All music instructors, coaches, and teachers chant “Better late than never” and “The earlier, the better”, but when is truly the right time for an individual to start taking music lessons? More specifically, when should a child begin taking drum lessons?
Drums are considerably more complex and “physical” compared to guitars and basses. Even so, children are drawn to drums and virtually anything percussive, whether it be jars, pots, or pans simply because they can make loud noises.
To quickly answer the question – the age of four is ideal for kids to pick up the drumsticks and start rocking out on a kit. If you’re interested in learning why, we’ve asked drum coaches from The Music Box, Tampa’s leading music school, why 4-year-old kids could benefit the most from taking drum lessons from such an early age.
Through Drums, Kids Channel their Overflowing Energy
All kids have more energy than adults, but 4-year-old kids tend to be even more spirited than average. That’s because children have more control over their bodies at this age; they’d run, jump, and bounce faster even earlier, but they simply didn’t know how to do it.
Your 4-year-old kid will be even more active the more they play (and essentially “exercise” at the same time), and this is a perfect opportunity to find an activity for your child to channel this energy into.
Kids are rarely attracted to “passive” hobbies and would pick action-packed activities any day of the week. Give your child a drum set, and they’ll get to pour all of that overflowing energy into something creative and productive. Check out The Music Box Facebook page if you want to see what some of our youngest students have learned so far.
Children Can Use Drums to Explore the World Around Them
With better control over their limbs, 4-year-olds begin investigating more tactile elements of the world. They will pick up various objects, experiment with a variety of throwing “techniques”, flail their arms to mimic cartoon shows, and do anything that seems fun.
It’s just a matter of time until they discover drumming, whether it be by tapping their hands against the couch, your kitchen appliances, or a real set of drums.
It’s not that kids “love” making a ruckus. They essentially “compete” with ambient sounds, trying to create more noise than anything near them. Drums are perfect for 4-year-olds because they’ll “win” this competition without a real contest, enabling them to focus on whichever task they’ve set their minds to.
At The Music Box, our drum coaches excel in helping children find a balanced, grounded approach to drumming, aiding them in their educative journey while ensuring everyone has fun. Swing by our Instagram page if you want to see how we do it.
Drums Promote Accelerated Development of Crucial Life Skills
As a toddler, your child has discovered and gained various new skills. Upon reaching the age of 4, the development of skills like speaking, communicating, and interacting with others starts to blossom.
Four-year-olds also gain a range of motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination, running, and walking on their own. Children who are also drummers are subconsciously improving the aforementioned skills since they’re engaging with the drum set both mentally and physically.
For non-musicians, playing drums is little more than smashing sticks against pieces of wood and metal. To children, drumming is a game, and as such, they’ll explore all the possible ways to make this activity as fun as possible. They’ll think about what they can do, how they can do it, and when should they do anything new on the kit.
The Music Box drum coaches have spent years helping 4-year-old and older kids (as well as adults) become masterful drummers. We’re here to help your child harness their true potential and have a great time, so check out our TikTok page if you want to see what an average drumming session looks like at The Music Box.
Aren’t 4-Year-Old Kids Too Young to Play Drums?
A standard full-sized drum set might not be suitable for a 4-year-old child, but fortunately, there are plenty of junior kits designed to cater to the needs of the youngest players.
Upon reaching the age of four, children have numerous options before them when it comes to extracurricular activities. Some choose football; some pick volleyball, others sing, dance, or play outside. Many 4-year-olds choose drums because this instrument is a perfect outlet for all the excess energy children tend to have.
The Importance of a Good Drum Coach
Some virtuosic individuals are lucky enough to be self-taught drummers and succeed in learning the ropes on their own. For the majority of kids, drums are a complex contraption that can be difficult to wrap your head around.
That’s where The Music Box comes in. We’re Tampa, Florida’s premier music school, and we harness decades of combined experience to deliver you and your child the most comprehensive music education possible at highly approachable prices.
Back to the original question, why is it important to find a dependable drum coach for your child? Simply put, kids will fall “out” of love with any instrument if they don’t even know where to start. Without proper guidance, even the simplest of techniques can be a cause of frustration.
With premium gear, the best drum coaches around, and a place where learning and fun coexist in perfect harmony, The Music Box warmly invites you to become a part of a budding community of musicians-in-the-making and their trusty coaches.
Welcome to The Music Box: Begin Your Drum-Learning Journey and Enroll Today
Our drum classes are already firing on all cylinders, but even so, we’re accepting new students and want you to be a part of our ever-growing family. If you’re a parent seeking the best drum education for your child in Florida, you can find us at 4321 Gunn Highway, Carrollwood; we’d be happy to give you a tour.
Whenever you’re ready to join The Music Box, just tap this link.