Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...

[Ryno1330]

No I'm not Catholic. But I did go against all that should be good and holy today by purchasing and putting together a drum set for my (almost) 5 year old son. I could feel all of the bass playing communitie's collective disappointment course through me with every turn of the drum key.

Really though he seems to really want to try hard to play my basses or guitars (he hikes my Mustang PJ on his lap all the time) but at his age it's just not possible to do a stringed instrument and he's been asking for a drum set forever. In the end I figured not squashing his musical interests was more important than not allowing him to make me regret this decision for years to come.

Excuse me - I feel dirty and need to play some bass to forget about what I've done!

 

[Cut the middle]

Establishing good timing habits w/ a set of drums can't hurt him, you however....

Post your act of contrition and your firm purpose of amendment and I'll post absolution.

 

[Last Rebel]

Lol.. All good ... all the youngsters seem to dabble on various instruments before firming up on one

I got my grandson 7 yrs old wanting to play my Bass guitars, but he cant push hard enough to properly hold down a note..so I got him a six string guitar to get him rolling




Anyway --->Good job Dad!

 

[CallMeAl]

No way man, it’s a good thing- family band!

 

[Winslow]

One of the funniest Xmas's ever was when I got my then three-year-old niece a little drum set just the right size for a toddler. Her mother didn't speak to me until almost the end of January.

No penance needed. You'll be punished enough all on your own.

 

[grimjim]

At that age, if he sticks with it he'll be an amazing drummer, get him lessons too. And if he does gravitate towards another instrument, he'll have a better appreciation of how the beats work within the songs.

I played piano first through fifth grade which helped with reading and theory. Drums sixth through eighth grade which gave me a good sense of timing. Guitar from 15 through present, occasionally when I'm in the mood. I was asked to fill in for a friend on bass when I was 28 and really took to it, so here I am, a bass player now.

I wish my kids had some interest in music. I come from a long line of musicians. They show a little interest in playing, but nothing serious. Be supportive and once he has a couple of beats down, jam with him. That'll keep his interest up. My father was a professional musician and never played with me, or showed me anything for that matter.

 

[LBS-bass]

Where would the bass be without our great drummers? Wait, don't answer that

Seriously, though, the musicians I admire most are good drummers. Anyone can beat on stuff but really doing drums well takes an enormous amount of skill, and I work extra hard to make sure my good drummers are happy. They make us look good, and we make them look good. We are partners.

So, IMO, no sin involved. You're raising up a rhythm partner, if he chooses to stick with it, and that's a beautiful thing.

 

[devnulljp]

When my drummer had a kid, his dad bought a kid-size drum set for him for xmas and said "Now it's your turn to see what we had to put up with for years"

 

[Guild B301]

I first played trumpet professionally. He may change over to bass later. (Then again, I do play guitar and drums, so...) Seriously, any musical training will be great for a kid.

 

[Ryno1330]

At that age, if he sticks with it he'll be an amazing drummer, get him lessons too. And if he does gravitate towards another instrument, he'll have a better appreciation of how the beats work within the songs.

I played piano first through fifth grade which helped with reading and theory. Drums sixth through eighth grade which gave me a good sense of timing. Guitar from 15 through present, occasionally when I'm in the mood. I was asked to fill in for a friend on bass when I was 28 and really took to it, so here I am, a bass player now.

I wish my kids had some interest in music. I come from a long line of musicians. They show a little interest in playing, but nothing serious. Be supportive and once he has a couple of beats down, jam with him. That'll keep his interest up. My father was a professional musician and never played with me, or showed me anything for that matter.

Well put. My father wasn't professional but had the ability to be, but ended up working with a family to support with little money. He never pushed his hobby on me which was the right thing to do, but man how I wish I would've picked it up before 16 and it was really too late to collect on his wisdom.

But really, like me, regardless of ability or background we love it and it's part of who we are so that's something.

 

[Ryno1330]

Where would the bass be without our great drummers? Wait, don't answer that

Seriously, though, the musicians I admire most are good drummers. Anyone can beat on stuff but really doing drums well takes an enormous amount of skill, and I work extra hard to make sure my good drummers are happy. They make us look good, and we make them look good. We are partners.

So, IMO, no sin involved. You're raising up a rhythm partner, if he chooses to stick with it, and that's a beautiful thing.

All kidding aside it was when I realized what partners we are with drummers that I really started appreciating the complete rhythm section and drums!

 

[Low Down Brown]

Good job! I went through this same thing with my 5 year old at X-mas. She'd been wanting drums since she was 2.

I remember feeling slightly conflicted like that at first, but after watching her happily trying to jam along with "P.Y.T." and getting better every time, I know we made the right choice.

 

[Fluid Power]

Don't worry, you'll pay penance once he starts pounding the Skins!
For now! That's for sure.

Still you did good, no mater how much it hurts.

 

[dadglasser]

Hopefully he'll grow up to be an animal:

 

[La Faro]

 

[REV]

Teach him the rudiments and how to keep good time. This will help him no matter what instrument he ends up playing.

 

[Scootbass1]

Good on ya. My two sons showed interest in playing instruments so I indulged them both. Oldest son can now play drums, bass, guitar and piano. Youngest son is a piano and bass clef brass player. He is amazing on trombone. They are young adults now. My ten year old daughter is taking piano and violin lessons, as well as singing lessons. She loves all of it. My father was a professional card carrying musicians union drummer. He indulged my musical interests, but was a little down when I chose bass guitar over drums. We got to actually play a gig together before he had to stop playing due to loss of tactile feedback in his hands from chemo. My daughter has convinced me to take cello lessons, so my next big adventure begins at 57 years of age.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[Ryno1330]

Good job! I went through this same thing with my 5 year old at X-mas. She'd been wanting drums since she was 2.

I remember feeling slightly conflicted like that at first, but after watching her happily trying to jam along with "P.Y.T." and getting better every time, I know we made the right choice.

Nice! One of my son's favorites is Smooth Criminal!

 

[Blueinred]

Bad thing is you can send him to his room...................but you can't fire him. Just sayin'.

 

[Anthony Fury]

Ben Folds started out on drums and he became a heck of a....bass player. (He is actually an okay bass player, google it!)