So, you’ve got a budding drummer on your hands. You’ve signed them up for lessons and bought a drum set and they seemed to love it at first but now they want to quit? Don’t fret!
While quitting can be an emotional roller coaster for parents, there are some steps you can take that will help you understand what’s going on with your child and how best to support them.
Is Drumming Good for Kids?
Drumming can be an effective way to teach kids valuable lessons not just about music, but also life and social skills. Not to mention it’s simply a lot of fun, plus:
- Research has shown that drumming is capable of promoting positive growth in many areas. It increases brain development over time, as well as physical motor skills.
- Drumming improves the capability for abstract reasoning.
- It boosts memory and cognitive functioning.
- Drumming encourages discipline and responsibility.
- Learning to drum promotes self-expression and creativity, and even helps with stress management.
- Playing drums can help foster camaraderie and teamwork when performed as part of a group class or band situation.
All these benefits make for a compelling argument to suggest that parents should strongly consider giving their kids the opportunity to drum!
Still looking for ways to inspire your child to continue lessons on drums for kids? Sign up for live drum lessons for kids with an inspiring teacher – and encourage your child to watch drumming videos like the one below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1GHGg7KB6E
How Do You Start Drumming for Kids?
Drumming is an incredible way to stay active and entertained, but it can be a bit intimidating for anyone who’s new to the craft. And when it comes to getting your kids involved in drumming? It’s a whole other ball game. But fear not! We’ve got some tips that will help you get your child started on the drums in no time. Read on!
Find the Right Drum Set for Kids
Finding the right drum set is an important first step when you start drumming with kids. Look for something lightweight, easy-to-set up, and durable enough to withstand the occasional bumps and bruises that come with learning how to play.
You should also consider the size of your child’s hands; if they’re too small, they might struggle with certain pieces of equipment. There are plenty of options out there, so make sure you do your research before making a purchase.
Sign Up for Drum Classes for Kids, Specifically
Now that you have all the necessary equipment, it’s time to find some instruction! Look into local music schools or online classes specifically designed for children. This will ensure that what your child is learning is age-appropriate and tailored to their skill level. They will learn about rhythm, technique, and different styles of playing in a fun environment.
Plus, having a professional instructor who can provide feedback will give them an extra boost of confidence as they progress through their lessons.
Consider Online Drum Lessons for Kids
If traditional classes don’t fit into your schedule—or if there aren’t any available locally—online lessons are another great option. Many sites offer interactive tools such as video lessons and virtual practice pads that make learning from home easier than ever before. Plus, many offer pre recorded audio lessons so you can keep track of your child’s progress without having to actively participate in each lesson yourself!
Play Drum Games for Kids (and Find Other Ways to Keep it Light)
Learning how to play drums can be serious business—but it doesn’t have to be all work and no play! Try finding different drum games online or even just taking turns playing rhythms together as a family activity at night or during weekends. Keeping things lighthearted (while still focusing on proper technique) is key when introducing children to a new instrument like this one!
Be Consistent
Finally, consistency is key when starting out with drums—especially with young kids who may get easily discouraged or bored by repetition without seeing tangible results right away. Make practicing part of their regular routine so they get used to putting in effort every day and can see how far they’ve come over time!
Drums for Kids: How to Convince Your Child to Keep Practicing
Now you know everything you need to know about how to start drums for kids. But what happens when your child suddenly loses interest?
Parents, you know that your child’s likes, dislikes, and interests can change at the drop of a hat. Maybe your toddler started by banging on your pots and pans on the kitchen floor, and went on to develop a strong affinity to rhythm-making in the years that followed – so much so that you took the plunge, bought a drum set, and enrolled your little Dave Lombardo into private drumming lessons. You’ve put up with a lot of loud after-dinner practice sessions, then fewer, and fewer, until you heard: “I want to quit playing the drums.”
Even if there’s a part of you yearning for a quiet home life, what’s the right thing to do? How should a supportive parent handle the issue of quitting ahead of mastering a musical skill? Is it okay to let your tween give up on something simply because it’s getting increasingly difficult? Or should you force them to continue playing the drums purely because you’re against the concept of quitting? Or because you understand the benefits of drums for kids that your aspiring rock star will thank you for later? Let’s explore a few suggestions you could consider if you find yourself wanting to encourage your child to keep playing the drums…
Understanding Your Child’s Feelings
First things first, it’s important to remember that if your child wants to quit drums, this doesn’t mean they don’t like music. It could be any number of things—a lack of motivation, or difficulty picking up on the lessons.
Talk with your child about why they want to quit and try to get an understanding of what motivated them in the first place. This will help you figure out what is causing the sudden change in interest and give you insight into how best to approach the situation.
