As a drummer, your main job is to keep time. In a band situation all the fancy fills, rolls and drum solos will mean nothing if you have poor time.

This is why I think it's important to work on your technique, especially as a beginner.

When I am sitting behind my kit and my posture is correct, my toms and cymbals are at a height and angle that I can reach comfortably without stretching or being cramped. I can perform a roll around my toms without interfering with my cymbals, my snare is at a height that I can execute a rim shot and is at a slight angle facing toward me, my high\hats are situated at a comfortable height (I have my high\hats quite high. Experiment with different heights) and are positioned so I can perform a full blooded roll on my snare, without interfering with my hats. I am seated, not too far back or too  close 
and cramped, from my kit, I have warmed up and stretched,

I'M READY TO PLAY

You are looking at a top view of how I sit. I have set the sticks at a point in my swing where they pass through each other. This cross is very important. I tell my beginners to always check for this cross. After a while it comes automatically and the need for me to remind them is gone.

The next photograph, 
is a shot from a different angle of my swing, playing high\hat and snare. The left hand swing cuts through the right hand swing. This is done for slow and medium speed feels or grooves.

If the feel is quick, the right hand moves slightly toward my right shoulder and my left had does not cut through my right hand swing anymore, . The quicker the speed of the song the smaller the arc (distance between the tip of the stick and striking surface ). My left hand moves forward and I'm a little more tucked in. As the speed increases and more energy is required. I concentrate on relaxing. I also like to keep my breathing even with decent size breaths, especially with quicker songs.

TIP As a beginner don't try and strike your drums too hard. Concentrate on playing smoothly and evenly. Speed and power comes later.