My first drum set was a set of bongos and a pair of chopsticks. I was 3 years old, playing in my kitchen. The beat didn’t sound professional, but I was still surprisingly good for my age. A few years later I had my first drum lesson and was exposed to the reality of symbols, high hats, bass, snare, and tom-toms. At first I was confused and overwhelmed by the different components of a drum set. At the same time, I wish I had 10 more arms so I could grasp the full experience of rocking out with John Bonham, Led Zeppelin’s legendary drummer. 

Drums are significantly connected to my emotions. I feel upbeat and reawakened after hearing the drums, specifically classic rock songs such as Ramble On. Drumming not only impacts the beat of a song, but it impacts my mood and emotional tone, and allows me to express my feelings creatively. If I feel sad, I think about what is making me sad and figure out how to make myself feel happy. Playing the drums gets me more involved with the music because I am not just listening passively to the music, I become an active, integral part of the music.  Drums control the tempo of the music and the mood of the entire song, and I use that experience to express my ideas and imagination.

While I am not looking to drum professionally, I will continue to improve my skills by learning from other people and their own adventures through music.