Drum lessons for children are becoming increasingly popular. Recent advances in electronic drum technology and sound reduction also mean that this enjoyable yet often maligned instrument can be enjoyed while maintaining household peace.
With more parents and neighbors working from home, having a drummer in the house may seem somewhat intrusive.
However, with more options than even for sound proofing and the availability of electronic drums, having a young drummer in the house can be less of a concern. Learning the drums is a lot of fun, and your child will learn other valuable life lessons along the way.
We've compiled a list of five frequently asked questions to help you decide if this fantastic instrument could have a place in your home.
It's a good idea to sit with your child and watch our free course preview. This will give you an idea of whether our approach is a good fit for you and whether your child will enjoy learning drums online.
We have kept our videos short and understandable, with realistic goals and a thoughtful, step-by-step approach. We're also on hand to answer any questions you may have along the way.
As most drum lessons are taught on full-sized drum sets, it is essential that children can reach the foot pedals on the set while sitting comfortably. For many youngsters, this can be from around age seven onwards, although it can be later in age for some children, which does vary on an individual basis. You might consider an undersized junior kit for kids younger than this.
Learning the drums develops competency in counting, fundamental problem solving, and understanding rhythm. We teach rhythm through counting exercises. If your child is comfortable with counting and counting aloud, they can handle basic drum lessons.
We recommend looking at our free course preview. This is most likely where you will start; developing individual limbs, coordination, and counting out loud. The content in this 10-minute video would typically take one hour in a one-to-one lesson with a drum teacher, and 90% of children can play this beat after an hour of assisted practice. How do we know this? Our Founder and Presenter, Simon DasGupta, is a drum teacher with over 20 years of experience, and he created Drum Ambition based on his experience working with adults and children alike.
Younger drum students also learn important skills relating to patience, time management, and self-control when learning instruments. All musical instruments require a significant amount of patience and persistence, and drums are no different. Each student will experience periods of growth, natural plateaus, minor setbacks, and major victories. It can be a roller coaster that can test your patience and resolve, but the rewards are hugely satisfying, and the experience is a lot of fun.
Learning drums can also develop good time management habits. For example, planning and committing to regular practice time and developing routines are good skills for our youngsters to learn. When learning drums, your children also learn important self-control disciplines. This can include the drum set's physical control, listening skills (to parents and teachers), and commitment.
The short answer here is no, but it does help. All lessons you see on Drum Ambition can be played on a practice pad or through air drumming. Since the early days are primarily about building coordination and understanding rhythm, you can get by without a set.
That said, students who do not have access to drum sets tend to lose interest after a few months. You don't need to spend a small fortune to get started. A used drum set, basic starter package, or entry-level electronic drum set will be more than adequate. It will allow you to assess how serious your child is about drumming before making a more expensive purchase later.
We can help you choose between electronic and acoustic drums and other essential household considerations, such as sound control. If you're actively looking to purchase your first drum set, this article can help too.
Most children make good progress early on as the basics are quickly achievable, and the enthusiasm level is at its peak. It is natural for children to become less enthused, often temporarily, as the instrument becomes more challenging.
Parents should be prepared for this and understand that watching regular video lessons, establishing a practice routine, and parental supervision can make a big difference. Once parents see how much fun their children have behind the drum set, it's often not long before they pick up the sticks and have a go for themselves!
The videos in Drum Ambition are a perfect start for your child. Again, we recommend checking out our course preview to see if we are a good fit for you.
Drum Ambition is also perfect for parents who do not have geographic access to a teacher, have time constraints, have budgetary considerations, or want to test the water before investing in lesson time.
If you have a local drum teacher, you should also consider them as an option. Weekly or bi-weekly lessons are recommended for beginners. We've written about the benefits in this article. Some local teachers also offer Zoom lessons, and can be worth considering, providing you are aware of the possible limitations of these sessions.
“I have never encountered a book this complete. It has everything you need to start your life-changing journey.”
“An easy basic read that answers a lot of questions for new or aspiring drummers that may not have access to a local expert.”
“I really liked this book. The sharing of tips learned on the author's journey is really inspiring and encouraging.”
