What are the band workshops like at Planet drum?

When I first started singing, I was too nervous to sing in front of anyone - even my family. There was this innate fear that I would hit a wrong note and would be eternally judged for it. This seems very ridiculous now looking back on it, however I strongly believe that this is a fear that many of us studying musicians seem to have at some point. Whatever instrument you play, whether it be your voice or your drumkit, feels like an extension of yourself so it always feels very personal when you play the 'wrong thing' or the 'wrong note'. 

Fun fact: Through my experience of performing live, a gig of 3000 people I have never met was nowhere near as horrifying as playing for a small pub of 30 filled with my closest family and friends. I think this is because their opinion matters the most to us.

So the question is, how do we get over this fear? Firstly, the thing to ask yourself is why do you want to play and learn your instrument in the first place. Is it just a personal hobby or a form of therapy? Is it to interact with other like-minded people? Secondly, we can also realize that you improve the most by taking risks and making these mistakes in the first place. I can guarantee that a lot of your music idols are as good as they are because they kept making mistakes and did not give up. The best thing you can do for your learning is to take the risk and play with other people. 

A great way to do this is to join me, Vlad and Peter in our band workshops. It takes a lot of courage to show up and leave your insecurities at the door. Most other students in the room are most likely feeling apprehensive and nervous too. Our band workshops are a safe space for you to see what it is like to play with other people, a real band. There is no feeling like it when you bounce off of others - it is a real buzz! All of our students that attend are of all abilities, some have only had 1 or 2 lessons and some have been playing for years so it is a really fun and supportive environment. 

From a personal perspective, even though I am a teacher, my singing and confidence has improved dramatically since taking part in the band workshops. I also now have a great repertoire of songs I have learned that I can take with me when I am out singing karaoke with my friends or playing a small pub gig. 

If you think you would like to give it a try, please email me at [email protected] and we can help you get booked in.

Katy
Planet drum admin & singing teacher