African Drum

[Oakleaf51]

Local comprehensive now callitself an "Arts College." Son comes home the other day and and says he has been learning how to play an African drum. Dead handy that. You never know when you might be walking down the street, there's a crisis, an emergency, and all they need is somebody who can play an African drum! Bingo! There you are, saving the day!
Then I suppose there are great career prospects for somebody who can play an African drum. Who need Phil Collins? Even the gorilla on the choccy ad can't play an AFRICAN drum, no, you need a British schoolkid for that!

[Octavius]

You should be grateful that your son is able to demonstrate emergent behaviour regardless of your prejudice and knock back of his talents for a cognitive outlook. Jeepers if you push yourself and allay your ignorance you could even chant some praises for his ability to overcome any signs of dysdiadochokinesis.

[Pippa68]

Do you want some condiments with your dictionary today, Oct?

[Oakleaf51]

Playing a drum doesn't pay the bloody rent!

[tubeway]

Try telling that to Phil Collins, Clem Burke, Cosy Powell, Gene Crouper, Paul Cook, Pete Thomas, Keith Moon, Budgie, Nick Hodgeson, Topper Headon, Mick Fleetwood..........etc etc etc

All of these people pay their rent (and then some) through drumming - I know they are in the minority - but how many people make a living out of Geography or History but they should still be taught

[Oakleaf51]

Sorry mate - I live in the real world and I read the daily mirror!

[jno]

er, I certainly wouldn't be telling my son to try to emulate the career of Keith Moon.

[beso]

You appear to have so little in common with your son and so little interest in his life. Yes his life...not the one you want him to life for you. He obviously enjoys this drumming since he actually bothered to tell you. Rare it is that kids tell anything about what they do at school.

My advice would be to get him to show you a bit about drumming and have a jam together. Basic drumming is not so hard and you don't need anything special to participate. A couple of sticks and a cardboard box would do. You could even find a British box.

You might just be surprised by the benefits it would bring to your relationship. For once spend a bit of time doing something with him instead of denigrating his interest. You might even learn to understand the simple pleasure of making music with another person.

I can't help feeling sorry that your son but I feel even sorrier for you.

[saxy_jag]

Music-making, and group music-making in particular, fosters a sense of belonging and social responsibility. It promotes teamwork and leadership skills and yes, as part of a musical education, it teaches valuable rhythm skills and an appreciation of non-western musical culture (which is also very much a part of modern rock, blues, jazz, R&B and most contemporary western music forms you could name, as well as being part of the GCSE/A Level Music syllabi).

The musical skills aside (and plenty of people do pay their rent by it), if you don't have the intellectual capacity to read music or play a tuned instrument, or if you don't have the sporting ability to play football or rugby or whatever, then your opportunity to be part of a band or team become somewhat diminished. Without teamwork skills, you're unlikely to get far in life or in the workplace these days. You'll also end up having no choice but to read the Daily Mirror, because your horizons are unlikely ever to extend beyond it.