My son Daniel first had a ‘bash’ on the Drums in March 2020, just as we were entering the first COVID lockdown. He was 7 years old. It began as an activity to help fill the days as by this point his school was closed but they had not yet got up to speed with setting activities that the pupils could do from home. He immediately fell in love with playing the drums and he saw it as a ‘release’ from the anger he felt at not being able to see his friends.

After around a month of playing along to YouTube videos we saw an advert on Facebook for a Drum Tutor offering lessons by Zoom. I contacted Ed, the tutor, and he was happy to take on the task of teaching a 7-year-old beginner via a laptop. Ed began teaching Daniel in May 2020 and taught Daniel some of the basic skills and rudiments required, while at the same time we purchased the Trinity Grade Initial book and myself and Daniel worked on the songs at home. We recorded and entered his Initial Drum exam in November 2020 whilst Daniel was still 7 years old. His result was a Merit.

Over the next couple of years as COVID rules eased we continued with our weekly drum lessons over Zoom (Daniel has had well over a 100 drum lessons now but has never actually met Ed in person). In July last year Daniel passed his Grade 4 Drums. This led to a desire explore music outside the confines of our home. We applied and he was accepted for the Foundation Study programme with the Southwest Music School. Since September Daniel has attended every 6 weeks or so on a Sunday. Activities have ranged from a day of jazz improvisation ending with a performance to the parents, to taking a walk around local area and then as a group trying to recreate the sounds they have heard on their instruments. Daniel enjoys being outside his comfort zone and working with musicians his own age.

Around the same time, we heard of PopClub. This is a club for 9–18-year-olds based in a town a few miles from us. They have around a dozen members and are led by a Music Producer/Local Musician. Daniel is one of 2 drummers in the band. He learns from the other drummer who is 17 and who will leave the band next summer to go to University. There is no sheet music for any of the music so Daniel learns from listening to the songs and watching the older drummer for the songs beat and fills.  Daniels confidence has grown immensely over the last 6 months playing a range of songs with mainly older teenagers. This summer the band are due to play several local festivals and events and Daniel is already looking forward to making his live debut with the full band.

He has also become a Grade 3 Bass player during this time.