In this article, I will talk about drum gloves and their use among drummers.

Many are unsure if they should use them and don’t feel comfortable using them, so what’s the absolute truth?

In short, you should use them if you feel comfortable using them.

But let’s dive in and learn more about drum gloves and their pros and cons.

What are drum gloves?

Drum gloves are gloves drummers wear to make it easier to hold the drumsticks and play for longer without their hands getting tired or losing grip. They have a bumpy or rubbery surface on the fingers and palms to help hold the drumsticks, and some even have cushioning to reduce hand fatigue.

Drum gloves come in different styles and are sold in pairs, and can be made of materials like cotton, nylon, or a mix of both. Some drummers prefer to play with drum gloves, while others don’t and use grip tape or wax. So it really depends on what feels best for each drummer.

Why do drummers wear gloves?

Here are some short points about why drummers wear gloves:

• To make it easier to hold on to the drumsticks, so they don’t slip when sweaty or wet.
• To keep the hands from getting blisters or calluses from playing for a long time.
• Giving your hands more cushioning or support makes playing more comfortable and reduces hand tiredness.
• In cold places, to keep the hands warm.
• To make the drummer look or sound better, especially in styles like metal or rock, where gloves are often part of the performance outfit.

Should you wear gloves when playing the drums?

It’s up to the drummer to decide if they want to wear gloves or not. There is no right or wrong answer. Some drummers like wearing gloves to improve grip, protect their hands, or lessen hand tiredness. Other drummers prefer to play without gloves or use different ways to improve their grips, like grip tape or wax.

If your hands tire or you have trouble keeping a good hold on the drumsticks, gloves might be a good choice. Also, if you play in a cold place, gloves can help keep your hands warm and keep them from getting stiff.

On the other hand, you don’t have to wear gloves if you like how it feels to play without them or if they bother you.

Ultimately, it’s up to each drummer to decide if they want to wear gloves based on their wants and tastes.

What to know before buy?

Here is a guide to buying drum gloves that will help you choose the right ones:

Comfort: Try on gloves to see if they feel good on your hands. The materials should be soft and flexible and shouldn’t be too tight or too open. Some gloves have cushion palms, which can help keep your hands from getting tired when you play for a long time.

Grip: The main reason drum gloves are worn is to make it easier to hold the drumsticks. Look for gloves with rough or rubbery palms and fingers to make it easier to hold onto the sticks. Some gloves also have rubber or other materials added to the places where you grab them to help you hold on better.

Durability: Drumming can be hard on gloves, so looking for a pair that can handle regular use is essential. Check whether the seams are strengthened, and the materials are good enough to last.

Size: Ensure you get gloves that are the right size for your hands. Most gloves come in different sizes, so look at the size chart on the manufacturer’s website to find the best fit. When gloves are too small, they can be uncomfortable and make it hard to move around. When gloves are too big, they can slide around, making it hard to keep a good grip.

Style: Drum gloves come in various styles and colors, so pick a pair that fits your style and tastes. Some gloves are slim and simple, while others are more cushioned and have more support.

Before buying drum pads, it’s a good idea to read reviews from other drummers to see how they work in real-world playing settings. Then, try on a few pairs to find the ones that feel the best and give you the best grip. Lastly, remember that gloves can be helpful for playing but are unnecessary. Many drummers prefer to play with bare hands or other gripping tools.

What gloves are good for drumming?

Different kinds of gloves are good for drumming, depending on your wants and tastes. Here are some choices to think about:

Ahead Drummers Gloves: These gloves are made of a soft, sturdy material that gives you a good grip and feel while keeping your hands safe. They also have an open top that lets air in and helps keep your hands cool when you play for a long time.

Vater Percussion Drumming Gloves: The synthetic leather hand on these gloves gives you a good grip and makes them last longer. They also have a rubber back that helps absorb shock and keep your hands from getting tired.

Meinl Cymbals Drummer Gloves: These gloves are made of cotton and plastic materials, making them comfortable and easy to hold. The palm is also padded, which helps to absorb shock and keep your hands from getting tired.

Zildjian Drummer’s Gloves: These gloves are made of cotton and polyester, giving them a good grip and comfort. They also have cushioned palm that keeps your hands from getting tired.

When looking for drummer gloves, you should look for ones that give you a good grip, are comfortable, and last long. They should also let you feel the drumsticks and keep control of your playing. Also, trying on a few different types and styles is a good idea to find the one that fits you best.

Summary

Drummers wear drum gloves to help them play longer without tiring. They come in pairs and are made of cotton, nylon, or both. Some drum gloves have bumpy or rubbery fingers and palms to help hold drumsticks, while others have cushions to reduce hand fatigue.

Gloves help drummers grip the drumsticks, protect their hands, reduce hand fatigue, and keep them warm. Wearing drum gloves is optional. Instead, choose comfortable gloves with a good grip, durability, the right size, and a style you like. Ahead, Vater, Meinl, and Zildjian are suitable drum gloves. Finally, the drummer needs gloves that fit well and grip well.

In this article, I will compare Superior Drummer vs EZ drummer. 

I will compare their main features along with some differences.

By the end of this article, you will get an answer to which option is better for you.

Without further ado, let’s dive into it.

 Superior Drummer vs EZ drummer – Quick Overview

Overall, Superior Drummer is geared towards more advanced users who want complete control over their drum sound and MIDI editing. At the same time, EZdrummer is more beginner-friendly and streamlined for quick and easy drum track creation.

Both EZdrummer and Superior Drummer are developed by Toontrack, but they have 4 key differences:

1. Samples Library: Superior Drummer has a more extensive library of drum samples and MIDI grooves than EZdrummer.
2. Customization: Superior Drummer offers more customization options for the user, allowing you to adjust mic placement and drum tuning. EZdrummer is more streamlined and geared towards quickly and easily creating drum tracks.
3. MIDI Editing: Superior Drummer has more advanced MIDI editing capabilities, allowing you to fine-tune individual drum hits and velocities. EZdrummer has a more simplified MIDI editor.
4. Price: Superior Drummer is more expensive than EZdrummer due to its extensive features and capabilities.

