Is 15 too old to start playing?

[omnisheep]

Ok. I've heard about people starting at 2 or 3 or 4 or whatever age. I'm turning 15 this june and i wanna take some drum lessons. Is it too late?? If you start at 15, does it mean that you're bound to be rubbish??

[jangus]

Oh god no its not too old. Better to start now then to regret not starting it at all later.

[omnisheep]

oh good. ^_^ thx.. (although i still think i'm bound to be rubbish anyway T_T whaha... i suck in music. )

[Class A Drummer]

what a stupid question. your never too old to start playing.

[Bunda the Great]

I'm 15 and I just started last year. And people tell me I'm incredible.

[omnisheep]

lol...i gues it IS a stupid question. ^_^

[glynes]

I'm 56 and I started 2 years ago. If I can do it, anybody can!!

[Bonzo91]

I'm 56 and I started 2 years ago. If I can do it, anybody can!!

See what i mean she started at like 56 and she's not a bad player now is she. Its never too late unless your about 80 years old suffering from some sort of disease.

[somedrummer]

There you go, look at Glynes. She is a living testimony right there. Lots of people take up drums in their 40s, 50s, or later. No, 15 is definitely not too late.

[burnthehero]

I don't consider 15 to be too old to start drumming. I didn't get serious about drumming until I was about 18.

[ReX]

I started at 40, or so. You will not suck, unless you decide you want to suck (I don't advise that).

Approach it positively, be mentally tough when you get stuck on something, and most importantly, have fun. You may be just one hell of a drummer by the time your 18 / 20...now go find out whether it comes true or not!

[harryconway]

You're never to old too start and keep playin' until you die.

[RudimentalDrummer]

Ok. Is it too late?? If you start at 15, does it mean that you're bound to be rubbish??

You'll be murdered for saying that omnisheep kekeke ! ...I'm 45 now and I started drumming seriously just 8 months back .... Life begins at 40 for a man (Ooooppps...sorry this theory is not applicable here anyway). NO..... it's good to begin drumming at any age (the earlier the better)...let not age deter anyone here from drumming


Cheers my friend

[y0avz]

There is no such thing as too late... you can start playing at the age of 90 if you want,
Its all up to you..

[averypoordrummer]

no way! 15's a good age. i started at 15.

[Jeff Almeyda]

Forget it, hang it up, the old folks home is right around the corner!!! ;)

Seriously, about the only thing that 15 is too old to start doing is Olympic female gymnastics or something like that where you're "washed up" at age 24.

[Drummer Karl]

Oh no, it is NEVER too late for starting...15 years is a good age! Just work and don`t give it up!!
If it is your passion, do it!!!

Karl

[Pedro]

Of course it's too late to start drumming! I mean, you probably already are married and have two kids and have to work night and day to earn the money for your family.

.....

[Lambo]

Is 15 too old? What!!?!?







No.

[Bernhard]

I'm turning 15 this june and i wanna take some drum lessons. Is it too late?? If you start at 15, does it mean that you're bound to be rubbish??


No - not at all. If somebody tells you such rubbish - go and prove them the contrary.

By the way: serious starting with 2, 3 or 4 is only good for the ego of some frustrated parents. What those kids learn in a month you learn at age 10 in a day (..and also with 15)!!!! Granted

Bernhard

[Drummer Karl]

No - not at all. If somebody tells you such rubbish - go and prove them the contrary.

By the way: serious starting with 2, 3 or 4 is only good for the ego of some frustrated parents.

Bernhard

haha! That is good! lol
I started a little bit with 3 just because I`ve got fun when drumming! My parents thaught that it looks funny...they didn`t really care.
but all in all you can start playing drums even with 80+ years, too...

Karl

[~tamadrummer~]

what a stupid question. your never too old to start playing.

you have NO room to be talking about stupid questions.

