Children Children's Drum Lessons: Fun Facts & Ideas facts and ideas

• The drum is a member of the percussion group of instruments. It is also known as a membranophone ( an instrument that makes it’s sound by vibrating a stretched membrane)
• Drums are the worlds’ oldest instruments with the basic design remaining the same for thousands of years.
• There are many, many types of drums from the Aburkuwa (also known as the Abrukwa) from Ghana which is played with curved sticks to the cylindrical Chenda which is played in Hindu Temple festivals in parts of India.
• On our modern band and orchestral drums the drumhead is held onto the shell by a counterhoop (rim). This is held by a number of tuning screws called "tension rods" which screw into lugs placed evenly around the circumference. The head's tension can be adjusted by loosening or tightening the rods. The sound of a drum depends on several variables, including the material, shape, size and thickness of it’s shell, the counterhoop material, type of drumhead used and tension applied to it, position of the drum, location, and how it is struck.
• The most expensive drum kit ever sold at auction was a five-piece kit used by The Who's Keith Moon. It sold for £139,650 to a private US bidder at a Christie's auction in London in 2004. The buyer paid nine times the pre-sale estimate of £15,000.
• The largest drum ever made is a traditional Korean "CheonGo" drum. It is 5.54 m (18 ft. 2 in) wide, 5.96 m (19 ft. 6 in) tall and weighs 7 tonnes (15,432 lb. 5.76 oz.) It was created in South Korea in 2011. That’s a drum heavier than the average African Bull Elephant!
• The longest drum roll by an individual is 8 hours 1 min 17 seconds and was achieved by Christopher Anthony (USA) at a shopping centre in California, USA, in 2012. Christopher previously held this record in 2009. He played both an open and closed drum roll on a snare drum throughout the attempt. 

What should you be thinking about to help you choose the right drum teacher for your child?

• Drums are quite expensive and take up a lot of room. Do you have to buy a drum kit for your child straight away or are instruments available to borrow short term until you and your child are sure they want to continue with lessons? Maybe the teacher can put you in touch with someone with drums to sell.
• Do you need to buy music books or are these included in the price of the lessons? Do these need to be purchased in advance?
• Do you have to commit to booking a term of lessons or can you pay half-termly?
• Does your child want to play the drums ‘just for fun’ or would they like to take exams? Can the teacher accommodate either of these?

Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) – an internationally recognised education body based in London that provides examinations in music. 

Trinity Guildhall -Trinity College London.

LCM Examinations – a department of the London College of Music within the University of West London. 

Qualifications/ Grades - children

ABRSM – Grade 1-8 in percussion requires performance on either timpani or snare drum and on xylophone/Marimba/ vibraphone (with motor off )/ glockenspiel (Grade 1 and 2 only because of limited range)

Trinity Guildhall – Grade 1-8 in Drum Kit, Tuned Percussion, Snare Drum, Timpani and Orchestral Percussion. Also offers Certificate examinations as an alternative, performance-focused route. They contain no technical work or supporting tests, and are available for Drum Kit at three levels:

Foundation (standard around Grade 3)

Intermediate (standard around Grade 5)

Advanced (standard around Grade 8)

LCM – Grade 1-8 in Drum Kit, Tuned Percussion, Snare Drum, Timpani, Percussion.LCM Examinations are open to all. There are no minimum age restrictions, and the choice of repertoire is intended to appeal to candidates of all ages. However, in practice, whilst candidates of all ages enter for Grades 1-5, it is unlikely that candidates below 12 years will possess the musical maturity for success at Grades 6-8. Below are target ages/ LCM grades.

4 – 7 years - Grade 1 – 3

6 – 13 years - Grade 1 – 5

11 – 18+years - Grade 4 – 8

Qualifications of tutors/coaches etc

There is no minimum qualification required to teach music at home. However, passing grade 8 practical and at least grade 5 theory will indicate an acceptable level of competence regarding playing ability and musical knowledge. A Music Degree would be advantageous. 

• Co ordination
• Gross motor skills
• Rhythm
• Focus
• Concentration
• Memory
• Self confidence
• Team work

There are many chances to play the drums in groups. An older child may find themselves playing the drums in a band and every orchestra has a percussion section. Practising with other children is more fun, improves a child’s social skills, builds confidence and demonstrates the importance of teamwork.

Jamie Oliver (born May 27, 1975) played the drums in a band called Scarlet Division which he formed with some of his childhood friends when he was 13 years old.

Irish former racing driver and Formula 1 pundit Edmund "Eddie" Jordan (born March 30, 1948) loves rock and roll music and plays the drums in his band "Eddie & The Robbers".

Broadcaster Jeremy Vine (born May 17, 1965) made his first bid for fame as an 18-year-old, playing drums for a group called The Flared Generation in Surrey in the 1980s.

Other people who play the drums but are famous for other reason are: Bill Oddie, Jeremy Clarkson, Matt Lucas, Max Beesley, Chevy Chase and Bill Cosby. 

12 year old Kieran Gaffney had only been playing the drums for a year when he auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent!

Christian is only 5 years old. He is so cool – especially when he remembers to put his shades on!!

5 year old Merrick is playing ACDC while his dad plays guitar.

And here Merrick plays a Soukous style song (African Rumba).

This little boy is only 3 years old and plays the drums so well – can’t imagine how well he’d play if he was wearing his own clothes!