EZ drummer Overview

• EZ drummer is made for composers and producers who want authentic drums quickly and easily.
• It Includes an extensive selection of expert drummer-played MIDI grooves in various types and styles.
• It includes a vintage drum set sound source with limited mic locations.
• Features a basic, user-friendly UI with a mixer area to modify drum levels and add effects.
• Has a groove editor to edit or make MIDI melodies.
• Supports drag-and-drop MIDI output to your DAW, simplifying the process.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface: EZdrummer has a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, making it ideal for users new to drum software.
• Wide range of MIDI grooves: EZdrummer has an extensive collection of MIDI grooves played by professional drummers covering various genres and styles, providing users with a quick and easy way to add realistic drums to their productions.
• Affordable price: EZdrummer is more affordable than Superior Drummer, making it a good choice for home recording enthusiasts and users on a budget.

Cons:

• Limited drum sound library: EZdrummer’s drum sound library focuses on classic and vintage drum kits and has a limited number of mic positions, which may need to offer more customization for professional users.
• Limited mixer features: EZdrummer’s mixer features are basic compared to Superior Drummer, with fewer effects and processing options.

Superior Drummer overview

• Superior Drummer is for experienced artists, producers, and engineers who need extensive drum sound modification.
• It includes a vast library of MIDI rhythms played by world-class drummers in various types and styles and a MIDI drum kit builder for making your own grooves.
• It has a modern drum sound library with various mic locations and articulations.
• It features a complex mixer with channel processing, bus routing, and many effects.
• It has a built-in drum replacement tool to change individual drum hits with your samples, making mixing live recordings with sampled drums easy.
• Allows accurate and expressive drum performances with electronic drum sets and MIDI instruments.

Pros:

• Customization: Superior Drummer offers high control and customization over drum sounds, with multiple mic positions and articulations, advanced mixer features and effects processing.
• Large drum sound library: Superior Drummer’s drum sound library is focused on modern and cutting-edge drum kits, which may be more suitable for professional users who require the latest sounds and technology.
• Advanced MIDI features: Superior Drummer features a built-in MIDI drum kit builder for creating custom drum kits and a drum replacement tool for blending live recordings with sampled drums.

Cons:

• High price: Superior Drummer is more expensive than EZdrummer, making it less accessible to home recording enthusiasts and users on a budget.
• Steeper learning curve: Superior Drummer’s advanced features and customization options may overwhelm users new to drum software.

Let’s compare some specs

Sample Rate: 

• EZdrummer operates at a fixed sample rate of 44.1 kHz
• Superior Drummer supports sample rates up to 96 kHz, allowing higher-quality audio recordings.

Mic Positions: 

• EZdrummer has limited mic positions for its drum kits, typically only including a stereo overhead and a room mic.
• Superior Drummer has multiple mic positions for each drum instrument, including close, overhead, room, and ambient mics, allowing for greater control over the sound.

Mixer Features: 

• EZ drummer’s mixer features include volume, pan, mute, solo, and effects controls for each drum instrument and a master bus with additional effects.
• Superior Drummer’s mixer features include individual channel processing, bus routing, a wide range of effects, and a master bus with additional effects.

MIDI:

• EZdrummer allows easy drag-and-drop MIDI export of its grooves and patterns directly into your DAW.
• Superior Drummer features a built-in MIDI drum kit builder for creating custom drum kits and a drum replacement tool for blending live recordings with sampled drums.

Database:

EZ drummer – 7 kits, additional snares, kicks and cymbals, 15 GB of drums, cymbals and percussion, comprehensive MIDI library of grooves and fills.

Superior Drummer – 7 kits, 25 snares, 16 kicks, 350+ electronic drum machine sounds 35 sound processing effects, and more than 230 GB of carefully sampled drums.

 Superior Drummer vs EZ drummer which one is faster?

No one has time for apps that don’t work right when you’re trying to make your artwork.

EZ Drummer 3 is the winner regarding how well it uses RAM. However, Superior Drummer 3 is a more prominent tool, so it tends to use more memory on your computer.

Don’t get me wrong, SD3 is still an excellent option for serious music artists whose computers have much processing power. But EZ Drummer 3 might be the way to go if you’re like me and need a top-of-the-line machine.

Don’t worry, though, because Toontrack has thought of clever ways to deal with SD3’s memory levels. For example, you can “freeze” some channels using the library’s cache mode. This will make your system’s resources more relaxed. So if you choose SD3, you can still make it work.

Is EZdrummer good enough?

EZdrummer is good drum software for many audio artists. Users can rapidly add authentic drums to their works with its wide range of drum noises and MIDI rhythms played by expert drummers. In addition, its budget-friendly price and user-friendly design make it a good option for novices.

However, EZ drummer’s suitability relies on your wants and tastes. Superior Drummer is a more complex drum program that lets you change mic locations and articulations. Nevertheless, EZdrummer gives many users enough choices to make great-sounding drums. 

Is EZ Drummer 3 worth it?

Many audio makers find EZ Drummer 3 worthwhile. Its expert drummer-played MIDI rhythms and drum noises make it great drum software. 

EZ Drummer 3 is a good option for budget-conscious users due to its benefits and price. However, EZ Drummer 3’s value relies on your wants and tastes. Superior Drummer is a more complex drum program that lets you change mic locations and articulations.

EZ Drummer 3 gives many users enough choices to make great-sounding beats. Your process and output need to determine the option.

Who uses Superior Drummer?

Hobbyists to studio operators use Superior Drummer. It’s popular with users who want to customize their drum noises and get a more refined sound.

Superior Drummer is used in metal, rock, and pop music to create genuine drum noises due to its advanced features like mic location, articulations, and humanization. Additionally, film and video game music artists use it for authentic drum noises.

Superior Drummer is used by music artists, engineers, and home studio makers to build high-quality drum files. Superior Drummer is also used with other software instruments and effects to make a refined tone.

How much RAM does EZdrummer use?

The size of the drum set, the number of MIDI rhythms stored, and computer computing power affect how much RAM EZdrummer uses.

EZdrummer uses 500MB to 1GB of RAM with a basic set and a few MIDI rhythms. This can rise considerably if you use numerous versions of EZdrummer, more extensive collections, or many MIDI rhythms.

EZdrummer and other music creation tools work better with more RAM. EZdrummer works best with 8GB or more RAM.

Summary

This article compares Toontrack drum software Superior Drummer and EZ Drummer. EZ Drummer has a simpler interface, fewer customization options, and a smaller drum sample and MIDI groove library for beginners.

Superior Drummer, on the other hand, offers a huge library of drum samples and MIDI grooves, extensive customization, and advanced MIDI editing for advanced users. Superior Drummer costs more. EZ Drummer uses less RAM, but Superior Drummer is more advanced. The article compares sample rates, mic positions, mixer features, and MIDI capabilities.

