How to Choose a Drum Set for a Child
Buying a drum set for a child may first sound like an idea for providing the entire family with headaches. But, first, kids do benefit from playing drums, in terms of both physical and mental development. Second, it doesn’t have to be that loud: there are kid electronic drum sets or special training kits. And if this curiosity grows into a staying passion, the skills obtained through these toys will be a serious start. So (a major rudiment playing) let’s do the choosing!
Marching Drums
Well, it seems the most obvious choice for a kid. A marching drum is easy to hold. It’s cheaper (because there is only one), it can be taken outside, or just outdoors, and with it, your child will gain respect from others easier.
The downside of it is that a marching drum is mostly a toy (unless the child decides to specialize in this specific sort). In addition, it’s really easy to take with you everywhere – including places where noise is to be avoided.
Acoustic Training Set
That’s as serious as a toy should be! There are many vendors manufacturing special drum sets for kids. Smaller in size, they imitate adult drum sets very thoroughly. Usually, they include a kick drum, a snare, a tom (or two), a hi-hat, and a crash cymbal, just like an adult one.
These are manufactured by various vendors – from those relatively unknown to major ones like Ludwig. If the kid wants to be a drummer, and it gets serious, you better get a real drum kit like this. The more items it includes, the better. Playing an advanced set is an art to learn early.
It’s loud, you may say. And yes, it is. You may opt for a special training kit (low volume cymbals, drum pads instead of full volume drums, pedal pads instead of kick drums, and so on). But hardly will it satisfy a kid who wants it loud! So before you make this investment, provide a well-isolated room where your child won’t bother you much while woodshedding.
What you should care about is the height of the stool and the hardware in general: it should be comfortable. In addition, drumming requires healthy physical development: yes to sports, no to overworking and unhealthy habits.
Electronic Drums
If another thing your kid loves is electronics (computers, tablets, smartphones, wires, and stuff), the approach to music may differ. These kids may be more interested in producing music than in playing it. Electronic drums might be the best option for them.
There are various electronic drum kits, both in terms of size (from tabletop to full-size) and functionality. Some of them are full-fledged MIDI controllers played with sticks. Connect it to a computer or an iPad, and you can record your MIDI tracks and edit it right in your room. A great thing for a house- or hip-hop-obsessed little one!
Other advantages of electronic drums are even more valuable if you live in a small place. The volume is adjustable, plus they may be equipped with an output for headphones, so it’s not necessarily that loud. Electronic drums may take much less space. On the other end of the scale, there are portable battery-powered electronic drums that you can take with you. The downside is that it’s not that real. And once your kid gets into rock or jazz, he or she may want to change it to an acoustic one.
Rock It!
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