Vintage Drum

Kids Drumsets: Beating A Path To Success

Mention “kids” and “drumset” in the same sentence, and most parents are likely to run to the hills in terror. Frankly, they’re running in the wrong direction.

The irony is that these are frequently the same parents who have watched their children laugh, dance, and sing when they hear music. Yes, our kids know what’s good for them—and in more ways than you can imagine!

Countless studies have directly correlated the pursuit of music education with academic achievement.  In other words, children who study a musical instrument—especially from an early age—do better in school than children who do not.

Yet while parents are fine with the idea of music education, that somehow doesn’t extend to playing on a drumset. This may be a holdover from the days when the public’s perception of a band was “ten musicians…and a drummer.” Or it may be the idea that a drumset is too complicated a piece of equipment for a young child to master. Or—and this is the likeliest possibility—it may be that most parents equate “drums” with “loud and annoying.”

The truth is that learning to play a drumset at an early age, when motor skills are being honed, is actually easier than it would be later on. In addition, playing the drums affords a child most of the advantages gained by playing any other instrument—and many that other instruments can’t offer.

In addition to the studies connecting musical pursuits with academic achievements, there have been others that stress the importance of movement to the development of a child’s brain and the ability to perform higher cognitive functions. Researcher Linda Hartley wrote in her book Wisdom Of The Body Moving that “movement is in fact essential for the future physical, sensory, perceptual, psychological, and mental development of the child.” Playing a drumset helps to develop and enhance alternate hand and foot motion, hand-eye coordination, and overall flexibility. No other instrument calls for such a total involvement of the body.

Studies have also shown that a child’s sense of timing—that is, the ability to feel and express a steady beat—dramatically affects speech flow, motor tasks, sports skills, and other important developmental characteristics. Playing the drums is almost as much an athletic endeavor as it is a musical one.

In addition, drumming is based on the mathematical concepts of rhythm. Individuals—of any age—who master these concepts tend to be more organized in their thinking and more structured in the pursuit of their goals.

Movement, timing, rhythm…these are the very basis of playing the drums. How better to help a young child develop these important characteristics than on an instrument that owes its existence to them?

And let’s not forget the fun factor. Playing a drumset is an outlet for emotional as well as physical release, which every child needs. We live in an age when energetic outdoor playground activities are frequently replaced by sedentary ones like watching television, and when “Rock Band” refers to a video game instead of a group of like-minded musicians. Any pursuit that combines physical exercise with creative expression—like playing a drumset—should be encouraged whenever possible.

Fortunately, it’s possible right now, thanks to the existence of kid-sized drumkits. Rather than being toys, kids drumsets are genuine musical instruments scaled down to accommodate players from three to eleven years old. They’re inexpensive enough to be purchased on a “let’s see how he/she likes it” basis, and they’re “real” enough to be enticing and exciting for a young player. As for the “loud and annoying” factor, that can be controlled with a little padding or tape. (Try doing that with a PlayStation.)

Junior drum sets offer young children an opportunity for mental and physical development, creative expression, and emotional release. And who knows? They might even be the first step on the way to a long and stellar career.

Additional information about selecting the best drum set for your child can be found on the Vintage Drum Center website.

About the Author

Ned Ingberman, has years of experience as a professional musician, drum instructor, appraiser and repair technician. He studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and has contributed numerous technical articles to Modern Drummer Magazine. Ned is the founder and president of Vintage Drum Center, an online source for all of your percussion needs.

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