Drum programming is the process of creating the drum sequence by using computer software, and not the actual playing of the instrument. You place certain tones in a certain pattern that you later multiply, adjust, manipulate, and mix.

You are making your patterns or using the ones that are already made by someone else. Those tones and patterns come in the form of computer software like an integral part of your digital audio workstation (DAW), or as a VST plug-in that can be used through your DAW.

You arrange tones and patterns on the timeline or the piano roll of your DAW project, by clicking the mouse. 

MIDI drumming is the use of a physical MIDI instrument that can be connected to your DAW through your sound card, or the use of virtual MIDI instruments that are built-in into your DAW or plug-ins.

Why do we do drum programming?

Recording drums is the best way to make drum lines for your music project, but at the same time, it is the most complicated part of any recording. If you don’t have one, you have to find an available drummer, practice with him the drum parts, and pay a very expensive lease for the recording studio. 

This process can last long, and it can cost you sometimes hundreds of dollars. Many musicians find this as an insurmountable obstacle, they are discouraged, and eventually, they give up on their music projects. 

That is where drum programming found its way into the music. With the development of the drum programming software especially VST drum plug-ins (such as EZ Drummer, Addictive Drums, Studio Drummer, and many others), it became incomparably easier and much more affordable to record drums for your music project on the professional level.  

All you need to start programming your drums is a good quality VST drum plug-in that suits your need the best, and your dedication to learning drum programming which doesn’t need to be super complex work with today’s very intuitive software.

With time you will become a better and better drum programmer, and eventually, your projects will sound more and more professional.       

How to set up your drum programming software?

To be able to record any music the first thing you have to do is to choose and install your DAW. All the recordings, samplings, processing, and mixing of your music will be done through this software.

Choosing the right DAW for you can take some time, but there is a lot of material about their characteristics online so you should dedicate some time to that. Before you buy DAW software that you think suits you the best, you should always check for the program requirements. Some of those programs need a lot of RAM or processor power to work properly.  

Installing your DAW should not be a problem. You will probably have to install the software which will allow your DAW to recognize your sound card. If you don’t already have that software you should be able to find it online on the sound card manufacturer’s site. 

If you had properly installed your DAW and your sound card software, you should be able to do drum programming already, because many DAW programs come with built-in MIDI drum instruments or drum pattern banks.

The best way to program your drums is to use the VST plug-ins, which are the software programs of virtual instruments, sound banks, and drum patterns that you will use to sequence your drum parts. They also have powerful mixing and processing options such as different effects, layering, different microphone positions, and many other features.

There are two types of drum VST plugins:

• free VST plugins that you can download for free from the manufacturer’s site 
• VST plug-ins that you have to pay for

If you are a beginner the best option is to start with the free VST plug-in, and as you become better at drum programming you will feel when it is time to buy a more advanced plug-in.

Before you buy the drum VST plug-in you think is best for you, you should check for compatibility between the plug-in you want to buy and your DAW. Certain DAWs support certain plug-ins, and you should always check that first.

Sometimes installing your VST plug-in can be hard for beginners. There are certain steps to follow when you do that.

Steps you need to follow to install and set up your VST drum plug-in:

1. Install your DAW software
2. You have to locate your VST plug-in directory
3. Download your VST plug-in
4. Move your file to the VST directory and extract the file (they usually come as ZIP files)
5. Restart your DAW

Choosing the right VST drum plug-in for you   

The first thing to think about is that there are some simpler drum plug-ins that you can use for free, but the good ones with professional quality tones and powerful processing possibilities need to be purchased. 

In the beginning, you can start with the free ones, but as you progress and feel that you need better tone and more tone processing options you can invest in the VST plug-in that you will use in your professional projects. 

Choosing the right VST plug-in is not an easy task, because there are so many of them out there. But, as you slowly learn about drum programming you will have a much clearer picture of what you want from your drum plug-in, and therefore it will be easier for you to choose the one that suits you the best.

Creating your drum beats

Using just your DAW you will be able to program your drums. Many of them (Studio One, Ableton, Pro Tools, and many others) come preloaded with some basic drum kits and tones in the form of samples. Arranging those tone samples on your project timeline or in a piano roll, you can create patterns and drum sequences that will become drum parts for your songs.

The other way to program your drums is to create a MIDI instrument track inside your DAW. You can add a virtual instrument that you have in your DAW or you have previously installed a VST plug-in that you can use also as a virtual instrument. 

You can create MIDI parts by using the virtual instrument by clicking on your mouse or you can connect a MIDI controller, which is usually a small keyboard (drummers can use an electric drum pad), and use that to record your drum parts. 

The best and easiest way to make drum parts for your song is to use the built-in beats of your VST plug-in MIDI library. You can drag those to the track timeline, or edit them in the MIDI editor of your DAW.   

If you decide to make your beats, you will have to start with a simpler drum beat, and slowly progress toward the more complex ones. You have to arrange the different drum parts in the curtain way on the project timeline, or your midi editor. 

You can also make your bank of drum beats and use them for different projects. 

Arranging and recording your drum beats

If you have decided which samples match your song the best, you can start building a drum sequence. Following your song, you can arrange those samples or patterns you have previously made, or change the samples that came with your drum plug-in. 

When you have made your drum sequence you can start experimenting with the different sound options. Today’s VST drum plug-ins come with powerful editing tools, effect banks, and mixing options. You should slowly learn to use those until you find a tone that suits your song the best. 

These are the steps you should follow when you do drum recording:

• First, you should search inside your tone bank and find the best-sounding tone. You should do that for all drum parts of your drum project
• Experiment with the possibilities that your drum VST plug-in has. you should search all the options like microphone positions, ambients, and other similar possibilities
• Try to master the essential mixing operations such as compression, reverb, equalization, and other
• Test how your drum parts interact with the other song instruments. If the sound isn’t clear you should adjust the tone until you can hear everything clearly in the final song mix.

Arranging and recording drums is not an easy task. You should practice by making small sample songs and learn from your mistakes. It can be a longer process, but when you master those skills you will be much more efficient. 

In conclusion 

Drums are the most important but at the same time the most complex instrument to record. With the development of the DAW-s and VST plug-ins, it became much incomparably simpler and cheaper to make good quality drum tracks.

Drum programming isn’t easy and it will take some time to learn all the things that you need to make a good quality drum pattern, sample, and track. But, once you master those skills, you will be able to create much better quality music and have another tool in your arsenal to make your dreams come true.