[Pete Stoltman]

Actually 15 may be just about an ideal age to start. I've found that sometimes younger players may have unrealistic expectations about what they can accomplish. At 15 you've probably already discovered that not everything in life comes easy. You also probably know that any kind of skill wether it's working a computer, hittting a baseball, or playing drums is going to take some dedicated work to become good at it. Good luck to you and jump right in. Playing drums "can" be a life defining experience or maybe just a fun hobby. Either way it's worth the effort if you have the passion for it.

[mlehnertz]

The only thing to be careful is if you've dabbled in drums in the past and have picked up bad habits. Unlearning technique is one of the most difficult things to do (practice makes permanent). If you've never picked up a drumstick, knock yourself out, find a good teacher and have a ball. You're at a better age now to learn drums because (odds are) you're less impulsive and will be more likely to stick with it, unlike a 9 year old.

[FloEy]

dude im 20 and started at 19 lol I wish my parents would of let me get the drums at 15. My father was and still is against the whole idea but I didnt give up and I kept begging till they finally gave in!!!! lol Now I play every day for about 4 hours or more if i can. I will concentrate on rudiments, feet, beats, etc. I feel the need to catch up from kids that started at 15 and if anything its actually getting me somewhere. I can actually admit that after playing for a year and 5 months that I am better then people I know who have been playing for 6 -10yrs. (Mostly cause they didnt do rudiments, didnt put in the time, etc...) Its not how much time you have been playing but how much time you put in. Even when Im off the set I will practice another 4 hours on rudiments!! im usually up till 2 in the mornin doing singles, diddles, etc.. A lil nutty, yes! but I have nothing better to do anyway during the week. The best advice I can give someone is before you go and play drums, listen to some drummers and get some ideas in that you want to learn. Usually this helps get the groovey side out of ya. PS i almost 4got!! Come to this site daily!! lol

[rendezvous_drummer]

dude 15 is wayyyyy too old, don't bother. HA!!! yea right. i wish i started at 15, instead i was stupid and waited until 17 because i wasnt into it at the time but i knew i would be. good luck man!!

[Fur drummer]

Ok. I've heard about people starting at 2 or 3 or 4 or whatever age. I'm turning 15 this june and i wanna take some drum lessons. Is it too late?? If you start at 15, does it mean that you're bound to be rubbish??
No, 15 is a good age to start actually.

[omnisheep]

lol...everyone keeps on calling me dude...and man... just so everyone knows..im a GIRL...
anyway, thanks for the replies guys..i just felt so insecure when i saw the videos of toddlers playing. (i felt so old at that time =( ) but now i know better haha ^_^

[Fur drummer]

I think those toddlers are an exception and not the norm. Don't let that stop you from playing.

[ns3476]

Nope i think its a good age to start at. Yeah there are a lot of people out there that started when they were really young but who cares. I started when i was 13. There are a lot of people out there that start when they are older than 15.

[Joe Morris]

Your Never to Old. Go for it.

Joe

[mikei]

I started playing about 2 years ago and I am going to be 36 next month.

It is a blast. It is amazing how good you can become if you practice smart.

I wish I would have started earlier, but I now enjoy all of the progress I am making now.

Good luck.

[secondXheartbeat]

I recall Chris Adler of Lamb of God stating that he quit bas to play drums at a very late age (In his 20's if i remember right.) That DEFINITELY hasn't stopped him from becoming an amazing drummer.

[theduke86]

No way. Jack DeJohnette started at age 18. Nate Smith, Billy Kilson at age 16-17. There are tons of great drummers who have started later. Don't worry about it. I'd look into some professional instruction sooner rather than later though.

[aahznightsky]

Akria Jimbo started at 21 ... so that's youre answer right there!

Althought I'm not sure, he may have started at 18. Or 22. It was around there.

[TAMAmetaldrummer]

15 is a good age. you will actually listen and want to learn. i am 16 and have been playing for 8 years. but i know people who just started and are as good as me

[The Laker]

I started playing at 15 and stopped at 22 when my son was born. After a 30 year absence I started up again. So your never to young or too old to start playing. Just start playing for the love of music and the love of playing.

