floor and not parallel and to get one with mesh heads instead of rubber as the mesh heads give a more realistic feel. Also, please note that though "silent" when your rocker is playing through headphones, you will still hear them banging and the kick pedal will reverberate through the floor as if they were hitting the floor with a soft mallet. 

Google “Alesis Nitro Max Mesh Electronic Drum Set”

Lessons

Pre-pandemic RBL had a robust lessons department, but like a million or so Americans, that program needlessly perished thanks to Uncle Covid. We have less than half the staff that we had in 2020 and no longer offer private lessons. However, in addition to attending our Rock Out classes or joining one of our Advanced Rock Bands or RBL Supergroups, we do encourage lessons for all rockers (ages 7+) with an undeniable interest in playing. Though I don’t have any personal experience with these places, many of our families have had good luck with Little Mission Studio, Russo Music, and SF Community Music Center. I will say that all our rockers who have attended these places and RBL have come back saying something to the effect of, “Yeah, it’s fine. It’s not as fun as Rock Band Land, but it’s fine. I like it.”

We hope this information was helpful.

Brian & Marcus