Drum VST plug-ins are virtual instruments that you can use to create drum parts for your music, through your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).

There are many drum VST plug-ins today. Some of them are free and some of them need to be purchased, so choosing the right one is not an easy task.

In this article, we will review the best drum VST plug-ins, so that you can more easily decide what suits you best.

What can you do with drum plug-ins? 

Drum VST plug-ins are coming in the form of software which you can use to create your drum lines and samples. Through your DAW, you can create your custom drum beats, just select the adequate sample, or modify an already-made sample. 

There are many things you can use drum plug-ins for. The first one to mention is to compose, mix and record drums for your music project. You can also make your samples, load them on the drum multi-pad or electronic drums, and use them for live playing. 

Why use a VST plug-in and not real drums?

It’s much simpler and cheaper to use VST plug-ins than to pay for the recording of the real drums. Even if you have to pay for your VST plug-in, you can use it for other projects in the future.

You will have bigger control of your music project because you will be in charge of more things. The final project will look much more like you pictured it because you made your drum sequences.

You will learn much more about drumming, so your future projects will be better.   

Here is the list of  the 6 best drums VST plug-ins:

1. Toontrack Superior Drummer 3
2. Addictive Drums 2
3. Toontrack EZ Drummer 2
4. Steven Slate Drums 5
5. Heavyocity Damage 2
6. Native Instruments Studio Drummer 
7. Toontrack Superior Drummer 3

1. Superior Drummer 3

Superior Drummer 3 is considered to be one of the best VST plug-ins for some time. It has 230 GB of raw and unprocessed sound. This software has 7 drum kits recorded with multiple microphones in different placements. It has up to 11 channel surround sound, and a library of 16 kits, 25 snares, and many more electronic options. 

Superior Drummer 3 also has a big MIDI library of different styles and fills. You can make your rhythms using a multi-track grid editor, and mix the sounds you made in the powerful mixing studio with 35 mixer effects and a wide range of presets.

Pros: 

• Exceptional sound quality
• Big variety of sounds
• Big variety of mixing possibilities
• Grid Editor

Cons:

• Some features are complicated for the beginner
• Memory-heavy plug-in

2. Addictive Drums 2

This VST will provide you with fantastic kits, sounds, and groves. It is much simpler than Superior Drummer, and therefore easier to use. 

It comes with three high-quality sounding kits recorded by well-known professionals in the form of 130 preset setups. You can build your kit, add effects, mix the sound, and even adjust the levels of the microphones for the individual components. 

If you are not a drummer you will have to check the Grooves section. There you will find many already programmed patterns that you can use. With the integrated MIDI grove system you can drag and drop your patterns directly into your project timeline. 

Pros:

• Intuitive
• Simpler to use than Superior Drummer
• High-quality sound
• Drag and drop MIDI feature

Cons:

• Expensive 
• Reported software problems

3. Toontrack EZ Drummer 2

EZ Drummer is made for songwriters, and it comes as easy-to-use software. You don’t have to be an expert to use this engine, but you will have everything that you need to create your music. 

EZ Drummer comes with five drum kits that have a realistic sound of great quality. The library of grooves is very well made with so many options, so you will be able to compose drum parts for the entire song just by using those preset groves.

The software also has a powerful mixing interface and effects that will make your mixing easier.

Pros:

• Easy to use if you are not familiar with this kind of software
• Great library of grooves
• Package price

Cons:

• Too simple for the ones that want more

4. Steven Slate Drums 5 

This VST plug-in has one of the best collection of the sample that includes:

• 135 snares
• 112 kicks
• 58 toms
•  11 hi-hats
• 14 crashes
• 6 rides
• 7 chinas

The sound is very realistic and comes in the form of 148 kits. You can sequence your bets but you can also use 2400 grooves.

You can use many different features of this product such as microphone customization, tuning, and routing. Velocity and dynamic curves could be adjusted for each drum. You can also use a powerful mixer to tweak your sound right where you want it to be.   

This software is easy to use and it will provide you with everything that you need.

Pros: 

• Some of the best drum samples on the market
• Great tone 

Cons:

• Lack of in-built effects

5. Heavyocity Damage 2

The Damage 2 is one of the largest VST plug-ins. It comes with more than 40 000 built-in samples that will take more than 60 GB of memory. 

The plug-in has samples or real drums of all sorts, but the producers also recorded the sounds of different pieces of junk bashed away in a scrapyard, and so they created the so-called damaged sounds. That is why this plug-in can be used for more cinematic use.

There are different kits such as epic organic drums, metals, ethnic drums, FX kits, and damage kits. This plug-in also comes with the 864 loops that you can use for projects that have to be done quickly. 

Pros:

• Great plug-in for heavy music
• Great for filmmakers and soundtracks

Cons:

• Memory-heavy
• Not for hip-hop-like genres of music

6. Native Instruments Studio Drummer

This software is known as one of the best sounds of acoustic drum kits. It has many mixing options which will be enough to satisfy the needs of a mixing engineer. 

Studio Drummer has three drum kits recorded to make a library. There are 25 different velocity levels for each tone and around 17 GB of samples.

There are three ambient options to choose between Stadium Kit, Studio Kit, and Garage Kit. Stadium Kit brings a roomy atmosphere, Studio Kit brings more of a clean and crisp sound, and the Garage Kit brings a heavier and dirtier sound. 

Pros:

• Great studio-quality sound
• Not memory-heavy

Cons:

• Not for hip-hop sounds   

You don’t have to pay always for drum plug-in

Not everybody today has a couple of hundred dollars to spend on the VST drum plug-in. The good thing is that there are some good free alternatives out there.

The free VST drum plug-ins may not be versatile and loaded with thousands of different tones and mixing options, but they can still be useful.

Here is a list of 5 best free VST drum plug-ins:

1. Stave Slate SSD 5,5 Free
2. Mini Spillage
3. MT Power Drum Kit 2
4. Studio Linked Drum Pro
5. Spitfire LABS Drums

Within this article, we will do a full Roland Octapad Review.

We will cover all the pros and cons of this product as well as:

• Built quality
• Usability
• Sound quality
• The current value of this unit

In the end, you will have enough information to decide if this unit has all the features you are searching for, or if you should search for some other alternatives on the market. 

What is Roland Octapad SPF 30?

The Roland Octapad SPD 30 is a high-quality electric drum multi-pad, designed for percussionists and drummers. This device is only for playing and it doesn’t have the option to import samples. 

