Five Signs Your Kid Might Be a Drummer (and they’re not all what you think)

Your baby boy loves to beat on things. Your toddler is already showing impressive dance moves. It warms your heart. You think, “He really has rhythm.” You dream of musical greatness.

We all have dreams for our kid. After all, we’re talking about MY KID here. Admittedly, it’s hard to be objective about our offspring, and we really shouldn’t be expected to be. But let’s face it. Most boys beat on things.

Lots of kids love the idea of playing drums, but many aren’t as keen on what it takes to do it well. Like most of the activities in which they’ll engage, it will take your guidance and support for them to excel.

If you notice a “tendency to tunes” in your child, definitely pay attention and encourage it. But there’s so much more to consider. So before you register your pre-K kid into Berkley…

Here are five signs your kid might be a future Ringo.

1) Constant tapping

You already knew this one. Drummers do this without thinking about it. The world is our drum, and our fingers are our sticks. Watch to see if your little one is tapping in time with the song, or is noticeably creative. It could be an artistic outlet, or it could just be youthful energy. If you’re up for it, buy a beginner drum set, and encourage a regularly scheduled play time. Use it as an incentive/reward.

2) Spontaneous Dancing

It’s fun to see your baby sway to the beat. If you’re seeing a visible bent toward music in motion, it may mean you’ve got a creative on your hands. This could show up in a number of ways, in everything from dancing to painting to writing to music. Drums have a very primal foundation, and your child’s musical journey may begin with drums and develop into a future in the arts.

3) Bursting into Song

You may not feel you have a musical bone in your body, and wonder where he/she gets it, but if your kid sings along with the radio, junior could have gotten a musical gene. SOMEWHERE! He/she may be an eventual vocalist, or play another instrument. But many musicians start on drums before moving to other things. Drums could be an excellent introduction for your future musical genius.

4) Good at Math (???)

Though it seems like the polar opposite trait to musicality, it can happen. Even kids who don’t show signs of rhythm, but understand numbers and fractions, can grasp musical and rhythm concepts in sections of four, eight, sixteen, etc. With an ability to focus on practice disciplines and follow instructions, your kid could succeed in a traditional snare drum role in school band or even drum set.

5) This is My Jam

You don’t have to tell him/her to do it. Your kid clearly loves this more than anything else, and shows a genuine interest in learning all about it. It’s not one of many things. It’s THE thing. It’s done without effort or prodding. It’s like any other gift. If it’s his/her favorite activity in the world, it’s going to happen one way or another. So embrace it, and help develop it!

In the meantime, invest in ear plugs!