I have a confession to make: it was always my dream, when I was younger, to learn how to play the drums. I never quite managed to take that first step, and while I did end up learning how to play the trombone and was quite happy to do so for many years, it’s always been a sore spot that the drums had eluded me. If I had known when I was younger (or if my parents had known, to be more precise) all the many benefits that playing the drums has for children, I probably would have been a lot more eager to get my hands on a pair of drumsticks! Playing the drums has numerous benefits for children, and below we’ve compiled some of the best reasons to start learning today.
Known to Reduce Stress
When we think of drummers, we might usually think of someone aggressive and short- tempered with a desire to hit something, right? In numerous studies[1], drumming has been shown as a great stress reducer and mood booster. Drumming helps stimulate our bodies to release endorphins – the ‘feel good’ chemical that works on our brains – after we play which gives us that uplifting, positive feeling we love.
Even more amazing, the benefits of drumming were found to be less about the sound of the music, and more about the act of drumming itself that provides the stress relief and satisfaction. We like that this means drummers who love all sorts of music can benefit from less stress from playing their favorite songs. It’s definitely more creative than vegging out in front of the TV after school!
Building Self-Confidence
For a lot of first-time drum players, learning to play can seem daunting. Knowing how to handle both the loudest and quietest parts, and maintaining a steady rhythm is often just as challenging as learning more technical sections. Doing so means challenging yourself, and for children, this can be a hugely formative experience. Learning how to break down difficult parts, dedicating yourself to an instrument, learning through repetition and reading music, often by yourself, requires a lot of time and effort – but it’s worth it because the satisfaction of succeeding builds self-confidence in ways that other activities don’t. For kids, learning to play the drums can be a fantastic way to ‘come out of their shell’ and feel more confident in everything else they do.
Boosts Academic Performance
Performing music has been shown many times[2] to be a great boost to academic performance and achievement, and playing the drums is no different. In one study, it was shown that students learned fractions faster and achieved better test results when they were taught rhythm notation. Learning the drums doesn’t have to be seen as impairing kids’ ability to learn in school, quite the opposite it would seem! Beyond just math class, learning to play the drums can help build logical thinking skills which can transfer to other subject areas like in English or History by understanding the contributions that drums make when it ensemble groups like an orchestra.
Expressing Yourself
Children have a wealth of creativity they bring to the world, but often have difficulty finding the right ways to express it. Learning to play the drums can help foster that creative energy in a way that empowers children to better express who they are and their ideas. It takes a lot of skill to learn the drums, and creating music can often be more enjoyable than simply listening to it. By learning the drums, children can make music in their own unique way, expressing their passion for it even when they might be shyer elsewhere. Children, just like adults, want to show the world what they can do – and drums can be a great way to do just that.
Appreciation of Music
There are a lot of things we take for granted in this world, and that includes easy access to music. From our phones, in our homes, our cars, at our places of work, music is never too far away. For children learning to play the drums, this can be a huge benefit to better their understanding of the world and building emotional connections. Learning to play the drums builds a greater appreciation for music as a whole, and of the effort that goes into making music by the people who create and perform it.
Staying Fit!
As you might imagine, playing the drums is no walk in the park, it’s a very physically active hobby. For children, this can be a great way for them to get the exercise they need while doing something fun too. Playing the drums is quite a workout – a study of people who played hand drums, simply keeping to a simple beat, were found to burn about 270 calories over half an hour[3]. Aside from the great positive mental benefits of drumming, increased fitness is important for maintaining a child’s wellness outside of P.E. classes. Playing organized sports or going jogging might be enjoyable for some kids, but others will benefit from the fitness of regular drumming!
Helps with Making Friends
Music is a language that everyone can understand. Playing music with others is great for making friends with like-minded kids and discovering a new community. Especially when kids are new to a school or community, it can be tough making friends, but learning to play the drums can open up a lot of doors for them. From school orchestras to bands with their friends to city and regional bands, learning to play the drums can help children be a part of a community, and engage in a wide variety of musical tastes and cultures.
Improves Overall Musicianship
Whether drums are your child’s first instrument or their fifth, drums are a fantastic tool to help develop all aspects of their musicianship. Learning to play the drums is fantastic for developing an understanding of playing to a steady beat, the control to know when to play loud or soft, and how to play drums in many different musical genres. If you’ve ever caught yourself tapping along to a song while driving, you know how powerful a steady beat and a good song can be. Having a great “internal clock” that can match a beat is a key skill for all musicians, and learning to play the drums can expand a child’s understanding of performing music on their own or in a group setting.
Gateway to learning other Instruments
There are a lot of different instruments that drummers play, and that means a lot of different kinds of music that children can learn. From the classic drum set to marching drums, djembe drums, the triangle, and more, learning to play the drums can open kids to a wide variety of percussion instruments – and more! Learning one instrument often inspires us to learn other instruments as well, like piano, guitar, violin, trumpets, and every else available. Once children learn one instrument, that understanding of the time and methods of learning carry over to others too. Making that first step opens up a whole world.
Learning the drums isn’t just about playing an instrument, but can be a great pathway to many other wonderful skills, and offers a variety of incredible benefits for children. If you’re looking to start the journey to playing drums for your child, start with us here at Ashthorpe for the best quality instruments at a price you’ll love.
References
- https://psmag.com/economics/drummers-high-evidence-that-playing-music-releases- endorphins-49578
- https://www.redorbit.com/news/education/1522643/the_effects_of_music_instruction_on
- _learning_in_the_montessori/#SsMY3izdBICFoBLo.99
- [3] https://www.biosync.com/2013/the-biological-benefits-of-drumming/