It’s a flat box with 8 rubber-covered pod triggers. It also has a display and programming controls, and all that is fitted in a small package that can be easily carried anywhere.

Because of its characteristics, it can be used on its own, or as an addition to your electric or acoustic drum kit.

The main features of the Roland Octapad SPF 30 are:

• This unit has 670 instruments divided into 50 (99 with version II of the firmware update) drum kits
• Instrument parameters such as volume, pan, reverse, pitch sweep, tone color, soft attack, and others
• Multi-effect editor
• Phase loop function with 50 preset phrases  
• It has an input for the hi-hat controller, four dual-trigger inputs 
• USM and MIDI connection for computer
• Indicator lights

Built quality

The build quality is very good and the device itself is very solid and gives the impression of durability. 

The pods are well made and can take some intense drumming, and right from the start, this unit will last for many years. 

The unit has a modern design, and it looks good as it plays. It is very compact and carrying it around on gigs should not be any problem for drummers. 

Usability

The Octapad comes with so many features which drummers and percussionists need in a practical sense. The unit is preloaded with 50 to 99 (version II) kits that cover a wide range from modern to traditional drum sounds, percussions, melodies, and sound effects. If all that is taken into account, this device should cover all the needs of a drummer and percussionist, either in the studio or for live performances.

This is very important if we take into consideration the fact that this unit doesn’t have the possibility of importing or recording your custom sound samples. Therefore, the built-in drum presets will be the starting point of all your custom sounds. 

The compensation for this deficiency is the fact that Octapad has a very powerful multi-effect editor. Using this editor and sound parameters all the ones that exist in this unit can be customized. You can use options such as:

• Tuning
• Muffling
• Attack
• Peach sweep
• 30 types of internal multi-effects
• Equalizer
• Limiter
• 7 ambiance types

If we consider those options, it is clear that the tone options on this device are almost limitless.

The Octapad SPF 30 has a phase loop function. You can record your custom loops, and play along with them. Before you start recording your loops you have to choose the measured length, and you are good to go. You can record multiple layers, one on the other, which makes it very fun and practical for beginners. But, there is no way to seriously edit your loops, except by adding effects, so this function is limited.  

The SPD 30 has the Roland advanced V-drum triggering technology. The pads are separate units, well isolated with complete cross-talk resistance. 

The pads are very sensitive and able to register a slight difference in your strike. This instrument is making excellent differentiation between light and hard strikes, which gives a better feel to the drummers while playing live, and offers them the possibility for more dynamics while playing. 

The Octapod has four dual-trigger inputs, a kick, and a hi-hat controller. With the external pads, it can be used as a mini drum set which can be used as a real-time recording kit. 

Sound quality

With so many built-in instruments and so many possibilities for experimenting with different parameters and multi-effects, we can say that the Octapod has a wide range of tones which should be enough to cover pretty much everything. 

The sound quality of the pre-loaded sounds and instruments is superb and something that pros will be satisfied with. When it comes to tone, this device has been designed with great attention to detail and is therefore very useful in all its potential applications. 

Value of this unit

This device belongs to the category of high-quality professional instruments. Tone quality, numerous possibilities for individual settings, phase loop option, and numerous expansion possibilities make this device very useful in the studio and live situations.

Also, this device is made according to the highest manufacturing standards, from high-quality and durable materials. If you invest in its purchase, you can be sure that it will last a long time and that it will serve you very well.

According to the impressions of users who already own this device, it has two weak points:

• High price
• No way to record or import additional samples or sounds

Even if this device has many good features, the fact that it can’t record custom samples is still a big minus because there are devices from a lower price range that have this feature.

This can be a very important fact for those who can shell out a large sum of money and buy this device. Also, something like customized tones and samples is very important for professional drummers. A device that is sold at a high price and is declared a high-quality device for professionals should also have the ability to sample and play backing tracks. 

Another important thing to think about is the fact that it is necessary to invest a lot of additional resources to purchase additional equipment, such as kick pedals and a hi-hat controller. If you have plans to use this device as a mini electronic drum, be prepared to invest a decent amount of money in it.

In conclusion 

This Roland Octapod SPD 30 is a well-made unit that is designed to satisfy musicians at the pro level. It has many good tonal and instrumental options that should be enough to satisfy the needs of the drummers and percussionists.

With the extensions, it could be used as the mini electric drum kit, or it can be used as an addition to your electric or acoustic kit. 

The unit doesn’t have the option for adding your custom samples and tones, so if this is important to you, you will have to consider some other device. 

The biggest problem with this device is its very high price. There are many other options on the market at a lower price. If price is an important factor for you, then you should pay close attention to everything this device offers compared to the competition.

In this article, we will show you an honest review of the Alesis Sample Pad Pro, which is an all-in-one percussion instrument and sampler that features 8 responsive and velocity-sensitive pads. 

There are a large number of drum sample pads on today’s market, so it is not easy to judge whether it is wise to invest more or less money in the purchase of these products. 

At the end of this article, we will show you whether Alesis Sample Pad Pro is worth investing in and whether you will potentially satisfy all your needs with this unit.

What is Alesis Sample Pad Pro?

Alesis Sample Pad Pro is an electric drum pad instrument that can be used as a percussive instrument or as a sampler unit for backing tracks. 

It has a significant number of pre-loaded sounds and samples, and the possibility of adding your custom samples, which makes it very usable.

The unit can be used on its own or as an addition to your electric or acoustic drum kit.  

The key features of Alesis Sample Pad Pro:

• This is a complete electronic percussion rig
• It has 8 velocities sensitive, single-zone pads
• 200 or more percussive sounds
• 10 built-in drum kits
• SD card slot for more sounds and samples
• Kick pedal and hi-hat pedal input
• Two additional inputs for drum pads
• USB, MIDI connectivity, and headphone jack 

We will make a review of Alesis Sample Pad Pro:

1. Built quality 
2. Sound quality
3. Usability
4. Value 

Built quality 

This unit is surprisingly lightweight and compact. It’s small in size and portable, which makes it a very good choice for gigging drummers who don’t want to carry a lot of gear. The unit is also sturdy like other, much more expensive units on the market. 

The product has a modern design and it’s finished in black, but it has blue lights which are turned on as you trigger the drum pads, so it is visible even if played in dark conditions. 

When it comes to dials and knobs, SamplePad pro is very simplistic. It has 4 buttons, three knobs, and a small blue display, and all of it is made of high quality and gives a feeling of good usability.