[sloppyn9ne]

I'm 15 and I just started last year. And people tell me I'm incredible.
same here except two years ago almost. my neighbors dont mind and always compliment me. but since i got a dbl pedal, my mom complains its too loud but no one else is.

[CWelsh]

lol...everyone keeps on calling me dude...and man... just so everyone knows..im a GIRL...

Aw, now, you should have made that clear earlier. If you were a guy, no problem with the age, but everyone knows girls can't play no matter what age. ;-)

I hope you know, I'm joking. I noticed that no one commented on the fact that you're female and wanted to tease you about it. Seriously, get started. Play, have fun!

P.S. I'm 53 and just bought a kit a couple of months ago. I've played before, but nothing too seriously. I'm looking forward to learning.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

Throw another one into the mix. Joe Morello - Age 15. I mean WOW if Morello can do it... (sorry, just a personal love of the man)

[2d-chris]

good thread this, as many have said age is never that important, when your really younge learning is faster but not simpler :)

[lrgzdrawkcaB]

heyyy I started playing at 16, so yeah...15 isnt too old to start! As long as you love the instrument its never too late!

[fourstringdrums]

Of course not. Alot of people don't start until they're that age, sometimes even older. As as many have said, it's never too late to state.

If anything, I see starting alittle later has some sort of advantage because when you're older, you're more apt to concentrate more on your practicing and may have more determination. Not that younger people don't, but I just know from my experience when I started, I wasn't as focused as I am starting to be now and that made a huge difference in how I am now I think.

[organochloride]

Neil Peart Begin play drums at 18 years and today i can say "Who let the dogs out Hu Hu Hu"

[osamasgoat5467]

You are never to old to learn how to play drums.

[brittc89]

Go for it man. Its never too late.

[wcbrown]

15 ?!??!?!
i started when i was 15 and that was 37 years ago!!!
i think the one advantage starting say at 15, you are less inclined to lose interest. good luck and go for it!

[Martal]

Akira Jimbo started at 18 i believe and his one of the most known Japan drummers.

[jackothedrummer1]

Akira Jimbo started at age 17......He has some of the most impeccable time and independence I've seen. Get your lessons and welcome to the wonderful art of drumming.

Tip: Remember to attempt to go beyond just drumset. Experiment with orchestral playing as well to find "your voice". There is enough in percussion to suit everyone.

EDIT:
I really should have read this post before I posted, Martal beat me to it......haha

[Pocketman]

The only thing that can ever be to late to start is brain surgery.

[BIG_c]

so did akira jimbo start when he was 17, 18 or 22 ...? hahaha. dude 15 years is way too late to start playing. how are you suppose to get any good when starting so late??? JOKING! 15 years is, i think the perfect time to start playing. im 15 now and ive been playing for quite while now but i didnt actually get into drums until i was about 13 or 14.

[wolfp]

Is 15 too old to start playing?
NO!
Go for it!

Regards,
Wolf

[parser]

Sheeeeooooot, I didn't start until I was 33. It's never too late to start! DO IT!

[wnnabdrummer]

i got my first kit when i was 22 (last may). don't regret it for a second. just make sure when you get your first kit, get something you like, not just something you'll settle for. get good cymbals and the whole nine yards. go all out, and you'll stick to it forever. you can only get better man, good luck.

[centralzeke]

Jim Chapin started at 18.

[Jookbox]

another thing about chris adler, is he said he's been playing around 10 years. it can be considered a benchmark of what you can achieve in a decade. i don't see how age is a huge factor

[Ulrich87]

Ok. I've heard about people starting at 2 or 3 or 4 or whatever age. I'm turning 15 this june and i wanna take some drum lessons. Is it too late?? If you start at 15, does it mean that you're bound to be rubbish??

