Ever since you were a kid, you had a fondness for the drum, you say. What could be better than turning banging and hitting things into a musical art form. You were awed by the star drummers of your youth who were masters of their platform while swinging their hands in a frenzy of hair, spit and passion. You spent your youth emulating them while tapping your hands on whatever object you could get your hands on, resolving that you’d one day learn drumming.

Except that day never came.

You could not make time or your attention was diverted or you got bogged down by your responsibilities. What was once a dream slowly faded away. All those years later, you look back with bitter wistfulness, sighing at the thought you could never pursue your passion. You think to yourself, is there still a chance? Is it possible? Could you perhaps pick up the sticks now? Or are you too old for drumming?

Fortunately for you, it is never too late for learning to drum or any other hobby for that matter other than the most extreme physical sports. There is no drumming age which precludes you from trying your hand at the instrument. If you feel the fire no matter how late, it is better to stoke it than snuff it with pessimism.

There will certainly be some challenges because of your age which we will explain below.

Challenges in learning to drum later in life

1. Stamina

To learn how to play the drums—or any musical instrument for that matter—you need stamina and energy. This will be your main hurdle if you are learning to drum at a later age and what puts off the majority of people.

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We are at the peak of our physical performance from our 20s to early 30s. After that, we come into our mental prime but our physical ability starts to decline. Thus, you may not feel up to the task or have the energy to devote long hours every day to studying and practicing.

2. Arranging finances

It is true that as an adult you have access to more financial resources, yet the allocation of those resources becomes a more deliberate task. Having to consider payments of bills, mortgage, school fees, and other expenses can put a damper on spending a big amount for a good drum set.

You may not have access to finances in your youth but you also don’t have any responsibility so you can eventually buy something by saving and working odd jobs.

3. Ability to learn

You are undoubtedly in your mental prime after your 30s all the way up to your 40s, but that is more a matter of wisdom, skills, and experience you have already learned.

The ability to quickly catch new things gets a bit compromised, which is why you may find it harder to pick up the basics. Becoming conscious of the different notes, beats and changes in rhythm may be trickier especially if you have hearing issues.

How to facilitate learning to drum late

The afore-mentioned challenges should not be enough to put you off from drumming. We meant it when we said there is no strict drumming age.

In fact, you might find various support facilities which will help you in picking up this new hobby.

Professional classes

As an adult, you will have access to the financial means to enroll in drumming classes. With professional classes, you will find them accommodating for the challenges of learning to drum late and offering their own tips and tricks to bring you up to speed.

A professional class will be a much better tutor than having to rely solely on online videos and recording your attempts. Your instructor will immediately spot mistakes and guide you in the process.

Drumming circles

If classes sound like too much of a hassle or expense then you don’t need to worry. Modern technology and social media platforms mean you can easily find communities of likeminded individuals of your age group.

Trying to find a Facebook group of late blooming drumming enthusiasts sounds like a very simple task. Through this, you can meet new people, make new friends and practice and learn among similar peers who will boost and support each other up.

Right mental attitude

Classes and support groups are good and all and they can substantially bolster you up. They will do you no amount of good however if you lose motivation easily and stop going to them.

As in the case of any approach or step in life, you will need to develop the right focus and fortitude to pursue learning to drum at a late age. There will be challenges, you will stumble, and you will fall but with tenacity and perseverance, you will find yourself handling the sticks like you always wanted to as a child.

Make it a family affair

There is no better joy than sharing your hobbies and pursuits with your significant other or children. If you involve your whole family or your children in drumming then it will be a much more enjoyable and pleasurable experience for all involved.

You will not have to think about paying time to the family or being selfish since drumming time will be family time. You will learn and grow together.

Conclusion

As you can quite clearly see, you can never be too old for drumming. It will certainly be more challenging but you might find the difficulty mitigated through options which only become available with age and financial security.

If you have a passion for drumming then go for it. After all, age is just a number. Besides, who says you have to become a professional? Enjoying playing the drums or any other instrument that you’re interested in is really all that matters in the end.