Sound quality 

Alesis Sample Pad Pro comes with more than 200 individual drums and percussion sounds that are pre-loaded in the unit. Those sounds are high quality, and they are a solid material for somebody who is entering the drum pads world.

The unit also has an SD card slot and it can read cards up to 32 GB. The SD card can be used to extend the variety of sounds on the unit by loading your custom sounds and samples. Because of this Sample Pad Pro could be used just as a loop-playing device as an extension of the regular drum kit. The SD card option makes it very usable and gives it limitless potential for sound versatility and additional use as a sampler. 

Also, the unit has 10 full drum kits pre-loaded. Those are of decent quality and are fully adjustable by the unit interface. 

Usability   

It’s very easy to navigate through the menu system, although there are only four buttons that can be used for navigation. The interface is simple, and it’s very easy to swap between kits, sounds, and samples. 

Loading new samples and sounds also come very easily. The SamplePad has to be connected to the computer, and the sample-load option has to be selected. To be read all the sounds need to be loaded onto the SD card, so the SD card must be inserted. The SD card will appear in your OS of choice.

When it comes to playability, this device has a few downsides. The biggest criticism of the users is related to the pad’s sensitivity, cross talk, and output volume.

The pad’s playability and sensibility are decent, but in comparison with more expensive alternatives from Roland or Yamaha is a little bit of a duller feel, and it has a little bit less feedback. Playing ghost notes or fast rolls could be an issue. If we consider this, this unit is much more for some basic playing or simple drum beats. The sample pad is not so reliable for faster transitions and more complex rhythms.

An issue that is always mentioned if we talk about Sample Pad pro is cross-talk. Hitting one pad can trigger another, and in a live situation, this might lead to disaster. The biggest problem is if that happens with pads that are used to launch samples. The cross-talk could stop or start the loaded samples at the wrong time. 

Alesis recognized this problem as very important and after some time provided a firmware update that solved this problem for many users. The problem is solved by the new update reducing the sensitivity of the problematic panels. Also, one way to combat this problem is to not use problematic panels.

Some users are complaining that the output volume on this unit is weak when it is connected to a mixer. When that is the case, the volume for the channel where Alesis is connected has to be put to the max, which can lead to noise. 

Value

Alesis Sample Pad Pro might not be at the level of products that are considered to be premium quality, but on the other hand, it costs half of their price. Despite its small price, the unit offers a lot.

The fact that you can load more samples in it with the SD card makes it usable even for pros, but on its own, the Sample Pad offers much more than other units in the same price range.

If the budget is important and you are searching for something chipper that can do the job, this unit is a perfect choice. If that is the case you will be able to find a solution for all the problems that this unit is known for, and just make it work for you. 

Conclusion

The Alesis Sample Pad Pro is cheaper than all the other units that are considered to be usable. That is a significant attribute that works in his favor.

The unit is sturdy and offers 8 pads that are packed in a usable design. It has a possibility for pads extension, bass drum, and hi-hat pedals. It has an SD card slot that can be used for sample playing and extension of the sound base, which puts it in the higher range of drum pad units.

Unfortunately, the unit has problems like pad sensitivity, bad output volume, and cross-talk which is the most significant problem. Still, if you are limited in budget you won’t find anything that has all the features like Sample Pad Pro in that price range. If you buy this unit, you will find your way to live with those problems, and still, use all the good sides of it. 

If we take all these things into consideration, we can say that Alesis Sample Pad Pro is worth the money. It might not be for the pros that need premium quality gear, but it is a good choice for the ones that are entering the world of drum pads, and the ones that are limited with a budget. 

EP or “extended play” is a form of music release that is longer than a single and shorter than an LP or “long play”, or a full-length album nowadays.

It’s a collection of 4 to 6 songs that are easier to publish than a traditional album, so many people call it a mini-album.

An EP is considered to be the smartest way for up-and-coming artists to present their work to the world if they are limited with a budget, but it is not a rare occurrence that an already famous artist releases an EP.

How long should an EP be?

“Extended Play” was the 7″ discs, the size of the single, but allowed the artists to put a few songs on them. Because of its characteristics, the EP could hold up to 4 songs and was usually used as a compilation of singles.

Nowadays, the term “EP” is used to describe a collection of music that isn’t as long as a full-length album.  There are no strict rules about how long the EP should be, but it’s considered that it shouldn’t be shorter than 4 and longer than 6 songs.

Many artists today are using popular streaming platforms to publish and distribute their music. If you count on that, you have to consider that those platforms have their own rules about classifications of music publications.

For example, if your release is less than 30 minutes long and is between 4 to 6 songs, Spotify will put it into the “EPs and Singles” tab on your artist page. If your publication is less than 30 minutes long and has 4 to 6 songs, Apple Music will classify it as EP and add an EP suffix to the publication.

Should you have 4 or 6 songs on an EP?

How many songs will be on the EP depends primarily on you. There are several things to consider when deciding on the number of songs:

–          What do you want to achieve by publishing an EP? If you want a record deal, then you should consider publishing more songs, so the record labels have more to hear about your work. This way you will show how diverse you are as an artist, and you will send them a message that you can be productive because that is something that many record labels are looking for.   

–          If you already have a recorded full-length album (or you have a strong plan to record it soon), then you should consider fewer songs on your EP. In that case, EP will serve you just as a promotion tool. You don’t want to have many tracks so you are giving away too much of your upcoming album, but also you want to give enough to your listeners so they can decide if they want to listen to the whole album later.

–          The number of songs on your EP also depends on the genre of music you play. If you are more into progressive rock styles, that means that your songs will probably be much longer (musicians sometimes say that music is not progressive if it’s not around 8 minutes, or more), and your 4 songs can last close to 30 minutes. If you are more about punk music, your songs will be much shorter, and 6 songs might not last even 20 minutes.

–          Another very important factor in deciding how many songs to put on an EP is inspiration and creativity. If you just want to release an EP with no plans to follow it up with an album, then you should put 4 or 6 songs on it, depending on how many you’ve written. If you have written only 4 songs and you don’t feel that you have anything more to say at that moment or you feel that you have already said enough with that many songs, then you should release an EP with 4 songs. Sometimes it’s important just to present your work to the world.

Benefits of EP publication

You need fewer financial resources to make an EP. Many musicians at the beginning of their careers just don’t have enough resources to make a full-length album.  EP is a perfect solution for that problem because it costs less than an album, and you will still publish some of your work.

You don’t have enough music material for the album. You recorded 4 or 6 songs, and you think that there are no more things you need to say about that. If this is the case with you, you should consider publishing an EP with that music.