It's the perfect age imo.. Lars Ulrich started playing at age 11-14 (never gotten the age confirmed) and look at him! he started the worlds greatest band of all times! If you have the skills it could be you:D

[jollymosher]

i started at 14. and joey jordison is a guitarist. and started at age 16 and is thought of as the best metal drummer of our time.

[ege_the_drummer]

Of course not! You can start at any age. I'm 13 and I've been playing for about two years (Self-taught myself for one, then got some real lessons). My uncle was 23 when he started. Its never too late to start.

[Backwards Marathon]

i started when i was 11 and ive been drumming for like 3 years now

[RalGash]

I've seen people in thier fifties pick up sticks and suddenly discover that they can play. I honestly do not believe there is a minimum or maximum.

I used to work for a drum manufacturer (Orion Drums) and most of the walk in customers were new drummers well past 30 years old.

[jarrod]

Nar 15 isnt to old im 15 althought i started 4 years ago its all about practise and what u practise and if u make good use of your practise time.

[justingrillz]

im 17..almost 18. i started when i was 16.

[Jookbox]

and joey jordison is a guitarist. and started at age 16 and is thought of as the best metal drummer of our time.

lol, not by many.....................

[NickMackin07]

i debated this same question recently cuase i always wanted to play the drums but i never had the chance but recently i actually started trying to play and am about to be getting my first drum set

[capslockmurder]

you can never start too early! but 15 is fine. seriously!

[Crazy Mad Drummer]

Your never to old to start playing drums

Play drums to live
Live to play drums!

[concussionist]

I think 15 is a good age to start drumming. those 2 year olds don't have the coordination to play and i think they are just wasting their time. I'm 15 and i started when i was 12.
good luck!

[ThrillaVanilla55]

I just started playin and im 21. I may never end up being good at them even though i've been around drums and drummers all my life, but its fun and stress relieving. I know for sure now that if i never started it would of been the biggest mistake of my life and i would of definately regreted it. Then again i think im too old to start skateboardin.

[vernthemerciless]

No way i started at 16. but i did have the same thoughts because you probably know some people who are experienced at it seems like your far behind at this point, but that's fine cause you only just started. But i'm 23 now and it seems like that was ages ago, i'm still a bit crap but that's my fault for years of lazyness!

I would recommend getting some lessons as that way you'll probably pick stuff up quicker and with better knowledge and understanding than if you self teach. I've always preffered that but people are different i guess.

[kohokevin]

well im 12 and ive been drummin for almost a year

[MetalThrasher442]

I don't think any age is too young to start drumming as long as you have anough money to spend on a decent starting kit and you are willing to apply yourself. I mean starting at a younger age is always great, but I don't believe starting at even thirty is too old to start.

[sgt.pepper1986]

I think the only rubbish is the thought of fifteen being too old to learn! I dont think 90 is too old to learn! (Though it might mess with your heart at that age!) I started when I was fifteen. So, learn away!

[MOONCHILD]

only time when is too late is when you are dead ;)

[mikkeydee]

Jim Chapin has magic chops, he started at 18.

Grant Collins even 21~~~

[photon]

15 too old?..............hahaha...I can't stop laughing. Yep buddy life is over forget about it....hahaha.

Out of the mouths of babes

[Stormi]

Well, if 15 is too old to start playing, then I've seriously made a big boo-boo. I'm nearly 35 and just started lessons and bought a kit. I WANTED to start at 14/15 but it didn't happen. Then silly me thought I was "too old" at like 20 so just pushed it aside but still had that burning desire to do it. Now I've finally done it. I think I've probably got more ambition now than if I played 20 years ago - back then I probably would have had more "distractions" like school, homework, study, going out on weekends etc. Now I don't have all that stuff to worry about, I can concentrate on the drums.

I find now that I'm probably more disciplined as far as practicing etc, I KNOW I need to practice to get better, whereas if I was playing 20 years ago I would be "Yeah, I'll do it later" lol.

