I don't know of too many kids, mine included, that have seen a drummer on stage and haven't wanted to bang on the drum set a bit. For some this is a passing fancy. For others, the want to play the drums just grows. Buying a drum set for your son or daughter doesn't mean breaking the bank or shopping for aspirin in bulk.
Kid-Sized Drum Sets
If your child is under the age of around 10, you can pick up a new
childs drum set for around
$50 to $150 (the latter is for a 3/4 "junior" drum set). That's new! You can find used drums
for even less. These sets typically include all of the cymbals, thrones, and stands that he or
she will need to get started.
Lessons, Not Le$$on$
While lessons are beneficial and can help your child get started with the basic fundamentals, you
don't necessarily have to hire someone to teach your child how to play. There are many videos, CDs,
and books that can be found online which will help them learn to play the drum set. As a self-taught
drummer, I'm a big advocate of mixing formal lessons (e.g. face-to-face, videos, CDs, or books)
with some good old-fashioned playing. Just let them play along to their favorite CD. This is much
more motivating than playing the same rudiment over and over again. Practice needs to be fun.
The Sound of Silence...
By now you're probably thinking that your son or daughter can't play the drums because of the noise.
Maybe you can tolerate it, but you're worried about the neighbors. This doesn't have to be a concern.
There are many manufacturers who make rubber pads that can be placed on the drums and cymbals which
will allow your child to play at a much lower volume. I've used products like these when I was
living in apartments and never once had a neighbor comment about the noise.
So there you go. It's a great hobby that they can have for the rest of their life which keeps them out of trouble and away from the TV. There's no need to worry about your head or your pocketbook if your child wants to play the drums.