[rliebert]

Hi. I'm glad there's a site like this. I joined hoping to get information about drums. I love drums as does my 13 year old. He goes around the house playing with his drum sticks on furniture, the floor, our pets, etc. He's very interested in playing. He doesn't like the band scene at school and so my wife and I were thinking getting him a set (new or used) for Christmas. Unfortunately, I know virtually nothing about drums. Could anyone suggest a good brand name, what he would need to start off, what should we look for when checking out a set of drums, how much should we expect to pay for a reasonable set. I know these are very vague and general questions but if anyone has any information to help out, I would be very grateful. Incidently, I live in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area (and yes, there really is a Kalamazoo)s o if anyone knows a good place to get drums in the area, that'd be great. I'd also be willing to travel to Indiana, Illinios or Ohio. Thanks. Rainer.

[skinslapper]

Hi Rainer, Welcome to the forum.

Any reputable name drum company, Pearl, Tama, Sonor, premier, etc. Will be a good choice for the first kit. Pearl forum for example will give you a good set of solid shells, dependable hardware, and many extras at a good price.

You wana make sure that kit has everything you need to get started. Bass pedal, hi hat stand and so on. A lot of stores will even give you some beginner cymbals to get you going.

Get out to your stores and start shopping around to know prices. After you've done a bit of that, you know what to look for when buying secondhand.

Good luck.

	Pearl Drums Shop for Pearl Drums at Musician's Friend

	Tama Drums Shop for Tama Drums at Musician's Friend

	Sonor Drums Shop for Sonor Drums at Musician's Friend

[guss]

try a drum pad, they are fun to learn on, even you can learn on them, some of the best snair players(marching and kit, drum with "snaired bottom" have learned with pads or just snair)play them for practice(after lessons, which i admit are helpfull)

After each lesson have your kid teach you so you can be learning at the same speed as him(remember tea cup ballence, and NOT energizer bunny)

I was that way kitess years(about his age)pets tend to not play drums.

Hope you post more, mabe even he can someday(remember tell him to becarefull if he dose, even though this is the friendlyist drum forum on the web).
-Allways posting and reading