Oh, and don't say you'll be rubbish, that's defeating yourself before you even begin. I used to be much the same "Oh, I bet if I do learn I'll be crap". But now, being older and wiser, I'm "who cares if I AM crap, I'm doing something I love"

[Cannons]

You're never too old to learn anything. Get going and have fun!

[drum_moose]

I was 18 when i started, get playing!

[balboa]

dude, no age is too old. ur goal should be to be the best u can be. thats all that matters.

[Melvin]

How many times have people been asking this question? I started at age 15 I consider myself a pretty good drummer. I've been playing for five years now. I still have a lifetime to get better and better. Soon I'll post a video of me playing.

[Martin G.]

You are never too old to start playing drumz. The same for every other things in life.

[hotsauce3n]

no way but there are other forums on this same sort of topic so you should check it out beefore u post

[ness]

chris adler (drummer for lamb of god) didnt start until about 21 and look at him now

[Crazy]

Ah man these age questions are so annoying it's never too late to start an instrument

[marin_zhelezov]

Well what does too late mean? You need time just to develop your tehnique....and when you are concentrated and practice, developing some great tehnique is really only a matter of time. What makes you BIG is not the tehnical skill, is how you use it!!! And talent doesn't come with practise....I started 2 years ago but I bought my first set a week ago( DRUMS ARE EXPENSIVE !!!! ). Now I am 18 but I fell that I have the music inside me. When you feel it the only thing to do is practise til perfection. Take some lessons and don't let those wizkids distract you! And remember: years don't really matter if you are born a musician, you will se :) I wish you good luck and the most important-HAVE FUN!

[marin_zhelezov]

Well what does too late mean? You need time just to develop your tehnique....and when you are concentrated and practice, developing some great tehnique is really only a matter of time. What makes you BIG is not the tehnical skill, is how you use it!!! And talent doesn't come with practise....I started 2 years ago but I bought my first set a week ago(DRUMS ARE EXPENSIVE !!!!). Now I am 18 but I fell that I have the music inside me(And I take lessons by the greatest teacher in my country). When you feel it the only thing to do is practise til perfection. Take some lessons and don't let those wizkids distract you! And remember: years don't really matter if you are born a musician, you will se :) I wish you good luck and the most important-HAVE FUN!

[drummerchick435]

Ok. I've heard about people starting at 2 or 3 or 4 or whatever age. I'm turning 15 this june and i wanna take some drum lessons. Is it too late?? If you start at 15, does it mean that you're bound to be rubbish??

Heck no! I started drumming at 14 and I'm glad I did!

[Salicete]

Seems like everyone agrees, but I'll chime in too. No, 15 is by no means too late. I was a bass player for about 30 years before I finally did what I really wanted to do, learn to play drums.

I will say, that at least in my case, I'm nearly 46, I found that I didn't pick thinks up as quickly as I did when I was young. In fact I see that my 10 year-old son who currently plays and is learning bass, drums and violin, learns things much more quickly than I do. It's actually a bit aggravating.

When you are 15, you have a lot to do, but at least most kids that age don't have to worry about a full-time job, or two, and taking care of a house and family, so there is more time for music. 15 is a great time of life, make the most of it, and by all means start playing those drums!

[Benjaminbois]

No way. Jack DeJohnette started at age 18. Nate Smith, Billy Kilson at age 16-17. There are tons of great drummers who have started later. Don't worry about it. I'd look into some professional instruction sooner rather than later though.

That makes me feel like anything is possible! I started less than a year ago at 18 and am absolutely loving it.

Get a kit and get lessons!!!!!

[joeybeats]

Joeybeats is starting at 52! By the way, I had a great lesson today ... from a 24 year old. Joey

[jeffwj]

I teach a night class at a university for adult beginners. Most of them wish that they had started when they were at least 15.

Jeff

[Mr. Pasquini]

Just to throw it out there, Chris Addler didn't really get started till he was like 19 or 20.

[meMEmeme]

Gene Krupa didn't start playing until he was 67.

Ok well not really.