Talk to Your Child
When you hear moans and groans about practice (or no drum practice at all), it’s time to start doing your own investigation. Your first stop should be your child. Talk to them about why they feel like quitting, in a relaxed environment – perhaps take them on a low-key ice cream date. When it comes to quitting drums for kids there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, because every little rock star has his or her own personality and musical sensibility. Try to figure out the underlying reasons for this new lack of interest by asking a few questions:
- Why do you feel like quitting?
- Are you finding lessons too difficult?
- What exactly are you finding difficult?
- Do you want to play another instrument perhaps?
- Are you interested in trying out a different hobby altogether?
The most common response is perhaps hitting a roadblock with a particular beat or area of rhythm development. This, however, can be addressed with our next suggestion.
Chat With Your Child’s Drumming Instructor
Having a conversation with your child’s drumming instructor (without your child around) can help you gain insight into what’s happening during lessons. Be honest with the teacher about your child’s lack of interest or desire to quit; the odds are that they have probably noticed a behavior change by now anyway. By addressing this as a team, you can both give special attention to the area that your kid is possibly struggling with – maybe they can spend more time on it in class and you can offer positive reinforcement around it when your child practices at home.
If in your initial conversation with your child, their response was related to their instructor, then be sensible when you address this issue. Perhaps discuss technique or teaching methodology in relation to what you know about your child’s learning style and personality. Remember that while you are not an expert on drums for kids, you do know your child best and can offer suggestions about the best way to encourage him or her. There should be a team effort from all the adults involved, as well as the child in terms of extra effort.
Giving Encouragement
Once you understand why your child wants to quit drums, it’s time to provide some encouragement. Remind them that learning new skills or taking on challenges can be difficult at first but that with practice comes mastery.
Let them know that you recognize their effort so far and that you believe in their ability to continue if they choose too. Reassure them that no matter what happens, you love and support them—and drumming or not, music will always be something special for both of you.
Get Inspired Together
Make a deliberate effort to expose your kid to great drumming – even better if it somehow relates to drums for kids or teenagers. Go to concerts or experience a few fun workshops, perhaps; do whatever you need to do to get those hands and feet tapping again! You can get really out of the box here by even doing a family djembe drumming workshop or something similar. Another great idea is to do some homework on YouTube. Try finding a few awesome drum tutorials online or solos performed by kids at a similar age to your child. Watching these clips together may inspire your little drummer to get back at it! This combination of formal drum lessons for kids with a dash of fun or social drumming could be just the thing your child needs.
Change Up the Music
Consider learning more about the kinds of beats your child gravitates toward. He or she might have a flair for something you may not be familiar with; you can then listen to the music together in the car or at home, which will keep your child excited and inspired. You can also try chatting with your child’s drumming instructor about finding a way to work some of these pieces into a lesson a two.
Encourage Home Practice
After you’ve gone through some of these steps and your kid has agreed to stick to drumming lessons, it’s crucial that you create a positive atmosphere around home practice. Learning any musical instrument requires a high level of discipline, and practice must be placed in the mandatory section of your kid’s to-do list. It should fall under the same bracket as normal homework.
The parents of many a drumming legend have walked the same road you’re on today. Be patient and stay positive – it will be worth all the hard work and effort. Most people look back on music lessons fondly, even if they struggled at the time. Later on in life, your child will appreciate the extra push you gave to them!
Exploring New Options
Sometimes it helps when kids find something else related to music that still allows them to explore their creative side while also having fun. If they express interest in exploring other musical avenues such as singing or playing an instrument like guitar or piano, look into local classes or teachers who offer lessons in those areas as well. Who knows? Maybe this could open up a whole new world of music exploration for your child!
Quitting Drums For Kids – When To Throw in the Towel
While band instruments such as drums can be a great learning experience for kids, there also comes a time when it is best to throw in the towel and switch disciplines. Although quitting can be difficult and emotional, there are a few signs that can help you know when it is time to move on.
If your child is consistently frustrated or unmotivated during their practice sessions, or if they do not appear interested in enrolling in advanced levels of the instrument or playing with ensembles, it may be necessary to step away from the drums and give up on drum lessons.
At the end of the day, if your child isn’t enjoying what they are doing, it’s always best to let them pursue something new that inspires them and brings out their passion!
When it comes down to it, quitting isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it’s all about finding what works best for each individual person. If drums aren’t working for your child anymore, then it might be time for them (and even you!) explore different options within the realm of music-making instead!
With just a bit of guidance from supportive adults and some searching around online or locally, your kid might stumble upon something truly special—something unique just for them!
Either way though, remember that the most important thing is that your child has fun while making beautiful music along the way!
Photo by Joseph Choi
Suzy S.