Anybody have any advice for a young drummer?

[elocs]

Not me, but my daughter who just turned 15. She has had lessons for nearly 5 years now and does play in a rock group with some of her friends. She is very serious about her drumming and has a set of DWs at home and another set of cheaper drums she uses for gigs (meaning playing at friends' houses) and hauling around. This winter she will probably start at the School of Rock which just got a branch started in Chicago where she lives. Like I said, she is very serious about drumming, so I wonder how far she could go and what her tact should be? Just practice, practice, practice, or try and take music at a college after high school or what? If this is her dream, I want her to pursue it. If she is doing something she loves and can make a living doing it, then she will never work a day in her life. She may never be rich, but if she is happy with what she is doing, then she is far ahead of most people. She can read music and being a tall (5'10") and good looking female with long, red hair does not hurt either.

[Ron Green]

1. Learn to swing before you learn to rock.

As a bass player, that would be my advice to any beginning drummer.

[elocs]

2. She is way beyond a beginning drummer.

She has had lessons every week for years and has even got a couple of 1+s in the State of Illinois drumming competition. Drumming is her dream and she works hard and practices at it. She is just 15 and I in no way want to discourage her in pursuing her dream. She has another 3 years of high school left and I am not sure what she will do then. I imagine when she is older that she will be getting drumming jobs, but I am not sure how long she should go after graduation strictly in that direction or if she should maybe look to go to school for music. No matter what, I am sure that drumming will always be an important part of her life. She has a great drum set now that should be good for many years.

[bullimiami]

3. practice and play with others. parental support and positive reinforcement

after that is tenacity, talent and a lot of luck.

good for her and good for you for supporting and enjoying it.

[pepperbear]

4. music is a hard biz BUT....

with perserverence, she can rock. YES, take music in college even if as a minor.

[HEAVYHEART]

5. None

I have no advice. I just wanted to tell you that I commend you for supporting her drumming. I wanted to play drums when I was 15 but my parents wouldn't allow it. You rock! :yourock:

[elocs]

6. My daughter went to a music/arts symposium at Northwestern

this past week and now she is all fired up about going to Northwestern and she wants to work to get her grades up and her SAT score. Her mother works at the Northwestern University Hospital and so she would get a big break on her tuition if she makes it into that school. It is nice to see her attitude about school and academics changing. Last year, as a freshman, she was into the school's many cliques and did not want to be a "preppy". Her definition of a preppy is somebody who does well in school. What a counter productive educational attitude to fit into a group in the here and now. At least now she is seeing the advantage of doing well in school for her long term future, goals, and dreams.

[sam sarrha]

7. get some 'classical' training with a good teacher not AC/DC, and practice a lot

the classical training will give you the essentials to do anything correctly, if you acquire bad habits you may be ruined for life

[outofbounds]

8. That is great.

For a 10 year old to devote to learning an instrument is great but to stick with it for 5 years is awesome. When I was 10 I couldn't pick one of anything. I was in to everything for short periods of time. It seems to me that she knows exactly what she wants to do and is doing the right things to pursue her dream. You on the other hand know that all dreams don't always pan out the way we want them to, but to support her in her goals is terrific. Its what parents are supposed to do. And in this day and age its pretty rare. She can always play the drums regardless of what job she may have at the time. Eventually her job will be playing the drums. Hats off to both of you.