[bballdrummer34]

hahahahahahahaahahahhaah OF COURSE NOT !!!!! Infact, I wish i started when i was NEGATIVE 2!!!!!

[fazzybOO`]

what a stupid question. your never too old to start playing.

I agree with that comment :)

[d.c.drummer]

Most every one sarts around 12-15. Its cool. But, stuudies do show that the earlier you start,the more LIKELY you are to become super good since drums is being incorporated into your devoloping brain.

[Spreggy]

A fifteen year old can pick up skills pretty fast. I would highly recommend a teacher, and more than anything make everything fun. Enjoy practice and tracking your progress, play lots of your favorite music, that sort of thing. Good luck man!

[da cheese walks]

i started at age 15....


oh jesus.....you may end up like me....so be careful...!!

[ledzepjb]

I'm 15 and I just started last year. And people tell me I'm incredible.

Do drummers say your incridible or your friends, family and people at your school. Because many people dont know what a ''good'' drummer is.

[Wavelength]

I started playing at the age of twenty, and after four years of intense practice I wouldn't consider myself "rubbish". A normal human being can live eighty years and then some, so I still have quite a few left. Who cares if I missed seventeen years, when I still have 60+ left?

[Johnny from the block]

I started playing when I was 16 ... (just to put another example it's not too late)

[Alexdrum75]

It depends

1) what are you goals?
2) are you talented?
3) how much do you study music and drums a day?

There's no age recommended, that's the beauty of music: it's not a sport (although playing the drums can be a fitness exercise under some circumstances...)

[dale w miller]

my favorite musician who started later in life was bassist Tony Gordon (freebass). he didn't start until he was 30 and he is one of the most groundbreaking players ever. you can here him and i playing here:

http://www.drummerworld.com/watchlistdrummers/Dale_W_Miller.html

or more on my site below.

[bballdrummer34]

I think you struck a nerve with this question

[Kirsh]

i´ve started a year ago and i am 18 . it´s never too late and theres also no limits except the ones you put to yourself. i can play most of rush's songs and i think it´s the product of effort and not because i´m young

[drummingman]

i started when i was 16. since then i have gone to music collage and gotten a 2 year degree in music performance. i have also studied with dom famularo and just started with tiger bill. im 31 now.
so no, starting drums at 15 is not to old.

[zambizzi]

I turned 29 in March...I started last Sept. - age 28...and i'd say I'm picking it up pretty quickly. Think what you could do with those extra THIRTEEN years...most of the length of your life!

If I had the power to turn back the clock...I'd rewind to conception and start playing in the womb.

Seriously...beg your parents for a few hundred bucks...go get a starter kit w/ cheap cymbals...and hit it everyday. Show some serious interest and you might get the folks to pay for lessons.

[Jaden]

once I hit the double digits, I stopped bothering to learn new things and just focused on honing my current skills at the time.

<----Currently a fingerprinting extraordinaire


seriously tho i started at 18 and...and practiced a lot, but Im on equal grounds easily now to most drummers my age and improving rapidly

[tamadrummer132]

yes. i believe that if you dont start when your 2, you cant be a good drummer.

that is why i suck.





...just kidding. The only way that age can affect your drumming is if you physically cannot do it. so go for it!

[Skitch]

No!

Go for it!

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[drflam]

I also started at 15, and I'm glad that I started a little later (I'm 18 now).

From 5 to 14 I had piano lessons. Now you might think 'wow you played piano for 9 years you must be awesome!', but that's totally incorrect simply because I was too young and the passion was never there. I hardly ever practiced and I didn't really enjoy it.

When I was 15 I decided that I'd really like to drum, and now drumming is my passion and has been for the past year.

So from my own experience, starting out young on an instrument can be bad sometimes.

