At what age did you start playing?

[marin_zhelezov]

At what age must a musician start to play?

Guys like Virgil Donati and others play from 3 years old (see GOOGLE VIDEOS "7 years old drum wiz kid")

Is the age you start playing important if you want to become good?

[Fur drummer]

Really is no right or wrong answer. I say it depends on the person. Some people are just gifted and others it takes awhile.

For me I started playing pots, pans, suitcases, Whatever I could get a sound out of when I was 8 yrs old. My parents would not buy me a set when I was a kid. I didn't get my first set until my middle 20's.

[Class A Drummer]

I started when i was 6 or 7. Im 15 now, and i still love it.

If you want to become good, of course starting earlier will help, but im sure there are plenty of good drummers who started in their teens, 20's, 30's, ect. It helps to start early, but its no necessity.

[maddrummr]

Hmm 2 years ago i bought a drumset and started soo thats when i was 13.
Started percussion in band class back when i was 11 but im not really counting that.
Soo 13 it is.

[Butch Axsmith]

I was playing in the school band at age 5......
But in the end it is good to start at any age.....
Love what your doing/////
Butch Axsmith

[rendezvous_drummer]

I started when I was 16. I really wish I had the passion to start when I was younger, but I didn't capitalize on the chance of playing on my brothers kit....not like he would allow me anyway haha.

[Jeroen aka aksie]

I started when I was ten years old, but only the last 2 years I've really been into drums, spending a lot of my time on it. In those two years I think I made the same progress as in my first... like 5 years.

[Algo]

1 month ago, 14 years old

[OldHippy]

58- still trying hard to catch up

[murphinelli]

Started at 13, stopped at 22, started again at 40....

I think you can start at any age.

Although, the younger you are the better...younger people, kids can absorb more...their minds are clear and not cluttered with nonsense...the older you get, the more nonsense comes into your brain...and the more responsibilites and day-to-day distractions you have...

[Skacatz]

I started in the mid-60's when I was in the 4th grade......any of you older guys remember the Mastro snare drum?...the thing was actually made of plastic...I think the only metal it contained may have been the snares and the lug screws.

You can find one on ebay occassionally.

[Cochise McBain]

At the tender age of 12 I started to play the Trumpet. I wasn't real thrilled with it. I knew I wanted to play something I just couldn't figure out what. The one day when I was 13, a friend of mine stopped me at my locker and siad his Mom had just got him a drumset, and would I like to come over and see it???? It hit me like a ton of bricks!!!!! That was IT!! He became my best friend after that.
Cochise

[JAHdrumming]

I recieved my first set at the age of 2. At that time I could barely slobber on my sticks, but I grew up with drums all over the place and sticks in my hands. I have been beating drums as long as I have been walking. I dont think length of time has anything to do with the level that you play at. It depends on how productive the time spend behind the drums is.

[morbius25]

I started when I was 24, I'm 26 now.....

[Salicete]

How long-at what age did I start playing? What time is it now?


In my 30s, Im 45 now.

[thecraponline]

My parents had me start taking violin lessons when I was about 8, and I still play (even though I don't really like violin at all.)

The first time I sat behind a drum set was when I was about 11, at my church. Two years later I finally convinced my parents to let me buy a kit, and I've owned that for about six months now. (I had to play on the ridiculous stock cymbals for about a month though, before I got to go to GuitarCenter for my PST-5s.)

[kacperivo]

veery late. i was 15. that's a thing that bothered me pretty much for some time, but one wise man once told to me "there's never too late to start drumming. work hard and have fun" :). and i try to live and play by this rule.

[Tom B.]

I started when I was in 5th grade, when I was 9, and I'm 13 now.

[Rebige]

I started playing trumpet at 11 years old and hated it then my band teacher let me take the drums home for the summer holidays to learn them and by grade seven 12 years old) I had started to play.

[cnw60]

Can't really say exactly when I started - my older brother played and he had headphones and a record player set up with the drums. He showed me a few things and I'd plug in and wail away (I pity anyone who could hear it...) - maybe 7 or eight years old at the time.

Started school band at 10, lessons at 12...

- stopped playing around 26 (except for sitting in every now and then at parties if the band and drummer were cool)

Started again at 43 (2 1/2 years ago) - I really don't know how I got along without it for so long...

