Am I too old to learn drums? Am I too young to learn the drums? Is there any specific age at which you should start learning the drums? Are there any advantages and disadvantages in learning the drums at an older age?
These questions above usually come out from older people who want to start a new hobby like playing the drums; so, if you are one of them, you will now find out whether it is already too late for you to start learning how to play the drums.
Playing the drums can be a little difficult, especially for older people who do not have any background in playing a musical instrument, since the drums are one of the instruments with a higher learning curve compared to others. One will need to maintain playing a beat while he focuses on striking the other part of the drums, which can be a little difficult for other people.
Playing the drums would also need a lot of coordination with your hands and feet, so if you are a middle-aged man who is not adept at using your non-dominant hand, it can be a little bit difficult for you. Hopefully, putting some focus on that issue can fix your coordination with your two hands.
Age Ranges For Learning Drums
Generally, there is no age limit for a person to learn how to play the drums. The Guinness Book of World Records awarded Edward “Ed” Cassidy as the “World’s Oldest Performing Rock N’ Roll Drummer.” For 72 years, he had been a professional drummer until he died at the age of 89. So, if you are still in your 30s or 40s now, it is still not late for you to learn and play the drums.
10 Years Old And Below
For kids aged ten and below, it is a great age for them to start learning how to play an instrument like the drums. Normally, kids do not have a solid knowledge yet when it comes to music, but they also have better reception when it comes to new learnings, which is why they can quickly learn anything you teach them.
The only disadvantage for kids is that they can be easily distracted by other things, so focus would really be an issue that you will need to check regularly. Focus is an important factor in learning the drums, so it would depend on the kids if they can focus on practicing to play the drums.
A great example of a legendary drummer that started to play the drums at an early age is Chad Smith. Chad began to play the drums at the early age of 7, as he grew up frequently listening to bands such as The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Rush, and Kiss.
11 To 20 Years Old
This age bracket is the most perfect when it comes to learning how to play the drums. Teenagers are usually the time when they start to choose their preferred song genre. It is also the time when teenagers start to get inclined to play a musical instrument, as it is usually an advantage for them, especially when they are in school.
Most famous drummers started to learn how to play the drums at these ages. Schools usually organize band contests, which encourage the students to learn to play a musical instrument like the drums. Teenagers also usually see this as an opportunity to become famous and to meet new friends.
An excellent example of a legendary drummer that started in his teenage days is Mark Guiliana. Mark started to play the drums when he was 15 years old. A music school even rejected him; luckily, he still became one of the great jazz drummers of his generation.
21 To 30 Years Old
Although this age bracket can be considered by others as already late when it comes to starting to learn how to play the drums, it is still possible for them to learn drums, so if you are in this age bracket, it is still not late for you.
Kim Schifino, the drummer of the Matt and Kim band, did not know how to play the drums until she started at the age of 23. Another famous drummer that began to learn how to play the drums in her 20s is Meg White. Meg only started to play the drums when she was 23.
A person’s reflexes are still great at these ages, so learning to play the drums in this age bracket is still not an issue. You can still easily fix your hand and feet coordination, even if you are rarely using your non-dominant hand.
31 To 40 Years Old
If you are in your mid or late-30s, it is still not too late to learn how to play the drums. Your reflexes are still great at these ages, so if you would just spend more time practicing the drums, you can still greatly improve your drumming skills in no time.
41 To 50 Years Old
At these ages, your reflexes can start to get slower than usual, but it is still not enough reason for you not to learn the drums. Many famous drummers are now in this age bracket, so there is still a great chance for you to learn how to play the drums.
Learning the drums at this stage can still greatly help you overall. Playing the drums can be your way to exercise, as hitting the cymbals and drum heads can also make you sweat. It also improves your brain function, which results from you learning to play music.
51 to 60 Years Old
With this age bracket, your reflexes are starting to degrade, but as long as you can still hold a drumstick and move your feet, then there is still a great chance that you can learn the drums without making any drastic adjustments.
It is important that you can move your hands freely so that you can comfortably hit the drumheads and the cymbals. Your right foot should also be comfortable when stepping on the bass pedal so that you can comfortably play.
61 To 70 Years Old
There is really no limit when it comes to the age of a person who is willing to learn to play the drums. Many famous and legendary drummers are still playing, even in their 60s and 70s. So even though you are now in your 60s or 70s, it is still not late for you to learn how to play drums. However, it might be impossible for you to become like those legendary drummers in their old age, as they have started to play the drums in their early years.
Even in your 60s, you can still learn the basics of drumming, as long as you can still move your hands freely. Remember that you will have to move your hands to hit the cymbals and drumheads, so you must be comfortable doing it as much as possible.
So, am I too old to learn the drums? No, there is no such thing as being too old when it comes to learning how to play the drums. Even though you are in your late years, as long as you are still physically good at playing the drums, you can still learn how to play it.