[chazgrohl]

could only afford akit when i was 20, so thats when i started, by afford a kit, my parents made sure id somewhere to practice first so i had to buy a shed and try soundproof it first, so when i did that i could have a kit, im 28 now and have built a better shed, got a better kit and thinkin about going pro, so fair play to ya at 15, i wish i had of started earlier, way more energy to burn back then, but keep it up and good luck

[brockalicious]

I started when i was 12 (almost 13), and i am now 16 (almost 17), so ive been playin 4 yrs. it was not until i was 15 that i rly got into it. best thing i ever did! go for it!!

[Gene Smasher]

15 is not too old, definitely. I only started playing drums at 16+.

[MoeDrummer]

I started playing when I was about 16, but in all honesty I never really had the driving passion to play and get into it hardcore until I was about 18 or 19. I'm 23 now, and now I have the piano to deal with too haha. Always hated the piano, but now I love it. So, drums and piano steal my life away now. Stupid instruments...

Moe

[sam132]

Ok. I've heard about people starting at 2 or 3 or 4 or whatever age. I'm turning 15 this june and i wanna take some drum lessons. Is it too late?? If you start at 15, does it mean that you're bound to be rubbish??

Duh...


----------------------
Fifiteen Chrarcters

[Michael G]

15 is the best age to start.

(is 15)

[drum.lad]

my grandfather started playing only a few weeks ago and he is eighty so 15 aint that bad lol good luck

[Dussin]

Make sure you take lessons from someone who will teach you rudiments and all of the basics. I started at 14 and learned one simple rock beat and did that for 6yrs, then I went and got lessons, its like starting all over for me. You don't want to learn the wrong way then have to relearn everything years down the road.

[Anchein Vouivra]

I think Brian "Brain" Mantia started at the age of 16 and ended up with Primus, Gun's'n'Roses, Tom Waits, Buckethead, Bill Laswell, Godflesh..... . That means his style was pretty much appriciated.

[Joel Woody]

no, its not too old to start playing

[aydee]

yup. too old, i think. should have started at 3, single stroke rolls by 4, paradiddles and doubles by 5, sight reading by 7.

Hell No! it never too late. to start anything......

[WarrenM]

I'm turning 15 this june and i wanna take some drum lessons. Is it too late??
Too late for what? It depends on what your goals are. If you want to jam along to the radio or in the garage with friends, then does it matter?

[bonzolead]

you're never too young or old too start playing just as long as you enjoy yourself.

Bonzolead

[Jon Cable]

Never too old to start, I stopped at 25 and started again at 40, having the time of my life!!

[Misch567]

Dude not at all I started playing once I turned 15 and a year later Im playing Rush, Iron Maiden and all kinds of other music. I self taught myself on an oversized drumset but if you take lessons you should get the hang of it in a couple months.

[vince]

NO, NEIN, NON !!!!!!!!

[slingerland755]

I started at 15 and ended up playing professionally for 13 years (of course I was broke all the time), but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[aydee]

I started at 15 and ended up playing professionally for 13 years (of course I was broke all the time), but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I think Slingerland summed it up.Its never to late to do something that you love doing.

Unconditionally.

[schist]

Why should 15 be too old? I started at 16 (in hindsight, I would've started a lot earlier)

[rhythmjunkie]

This thread is getting so many hits because this is such a ridiculous question! Akira Jimbo didn't start playing the drums until he was seventeen and according to Modern Drummer (in an article I once read) the average age a person began playing the drums was 11. Also, Hiromi Uehara's bass player didn't start playing the bass until he was 18! Now he accompanies one of the worlds leading jazz virtuoso piano players! Yeahh, arghh!!!!!

[Derek]

No age is too old to start the drums.
I started when I was 9 , stopped at 23 or 24 and began playing again after a 20 year layoff (aprox. 2/12 years ago ) and love it even more now than at any time before.

All the best to you !

[stoopid]

Yeh, this definately is a ridiculous question. I started playing guitar at 11 and a year ago switched to drums after shortly turning 17, and i'm doing pretty well for only a year of play time, but i definately enjoy drumming more.