It takes less time to record an EP than a full album. Sometimes recording a full-length album can take a few months or even a year. Many professional or starter musicians can’t afford that much time to work on one project.

Create a good introduction for the upcoming album. It’s not unusual to use an EP to hit things up for the upcoming album.

A full-length album isn’t always the best way to publish your music. Only 9% of people today favor albums in comparison to the other forms of music release. Also, you should take into consideration that the attention span of today’s people is significantly shorter than 40-50 years ago. Shorter forms of music publication are therefore gaining ground. This is especially important for musicians who are just trying to profile themselves and gain their audience.

EP vs. full-length album:

–          Takes fewer resources to make EP than a full album

–          You need less material to make a release

–          Making an EP takes less time, than making an album

–          Shorter forms of music are becoming more interesting to the listeners

How to release and promote your EP as a beginner?

The best advice about the release and promotion of your EP will be to give all you got. It doesn’t matter in which format you are publishing your music, you should pay attention to details, and be creative with the resources you have.

You should also devote your time to creating the right artwork for your release. If you don’t have the resources to do that, you should ask your talented friend for a favor or just try to be creative yourself. Your EP deserves the best you can do at that moment.

Set your release date and try to publish it on as many online channels as it is possible. Use all social media platforms so that you can throw a release party. You should know that the promotion of your music depends mostly on you and your creativity.

Wrap Up

EP is a form of music release that has no more than 30 minutes in length and has 4 to 6 songs. Because it is shorter than a traditional full-length album, sometimes we call it a mini-album.

It’s considered to be one of the best forms of music release for the up-and-coming artists that have to create their body of the audience. Sometimes it is used by artists who want to announce their full-length album.

As the attention span of music listeners is decreasing more and more, forms like EPs are becoming more popular and standing side by side with other forms of music releases.

In this article, we will present a list of twelve easy drum songs that can be used to practice your hearing and basic rhythm.

An easy song to play on drums is a song that has a consistent drum beat without many complicated fillings, and it is best if it is between 80 and 120 beats per minute.

By learning these songs, you will progress much faster while having a good time.

Why are easy drum songs essential for beginners?

You can learn them quickly, even if you are starting on drums. This can be very important because of your self-confidence. 

Practicing easy songs will help you improve your basic skills and develop timekeeping and consistency. 

By practicing those songs, you will learn essential things to build a solid foundation for your future development as a drummer.

Here is a list of 12 easy drum songs for beginners:

1. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
2. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
3. Back in Black – AC/DC
4. Come As You Are – Nirvana
5. Yellow – Coldplay
6. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
7. Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
8. Beast of Burden – The Rolling Stones
9. The Thrill is Gone – B.B. King
10. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
11. Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day
12. Levitating – Dua Lipa

1. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

It’s a straightforward and enjoyable song to play. The song is characterized by a simple, 4/4 standard drum beat, and the groove is straightforward. 

The song is good for practicing the continuous bass drum and should be easy to learn quickly. Also, this song is a perfect example of the moderation of the drummer intending to serve the song.

You should pay attention to the slight difference between the verse and the chorus in dynamics, which means that some parts are played louder than others.

2. Billy Jean – Michael Jackson

This is one of the most iconic classic drum grooves of all time. The song is a 4/4 time signature with 16th notes on the hi-hats and is a perfect example to practice this rhythm. 

3. Back in Black – AC/DC 

Rock out with legends. AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd had a fundamental way of playing, but he created many iconic drum beats. He is known for the base drum and snare combinations with a few fills; this song is an excellent example of that.

 The groove is simple, and the main thing is to nail the chorus hits that follow the vocals. 

4. Come As You Are – Nirvana

Follow the legendary guitar riff. The verse combines the bass drum, snare, and ride cymbal. 

The chorus is more complicated, including tom-toms, but the transition is simple. 

5. Yellow – Coldplay 

The slow tempo and easy beat. The intro is played with loose hi-hats, but the verse is played with hi-hats closed. 

This song is suitable for slow-tempo practice and feeling, and it’s also ideal for practicing smooth transitions and atmospheric use of the ride cymbal. 

6. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi 

This is a heavy, glam, and powerful song. The song is from the era when drum lines were simple but punchy. 

It has a simple rhythm, but with some nice beats and cymbal kicks, it is a perfect tune. 

The chorus and middle section are more complicated as some beats sound complex, but the base rhythm remains the same, so it shouldn’t be a problem. 

7. Another One Bites the Dust – Queen 

Another rock classic for you to learn. There is a steady backbeat on the snare throughout the whole song. 

The bass drum plays every quarter note (four on the floor). The first break consists of 8th notes on the snare, and the second requires a closed hi-hat.

8. Beast of Burden – The Rolling Stones 

It’s vintage and a perfect song. The intro has snare syncopation that follows the guitar. Be careful with open hi-hats. The choruses are with the 8th notes on the bass drum. 

9. The Thrill is Gone – B.B. King: standard blues form 

Start with the solid backbeat, and then slowly add fills. There are 12 measures in each cycle, and this form keeps repeating throughout the song. 

This is the best song to practice your fills and develop your sense of rhythm.

10. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica 

It’s metal, but it’s simple. Heavy metal is a musical direction usually characterized by faster and very complex drum sections. However, there are songs from this genre that are simple. 

This song has a steady tempo with simple fills, which should be fine. Fills you learn here you can use for some other Metallica songs.

11. Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day

Learn to use dynamics. The drummer leads the bend through the song. There is a contrast between the verse and the chorus, and the change is signaled by the hi-hat and the crash cymbal. 

Also, pay attention to the drum fills that signal the change from verse to chorus. This song is another perfect example of how to use dynamics. 

12. Levitating – Dua Lipa  

Here is something to work on. The song has more complicated hi-hat parts in the verse, but you don’t have to play exactly like the original. 

You should follow four on a floor bass drum pattern with a snare backbeat, and as you get more confident, slowly start adding your fills as you progress. 

What can we learn from the songs on the list?

This list has shown you that some of the most outstanding musical achievements in history can be among the easy songs. 

As sometimes perfection lies in simple things, we can see that even famous drummers sometimes stick to basic techniques and put their playing at the service of the song.

Also, if you learned those songs, you mastered some basic techniques, easy fills, and consistency, so you are a much better drummer now. 

In conclusion

It may require some repetition and practice, but playing easy drum songs improves your technique and makes a strong foundation for future upgrades.