[MetalGrand]

I started playing on my 10th birthday and I am 14 right now.

[da cheese walks]

i wanted to play since i was a kid of 6....

didnt happen till i was 15...

now 2 years and a month later,im 18 and loving it!

but i do wish i could have started earlier.....

[crlujan]

I was 31 when I started playing and I'm 32 now. But I'm picking it up real quick. Working on be-bop stuff. It helps that I've played upright bass in different jazz groups in the SF Bay Area for the past 10 or so years. Electric bass before that. And I've got a great instructor. His name is Jeff Marrs if any of you are familiar with him. He's been a friend for many years. Me on bass, him on drums. Now him behind me showing me how to play. Sure, I wish I would have started earlier in my life but I guess I was busy with the bass. Some would say I've finally come to my senses.

[tamadrummer132]

I started playing on my 10th birthday and I am 14 right now.

stalker.

1. i started when i was 10 (but on christmas)

2. Im 14 now

3. My youth pastor used to live in phoenix arizona....

[Budiesel]

I started playing on my 9th birthday. I'm 18 now, going on 19 this July. No lessons either :)

[bonzolead]

I started playing a the age of 4(that's when I could reach the bass drum pedal)but Dad told me that he used to sit me on his lap when I was about 18 months old give me sticks and I would just start swatting ant the cymbals and drums.All I know is that I had a drumset before a Bicycle LOL.Dad plays drums also so I was very lucky.(got his hand-me downs)

Keep Swatting,
Bonzolead

[shnapper]

I started when I was 35 1/2 I'm 40 now...............

[Antman]

Started at 9, stopped at 17 for a bit over a year, back in at 18 and I'm 22 now.

I don't believe the age you started is important.
I'm not 100%, but didn't Chris Adler(sp?) start at around the age of 20..?

[massaf]

I started 6 years ago when I was 14. But before that I played the guitar, piano and saxophone (not at the same time). I must tell they helped me a lot with my reading and tempo.

[tooldrums1000]

14 years of age is when i started.
My friends brother had drums so everytime i went over to his house i would play his brothers drums and he allways critised my by saying that my brother is better than you and you stink but now i can slaugter his brother.

[jayp]

I first hopped on my dads friends kit at around age 8 and loved it, but I never went further till I was 19 and I just had to buy a kit! I wish I didnt think band was so geeky in school or I would have done it in a heart beat, now I wish I could have gone back and been in jazz band and always wish I could have been "teh snare master!"

[Vinnysimmo]

I started at 13 and before that I played trumpet for a year but i quit.

[Ironcobra]

i started out playing trumpet for like 5 years i think, and i was always jealous of the drummer, so i finnally bought my first set when i was 13

[Davidb59]

46 but glad I did it after all that time wanting to!

[Batera945]

started playing at the age of ten and now nine years lata here i am =D im so glad i started playing drums... i know that in a family dilled with musicians i would have to play something lol... so glad i found the drums =)

[Wavelength]

At the age of 20 (characters).

[Tutin]

I started at 7-8 and now I'm 17.

Funny thing is, me, my Dad and my brother are all drummers and my sister is a tap dancer.

...my Mum hates tapping.

[Acronomic]

I started when I was 17... now I'm 20.

I don't think you have to start early, but it is an advantage, definately. I tend to be more exited about drummers who haven't been drumming since they were but children though. I don't really know why!

[charlie_drums[SPA]]

I started at 7-8 and now I'm 17.

Funny thing is, me, my Dad and my brother are all drummers and my sister is a tap dancer.

...my Mum hates tapping.

Wow! O.o

I started at 16, now i'm 20 yo.

[grue]

after 25 years of guitar, i started playing drums two months ago at the age of 38.

[bonzolead]

after 25 years of guitar, i started playing drums two months ago at the age of 38.Nice to see you converted to a REAL instrument LOL.

Keep Swatting,
Bonzolead

[NIMBY]

i started when i was 13 and im now 16, picked it up really quick and had no lessons...but im thinkin about a couple just to see if im on the right track

[P-TownDrummer]

I started playing in the 4th grade and I'm 35. My school offered band in the 4th grade and I started then and stuck with it all these years.