When I first received the Roland Rhythm Coach, I believed I had a fairly decent sense of rhythm and could keep a beat. However, after using it, I've realized how much I need this machine. As a practice pad and trainer, it offers a variety of tools to make drumming and practicing both enjoyable and worth your time.

I am by no means a drummer nor claim to be. I would however, like to strengthen my skills so I began using the Roland Rhythm Coach. After opening it, I ran through the manual to find a wide range of programs to work on ranging from keeping time and dynamic changes, to stroke consistency and hitting on the beat. The internal grading system as well as a tap meter help you improve your hits, showing whether you are consistently ahead or behind the beat. Each program has varying difficulty levels to move up to. The controls are very easy to use as well. Whether I want to tap a tempo, change it manually, or change a program, it's all only one click away. I was also able to choose from 40 different hit sounds ranging from snare to cowbell to keep things interesting.

The 1/8" input allowed me some benefits in practice as well. I plugged my mp3 player in and was able to play along to some of my favorite songs. If a student had a play along CD he wanted to use, he or she could easily plug it in and play along using headphones. Overall it's a great tool to learn how to keep tempo and play drums!

First of all, I am a recording engineer, not a drummer. So I picked the RMP-5 knowing I had no internal groove. Ideal customer for this, right? Turns out, yes. As I unpacked the trainer I noticed there was no power supply, but a battery. Hmmm, is this good? Well, as I got going I realized I didn't have to be plugged in to anything, which was great. With just the trainer and my headphones, I was mobile.

I got to the sounds and started scrolling through snares. The selection of drum sounds is great for a trainer. You can also change the metronome sounds too. This is helpful, because some are easier to hear than others when you are trying to stay with the beat. The triangle is good for me. It is piercing my brain telling me to get with the beat.

The coach button is COOL! Okay, the boring demo has just turned into a fun game of "Can I get better?" This one button makes every penny worth it! It gives you various training routines to run through to practice your chops. The first is, straight up, stay with the click. As you hit the pad, it tells you if you are on, behind, or ahead. Sounds easy, huh? The challenge could keep you going for hours! Another routine starts you playing with the click and then it drops out for a bit. When it comes back in it checks to see if you stayed in tempo without the click. Very cool practice routine!

All in all, because this thing makes practicing a game, you could end up practicing more than you ever dreamed. I may get one if I ever decide to become a conga player!