Remember to be patient and persistent, but have fun and enjoy your instrument.

There are many prestigious music colleges today, so choosing the right one is a serious decision. 

It can be stressful and intimidating for future students to start their search for the best college that will give them all the knowledge, inspiration, and space to develop their talents and start their careers. But, if you prepare yourself properly and make a plan, the decision may not be that difficult.

In this article, we will show the list of some of the best music colleges in the world.

What to think about before starting your search:

–          What kind of program you are interested in?

Some colleges have programs based on classical music, while other ones are about contemporary music genres or music theater.

–          You should decide if you want to live in those locations where those colleges are located, and if can you afford it.

–          There are more students than spots available in those well-known music colleges, so you should have a plan about how to highlight your work, so admissions counselors will consider your application.

We selected the following colleges based on:

–          Structure of the educational program

–          Reputation

–          Record of accomplishment by alumni/ae

–          Possibilities after graduation

This is the list of the best music colleges in the world:

1.       The Juilliard School

2.        Yale School of Music  

3.       Berklee College of Music

4.       New England Conservatory of Music

5.       Conservatoire de Paris

6.        The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

7.       Curtis Institute of Music

8.       The Royal Academy of Music

9.       Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory

10.   Manhattan School of Music

1. The Juilliard School

Juilliard is located in the Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York, and it’s considered one of the best music schools in the world. The name of the school is always synonymous with musical excellence.

The school offers a Bachelor of Music, a Master’s of Music, and a Doctorate of Music Art, as well as a combination of those programs.

It’s competitive and diverse with an acceptance rate under 7%. It has a student body of around 600 from 40 different countries, student to faculty ratio of 3 to 1 which means that each student musician has direct access to instructions.

The college has alumni that constitute more than 50 % of Lincoln Center’s established orchestras, and around 20% of the members of America’s “big five”, ensembles.    

2. Yale School of Music

Yale School of Music is the only school dedicated to music among the Ivy Leagues Schools, located in Long Island Sound, New Haven, Connecticut.

This school is dedicated to the study of acoustic music and offers programs such as Master of Music, Master of Music Arts, and Doctor of Music Arts. This college also confers the Artist Diploma and Certificate in Performance.

The admission is very competitive, and only 8-10% of applicants are accepted to join the approximately 200 students that comprise the Yale School body.

The school has a collegiate and collaborative atmosphere, where students can choose the teachers with whom they want to study. The alumni network includes names such as Marco Beltrami, Michael Daugherty, and Matt Brubeck.

3. Berklee College of Music

Berklee College of Music is located in Boston, Massachusetts. The focus of this college is on contemporary music, and the philosophy of the school is that music should be best taught through the music of the time. If temporary arts are exclusively considered, the Berklee College of Music ranks as number one.

Berklee offers undergraduate and graduate programs such as Composition, Music Therapy, Film Scoring, Jazz Composition, and Music Business/Management. Berklee provides accessibility to non-traditional students through an online program, which allows students to get a degree or a certificate at a distance.

The school has around 4200 students and an acceptance rate of around 35%. The college has a long list of successful alumni such as composer Quincy Jones, guitarist John Mayer, and singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge.    

4. New England Conservatory of Music         

The oldest independent school of music in the US, the New England Conservatory of Music is also located in Boston, Massachusetts. The college has programs for classical, but also contemporary music.

Students can study early and contemporary music. There are programs for contemporary improvisation, jazz, and classical music. The conservatory offers programs for people of all ages. It has around 750 students, with an acceptance rate of around 28% and students to faculty ratio of 5 to 1.

Nearly half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra has some connections with the school. The college has successful alumni such as Conrad Pope and Ralph Burns.

5. Conservatoire de Paris

One of the oldest schools of music in the world, the Conservatoire de Paris, is located in the capital of France and offers different undergraduate and graduate programs.

This school has a student body of around 1300 and around 400 instructors. The admission is very competitive and it has around a 3% of acceptance rate (only around 30 students per year).

Conservatoire de Paris has a big musical heritage, and many well-known names are connected to the school, such as Claude Debussy, Pierre Boulez, and Olivier Messiaen.  

6. The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna is one of the biggest music schools in the world. It offers many programs for bachelor, master, and doctoral studies.

It has around 3000 students, but still has a high level of students to faculty ratio of around 4,5. Many famous composers and musicians took their education from this school, like Johannes Brahms and Gustav Mahler.

7. Curtis Institute of Music

Curtis Institute of Music is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is one of the best music schools in the US. Curtis offers several programs of study: A diploma for post-secondary-school students, a Bachelor of Music, a Professional Studies Certificate, and a Master of Music Tracks.

The admission is very competitive and only 5% of the candidates become part of the very small student body of around 165.   In this school, tuition is always free of charge, which is not common.

The school’s specialty is opera, and its alumni have names such as Leonard Bernstein, David Brooks, and Lang Lang.

8. The Royal Academy of Music

The Royal Academy of Music is Britain’s oldest music school and it’s located in London. This school has programs for classical and popular musicians. This institution offers instruction in performance and research tasks.

The Royal Academy has a 10% acceptance rate, and almost a 2 to 1 students to faculty ratio, which means that all the students have close attention and instruction.

The academy has a big list of successful alumni including Sir Simon Rattle, Annie Lenox, and Sir Elton John.  

9. Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory

Located in the Russian capital, Moscow Conservatory offers Bachelor, Master, and Specialist degrees. It’s one of the two oldest music schools in Russia.

The conservatory has around 1300 students and still produces great musicians to this day.  Tchaikovsky was a professor of theory and harmony, and many famous musicians studied here like Dmitry Kabalevsky, Sergey Rachmaninoff, and Sviatislov Richter.

10. Manhattan School of Music

Located in the West side of New York, the Manhattan School of Music started as a community school bringing musical instructions to the immigrants of New York. This school offers programs such as Jazz Art, Classical Programs, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary and Orchestral Performances.

The school has a 40% acceptance rate and consists of 900 students and around 250 faculties. It is considered one of the top schools in the US for musical theater programs.

Manhattan School of Music alumni are prestigious teachers or play in orchestras and opera companies around the world. Some of them are Harry Connick Jr and Jesse Rosen.

In conclusion

Choosing where to continue your education is not easy, but in the end only you can make the final decision.

You should carefully review all the facts related to the colleges you are interested in such as prestige, degree programs, names of professors, and financial requirements. The most important thing is to find the one that fits best with your plans and aspirations.