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When children show interest in playing drums or taking drum lessons, parents may find themselves wondering “Is my child ready or old enough to learn drums?”. The honest answer is that there is no standard or perfect age for children to learn how to play drums, or even begin music lessons generally. Starting music lessons at a young age does have its benefits and drawbacks, but it is important for parents to manage their expectations based on the age of the child and their skill sets.
When trying to decide the appropriate time for children to start learning how to play the drums, there are three factors that are worth considering. After proper consideration has been given to the factors, then parents can use the best drum set reviews to guide their choice of which drum set to purchase for their child.
- The physical development of the child
The first point of consideration is whether the child has the strength and physical coordination to hold the drum sticks. This is the starting point for any child who wants to take drum lessons.
In a situation where the child does not yet possess the strength and coordination skills, some other ways of introducing the concept of rhythm can be employed. These include drumming on the lap with hands on the thighs, tapping of the foot, and the use of small hand drums. These methods help introduce the child to how to use their limbs to create rhythm.
Kids who are able to hold drum sticks still may experience some difficulty at first with how to control their arms and move their hands to create a rhythm. However, with time, their motor skills develop and limb coordination is enhanced.
- How long they can be attentive
Kids are known for having short attention spans and being unable to pay attention to new or challenging tasks for long periods. As a result, learning how to play the drums may require short sessions and brief lessons which may then increase as the passion and skills of the child for the activity grows.
Sometimes, mixing things up by incorporating some other relevant fresh and exciting activities helps. Such activities may include having the child mimic a drum pattern after it is played, dancing, or watching music instrument performances. The break from the lesson and switch in attention helps refresh the mind of the child and gives them needed vigor to continue the drum lesson.
- The academic skills of the child
As children grow, their academic skills improve. As a result, it is advisable to focus on general hand-eye coordination and ear training in the child’s early years. Reliance on printed music materials may not be helpful for young children because they may not be able to comprehend the theoretical fundamentals of music at tender ages. In addition, just like school classrooms, the drum lessons must be progressive in nature and start out with simpler sessions.
With the above factors considered, every parent should be able to better answer the question of whether their child is ready to play the drums or not.
