Why Children Under Seven Shouldn’t Drum

It’s been suggested that children under seven shouldn’t drum. Well I’m here to argue against that point and say it’s complete and utter lies! Over twenty years of teaching I have taught many children from age 5 upwards and it’s been a huge honour to get them on their way and then experience the journey with them as they develop and become young adults with an amazing drumming ability.

And then to watch them use that skill which they’ve developed since such a young age to build social networks, build confidence, go out and get gigging with bands and, in some cases, earn money by using that skill as their profession is the biggest joy of being a drum teacher.

So why does someone say children under seven shouldn’t drum?

I honestly don’t know but let’s tackle some of the myths that I’ve read along the way.

Children under seven are not developed enough to learn the drums

Codswallop! In the early stages the progress is certainly slower but the key is to set learning speeds and choose content that works for the age group. And that is the job of the teacher for any age and ability. It’s crucial to go at a speed that works for the student and teach the material in a manner that is engaging and fun.

It’s too hard to effectively communicate with children under seven

Codswallop! Those same children go to school and learn things, they communicate with their parents who teach them things. They are very able to communicate and listen well enough but the key is about finding a common language. The lesson content will be simplified and the language used will be simplified to make it appropriate for that age group.

Children under seven don’t have the fine motor skills required for drumming

Codswallop! Young children actually seem to have an amazing ability to take on new ideas and translate them through their hands. They come without the preconceptions of an older person so they absorb the information incredibly quickly. They have the required motor skills and physical ability to play the rhythms that are being taught. And I find that as they get older, to the point when other kids might be starting to learn an instrument, they have this huge head start in understanding and ability so their new physical development enables them to race on to the next stage.

Children under seven are too small for a big drum kit

Codswallop! OK maybe that one is a little bit true but there are ways around it. One possibility is learning just the hand parts at first until they can reach the pedals. Another option is using the smaller electronic kit that I have in the studio for this exact reason. Drumming is not size-ist and every person, big or small, can be a great drummer.

Drums are not the right instrument for children under seven

You guessed it…..codswallop! Drumming is the best instrument to get fast results. Many uninitiated people view drumming as a simple, neanderthal’s instrument, which of course isn’t true but then I would say that. Playing drums to the highest level goes as deep technically and theoretically as any instrument. But it is one of the easiest instruments upon which to get fast results and feel like a real musician. You can get to the initial fun stage very quickly with drumming and that’s important for youngsters who have a limited concentration span.

As you can see, there is quite a lot of codswallop being spoken on this topic and that is a very serious matter. But now we’ve set things straight if you want to arrange drum lessons for someone under the age of seven or over that age then contact us or use the form below.