Minimum gear requirements

Ear protection - drums are VERY loud. Ear protection is highly recommended during lessons.

Gets the job done:

Unfortunately, it drastically cuts the sound, eliminating all the resonance of the instrument

Sticks - Balbex G5A - high quality drum sticks made in the Czech Republic

An all purpose drum stick which lasts a very long time and the tip does not wear off. I recommend the A-corn tip. 5A is a great stick to start with, but if you have small hands, 7A is a much better fit.

Practice pad

A variety of practice pads have been developed to assist percussionists in different ways. Practice pads may be designed to approximate the tension and response of a true drumhead when struck, or to provide less rebound to train the percussionist’s muscles. They can be constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are typically small and light enough to be easily portable. Many variations include harder or softer playing surfaces, non-skid bases (that can also double as muted playing surfaces), and fixing points allowing the pad to be connected to existing percussion hardware such as a cymbal or snare drum stand.

Home Fun - Alesis Nitro Mesh - a small apartment drum kit which you can hide under the bed when not needed. Plug in the headphones and have fun without disturbing anyone. I do not recommend electronic kits that do not have a bass drum tower, like Alesis Turbo Mesh.

Electronic drum set recommendation - Alesis Crimson II - sounds great out of the box and does not break the bank. Ideal if you live in an apartment building. It keeps it’s retail value very well.