I've got 2 boys, ages 13 & almost 12. The 13 YO is currently in 7th grade and started playing trumpet in 5th grade band. He switched to Tenor Sax about 1 year ago and is progressing very well.

The 11 YO is currently in 6th grade and started playing percussion in 5th grade. One if his very close friends has been playing drums since 4th grade. I knew he was taking lessons outside of school so I asked his mom where and if he liked the instructor. She told me the location and said her son loves the instructor.

I signed my son up for 5 lessons, and if he likes it we will sign up for their monthly plan. Turns out the instructor has been around for quite a while, and has played with some very famous people. I've hung out for the last 2 lessons and I have to agree with my son's friend...he is a great instructor. He is a very, very good teacher.

I don't know the exact timeline, but he's the drummer in this video. I know he was on tour with Merle, not just this session. I think it's pretty freaking cool.



Here's a fan recorded video from the Pepsi Center here in Denver April of 2014.

Excellent. Always a big plus studying with a well known/qualified instructor.

Cool to have a real pro for a teacher!

Can't get much better credentials than that for an instructor. Good luck to the boy, hope he enjoys it and keeps up with it. I played a lot when I was a kid and sold my set at about 19. Lately, I have taken it back up and am thoroughly enjoying it. Not like riding a bike though, the rust is evident.

Now I'm looking for used drum sets. I have all the requirements...just need to find something in our budget. I've spent TONS of time this week researching drums.

I can feel my wallet getting lighter already!

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
Now I'm looking for used drum sets. I have all the requirements...just need to find something in our budget. I've spent TONS of time this week researching drums.

I can feel my wallet getting lighter already!

If neighbors or noise is a concern, consider electronic drums. I know it's heresy, and if I had my druthers it be acoustic all the way. The Ludwig factory is about 45 miles from me.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
Now I'm looking for used drum sets. I have all the requirements...just need to find something in our budget. I've spent TONS of time this week researching drums.

I can feel my wallet getting lighter already!

I feel your pain. Check Amazon Marketplace for used sets. I would not spend too much money yet as I would make sure your son is going to stick with it. Also, a quality snare drum will make all the difference in his enjoyment. Now you just need to find a store with plenty to choose from. I cannot begin to tell you how many different sounding snare drums there are out there. From different metals to different woods.

Do yourself a favor and watch youtube videos from Drum Center of Portsmouth as well as browse thru their website. There is a ton of info on both to go thru and it will give you a general idea on the differences I just mentioned.

Good luck

lots of great drummers out there - Neil Peart to Nick Mason, Deen Castronovo and of course the latest from El Estepario Siberiano

but there are lots of others like Buddy Rich, Billy King

depends entirely on the genre but there is a lot to choose from

I started in music playing percussion but my family couldn't afford a kit so I switched to clarinet and sax, and was able to rent them from the school

I wouldn't spend more than about $350 on a used drum kit if it doesn't have cymbals and hardware. It is fairly easy, with dampening and good heads, to make just about any tom shells sound good.

The snare drum can also be that way. A new head and snares and a little work can make any snare serviceable.

Cymbals are the hardest part to having a good sounding kit, imo. In order to ease into it, just buy a thin, washy crash/ride of 20" and a 16" or 18" thin crash. Hi hats are less important, imo. Cheap ones can sound pretty good. The cheap cymbals are B8 bronze and they are typically thick. Look for Sabian AA or Zildjian A on the Marketplace or Craigslist.

Some good entry level drums would be Tama Rockstar, Pearl Export, Ludwig Accent, maybe Gretsch Catalina. And anything vintage is likely to be better constructed and use better materials than newer budget kits.

You should, with a little patience, be able to put together a pretty playable kit for $500 used.