Learn to Play Drums (First Complete Song)

Proof required

Submit a video recording (minimum 3 minutes) showing: your seated posture and grip from two angles; a two-bar groove with hi-hat, snare, and bass drum at 70 BPM held steady for 60 seconds; and a simple four-note fill transition played cleanly three times in a row.

What gets checked

• Tempo is consistent — the metronome or a backing track is audible in the recording confirming the BPM
• Grip and posture are visibly correct — no tension in shoulders, sticks held at the balance point
• Fill transitions land on beat 1 cleanly — no rushing or late arrival back to the groove

Common mistakes

• Practising without a metronome — timing problems become habits that are much harder to fix later
• Increasing tempo before the current tempo is clean — speed builds from clean slow practice, not from pushing through sloppiness

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Is a metronome or backing track audible in the recording?
• Watch the groove for 30 seconds: does tempo remain stable or does it speed up or slow down?
• Check the fill: does it land back on beat 1 cleanly, or does it rush or drag?
• Ask: 'what is your current practice routine?' — a real answer describes what they do each session, not what they intend to do

Proof required

Submit three separate video recordings of you playing along with the original recordings of three different songs, each played from start to finish without stopping. Identify each song by title and artist.

What gets checked

• Each recording shows you playing along with the original audio — not playing a simplified version alone
• No stops or restarts mid-song — each song is played through from intro to outro
• All three songs are different — different genre or groove type is preferred over three songs with identical patterns

Common mistakes

• Learning only the verse groove and stopping — songs have sections, and learning a full song means playing through all of them
• Playing only songs already at your ceiling — the three-song proof should demonstrate growth from the milestone 1 recording

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Watch each recording: is the original audio playing alongside the drumming?
• Check for restarts: does each song play through continuously from intro to outro?
• Compare the three songs: do they use different groove types or are they effectively the same pattern?
• Ask: 'which song was hardest and what specifically was difficult?' — a real answer names a specific section or fill

Proof required

Submit: a video recording of you playing drums with at least one other musician, or a published recording of a full song performance with evidence it has been shared with an external audience (YouTube link, SoundCloud, or shared in a drumming community); and a 150-word reflection on what was different about playing with others compared to solo practice.

What gets checked

• At least one other musician is audible or visible in the recording, or the recording is published and accessible to others
• The performance is a complete musical context — not a drum-only track recorded alone
• Reflection names something specific that was different about playing with others — 'it was fun' is not specific

Common mistakes

• Recording alone at home and calling it a performance — the collaborative or live element is what this milestone measures
• Choosing musicians at a dramatically higher level without preparation — the performance should be achievable, not overwhelming

Resources

What a verifier looks for

• Is at least one other musician audible in the recording, or is there evidence of an external audience?
• Was the recording shared externally — is there evidence beyond the candidate themselves?
• Read the reflection: does it name something specific about ensemble playing?
• Ask: 'what would you work on before the next performance?' — the answer reveals self-awareness about current level