Drumming with my niece Morgan
At the music school where I teach, there is a pre-school program. There is an art class for five year olds that meets in the afternoon. Every week I have the pleasure of seeing young faces peer through the window and smile as they watch and listen to me and my students playing the drums.
Rhythm is contagious… the sound of the drum calls people. It is more than a sound, it is a deeper vibration. This vibration is healing and can reach us in a subconscious way.
Many children have begun playing drums as young as three years old. It raises the question that I am frequently asked by parents, “when is the right age to start formal lessons?”
Jaiden is always ready to play some drums
Every circumstance is different and requires a unique approach. I am in favor of starting children at a young age, and drumming is a great introduction to rhythm and musicality. The right age is when the child expresses an interest in drumming. There is no “right age”. From my experiences with students, I know that the child will ask several times to begin playing drums. Several times. Several times.
Get started… I would suggest having a hand drum in the home for children to play. Find a drum circle near you that is open to young children. This is a great way for children (and adults!) to experience rhythm making. Hand drumming is an important foundation. I find that most children that come to me for lessons want to play the drum set. I teach a drum circle class that serves as an introduction to drumming and functions as a segue to individual drum set lessons. This video shows how enthusiastic the children are about drumming, and in fact, over half of the students continued on to take drum set lessons with me.
So just get started, and most importantly, let’s encourage children, no matter what age, to drum!
I honor all of the parents who have encouraged and supported their children in discovering their path to rhythm.
7 comments… add one
Fran October 29, 2009, 7:38 am
I loved your phrase at the end, honoring parents. It is a parents responsibility to guide their children, not just to impose their wishes upon them.
As parents, we need to give our children the freedom to explore their world, and develop their own paths….to rhythm!
Bernadette M Ayers November 4, 2009, 5:10 pm
Wonderful picture and thanks very much, expression is very important at a young age, especially through the arts. You are a great teacher and you recognize true potential at a young age,we need more enthusiastic and kind teachers such as yourself.
Adam November 4, 2009, 11:44 pm
@Fran,
You speak from a place of wisdom and experience!
@Bernadette,
Thank you for the kind words. I enjoy working with the young drummers because they help to keep me enthusiastic and inspired.
Wendy December 1, 2014, 8:04 am
My son is two and started drumming on EVERYTHING. Now that he is two, he has a small set, a medium size set, and an adult size 8 piece pearl set (his favorite). I do everything I can to encourage his talent, he really is a prodigy! But it’s becoming an obsession. He plays for hours on end and I almost feel as if I’m losing him to music. Remember, he’s only two. There are times that I have to physically pull him away kicking and screaming. Is there a way to incorporate a healthy balance with drumming and the rest of life? I honestly worry for him. I’ve never seen a focus so deeply on anything like my son and drums.
Adam Issadore December 1, 2014, 12:40 pm
@Wendy
Don’t worry too much! As your son gets older, I would encourage you to support him in pursuing his love of drums. Be cautious not to send him conflicting messages, such as “here is a new set of drums and cymbals for your birthday”, and then the message of “music is no way to make a living, you are ruining your life!”
I know this may sound extreme and I am saying this in a light hearted way. It is important for you to be comfortable with how you feel about him being involved with drumming and music.
souheil george February 24, 2015, 7:33 am
hi
just keep on encourging him and that what my parents tell me i was like and now i teach drums and played in famous local bands and made inernational concerts
Adam Issadore February 24, 2015, 7:51 am
Right on @Souheil George!