Anyone who wants to start playing the drums should as soon as possible.

[Big_Philly]

It might even be better to start in early teenage years. I gave a drum lesson to a 7-year old last saturday and it was very hard (or actually impossible) to make him understand what he was doing, and hard to get him to focus. Young kids can be tought but it takes more time for them to understand what they're doing. The only real benefit is the ease with which younger kids learn the limb independence and speed, their bodies develop more rapidly. But that's most definitely not all there is to drumming.

[tomsmithkinross]

Most definitley not i started playing just over two years ago and i've been in conversations with guys i knew had been playing for far longer than i had, who'd said there's no chance that they've been playing as long as i have, then i tell 'em only two years and they are shocked.
I think that being a teen is the best time to start playing as long as you start playing for the right reasons. There are guys at my school who play just so they can bash something and be careless with an instrument and that S**t's me up the walls, because it not only hurts your ears, it sounds bad.
Sorry bit off topic... Also i started when i was 14 so 15 is a perfectly adequate age to join the brotherhood, but rather than ask why not just start and see where it gos (you could surprise yourself) !!!

[Kirsh]

i started playing at 14 but i got serious at 17 and in 1 year i make twice the progress i did in those 3 years. its never late as long as you can move your arms and have the will to learn

[Machine Gun]

Yes, 15 is too old to start drumming. Wait until you're 50 and going through your second childhood before starting drumming. Like me.

[The Caterer]

Joe Morello didn't start playing until his late teens.

End of.

[Slazaar]

Make sure you take lessons from someone who will teach you rudiments and all of the basics. I started at 14 and learned one simple rock beat and did that for 6yrs, then I went and got lessons, its like starting all over for me. You don't want to learn the wrong way then have to relearn everything years down the road.

tell me about it, i started when i was 10, which my teacher took advantage over and taught all a bunch of useless crap that got me nowhere for the first 2 years..back then, being young doesnt give you the exposure to KNOW what your supposed to be taught or whether you're being ripped off your money, now? coming to australia and having such highly qualified teachers is like a slap to the face, i had no IDEA what i was missing out!

[middleman]

You're never too old to start playing any instrument. I started at 11. Blessings........

[mereubu]

no way omnisheep the world needs more female drummers!

i started after college. i figured, heck, in 10 years i'm going to be 33 years anyway, may as well be 33 and have 10 years of drumming under my belt. if your parents are willing to let you play drums in the house, then it'd be a terrible shame not to take advantage of that!

good luck!

[rockinrider]

no way omnisheep ...


Our friend, omnisheep, disappeared from this forum over a year ago. He's either become the drummer he's always wanted to be or given up by now.

[oikroitnik]

Too young to join the Chinese State Circus though...KH





hang on...Maybe not . Let's have roll for the Knife thrower...

[don strandberg]

I have a thread. Back at it at 56. A lot of the post, are from guys starting in there 40rty;s
I know ya think you are old. Your not. In drum talk you aint even born yet. Go 4 it.
Don//////

[Banzai]

It's never too late. It just depends on your will and practice!!! :) good luck.

[lewisn27]

it's never too late to learn your only fifteen it's not that old

[awe_1]

are you kidding? the greatest drummer who ever lived was peaking in his 60s and 70s. so youve got quite alot of time then havent you?

plus you can train extra hard to make up for years lost.

[freehandstyle]

I started to play when i was 15-16 as well.

PLUS i wasted the first 2 years.
I'm getting my teacher this year only, I'm 19 right now.

A thing i also realized is never compare your peers.
It's not a competition but a personal exploration of this art. If you compare yourself to players that might be the same age around you and they are better than you, then just think about how much more players are better than them Quite simply put, you can't compare there will always be a "better player" out there.

So just drum and don't worry about your age.
The current status of how you play right now is not important. Rather it's the dedication that you have and where it will bring you to is the most important.

[OldStampK]

Give it up gramps. At your age you need to think about slowing down, maybe join a shuffleboard league.