Getting Started Triple Creme is an all-girl rock band from Brooklyn, New York, that's been playing together for about six years. As kids, Christina, Robin, Terry and Tif learned instruments--but some of them forgot everything and others switched instruments as adults. Tiffany "Tif" Wolf, the drummer in Triple Creme, first took music lessons from her mom, who was a piano teacher. Then she learned the drums to spite her. "It was the one instrument she didn't know anything about, so it gave me my independence." Here rebellious Tif gives some tips on what it takes to get a band together and rock.
There's no real school of rock! What do I need to know to play?
If you have no musical experience, you should start off with some lessons on the instrument of your choice. If lessons aren't an option, then pick up a book for beginners. If your school has a band, joining can be a great way to learn music theory (e.g., learning the scales and how to read music). Even if you're not learning on your favorite instrument you can transfer that knowledge the other instrument. If you don't know theory that's okay, play anyway!
How do I find people to play with?
Talk to your friends (and friends of friends) to see who else has been playing music or wants to. You can also put up a sign at a local music store, coffee shop, bookstore, etc. On the sign you should give some examples of the music you like, name the positions available ("Looking for keyboard player and bass guitar player"), and how much musical experience the musicians should have. It's probably best to play with people who are all at about the same level and learn together. Don't worry if you feel like you don't know enough. My drum teacher told me I should start playing with other people as soon as I learned a basic beat.