"Dad can I use your old drums to learn on?"

[DrumWhipper]

"Dad, can I use your old drums to learn on?"

As previously noted I have a new kit on the way. I have been trying to decide if I wanted to keep the current kit I am playing with now, or get rid of it.

Lo and behold my 9 year old son asks me if he can have it to learn on. I told him I have had thoughts of getting rid of it, and I saw the lump come up in his throat and his eyes starting to water.

That was enough for me. I told him I'm not going to set up the full six pieces, but I'll let him use the kick and snare to continue learning to keep time and sit in the pocket. Once I'm satisfied with that, I will add some toms to the configuration.

Needless to say he is very excited, and is telling everyone that he is getting his own kit to learn on.

[drummer]

Good dad!

[SpazApproved]

That's awesome! Great job dad!

[nubdrummer]

That's a great approach. Giving him a simple kit to start with will help him focus on the fundamentals, and give him incentive to practice and improve in order to be rewarded by you gradually adding pieces. That way you'll know he is serious about learning and not just enamored with the cool shiny things.

[OldeEnglishD]

That is awesome! Great job dad!

[Olimpass]

Been there, done that DrumWhipper.
I've always had a kit my son could play when he wanted to.

[NPYYZ]

"Dad, can I use your old drums to learn on?"

As previously noted I have a new kit on the way. I have been trying to decide if I wanted to keep the current kit I am playing with now, or get rid of it.

Lo and behold my 9 year old son asks me if he can have it to learn on. I told him I have had thoughts of getting rid of it, and I saw the lump come up in his throat and his eyes starting to water.

That was enough for me. I told him I'm not going to set up the full six pieces, but I'll let him use the kick and snare to continue learning to keep time and sit in the pocket. Once I'm satisfied with that, I will add some toms to the configuration.

Needless to say he is very excited, and is telling everyone that he is getting his own kit to learn on.

I'd also give him a rack tom and floor tom, why limit his creativity? The ability to do fills around a kit is equally important as keeping time with the kick and snare is it not?

[DrumWhipper]

I'd also give him a rack tom and floor tom, why limit his creativity? The ability to do fills around a kit is equally important as keeping time with the kick and snare is it not?

Because he needs to learn to keep time and sit in the pocket before ever trying to play fills.

I've done this method with several students, and the ones who follow it end up doing better in the long run.