are real drums too loud for the kids?

[Jimbilly]

I've got two little kids, ages 7 and 3.5, they love the little crappy first-act 'drumset' that the older one got for christmas a few years ago. We have 'music band' frequently, they're both really into it. Any friends they have over can't resist whacking on that drum set.

I know where there's a pretty decent looking Tama MIJ Rockstar set (dw5000 kick pedal, good hi-hat, 2 cheaper crashes, I can get it for about $350.

Most drummers I know play with earplugs or headphones a lot of the time, would this drum set come along with hearing damage for my kids? Maybe they wouldn't be hitting hard/long enough to cause any hearing damage?

I'm sure I could find an ok electronic set for $400-$500, but all the electronics/cables/amp might be problematic, especially with untrained young visitors swinging sticks around and twisting knobs. Any thoughts? Buy the Tama and get several sets of over-ear headphone type ear protectors?

[morningstar]

Ear protection every time. I even mow the lawn with plugs in. Back before the studio went bust, I used to hand them out. Twenty bucks gets a whole case of real nice ones. I dunno if they make over the ear mouse ears for little kids. It might be spendy for something they will outgrow fast.

Some drummers are wearing headphones to get a mix as it can be difficult to hear others behind the skins.

Definitely get the protection whatever the form. Kids are not really able to appreciate the potential harm. Tinnitus sucks.

My input overpriced at .02.

morningstar

[stonge]

I would think to err on the side of caution; in one of my old bands the singer's grandson (who was 3) frequently wandered into the middle of the practice room and danced to grampy's band right at amp/speaker/drum kit level. Always made me wonder how bad his ears were ringing after that (I always wear earplugs when practicing with a band).

Cymbals just kill my hearing (always have, even when I was younger), and I'd think that whacking around on the drums might not be much better (I've worked with some HEAVY handed drummers lol). I'd think about getting some over-ear protectors (even Home Depot might have something just to take the edge off) then let 'em bash away. Can't take all the fun out of life (or wrap them in bubble wrap lol).

At least let them get old enough for iPods to kill their hearing. I'm amazed my god-daughter still has any hearing at this point. When I can hear her tunes OVER the XM radio in the front seat and she's in the wayback of the van with her iPod... lol.

[cmatthes]

What?!?!?

Definitely get them plugs at a young age. They recover a lot quicker then you or I would now, but I agree with the advice above. They're at an age where they'll be whacking on those things as hard as they can and won't be zeroing in on the dynamics for a few years.

[cynic]

They make them for kids

[crunchee]

+1. Kids don't have any impulse control, they like things loud, just like they like watching TV as close as possible. Thankfully I didn't have ear-bud type headphones when I was a kid, I can't imagine what damage goes on with a iPod...I can't handle them at full volume NOW.

[tbonesullivan]

playing a drum set without hearing protection: bad idea. The drums themselves aren't that bad, except the snare, but the cymbals are ungodly loud and are also loud in the areas of hearing that are necessary to understand speech. Right now I'm going through my amps and finding the ones that are just "too loud" to be of any use to me.

[Turdus]

Agree on cymbals + snare. Loudest drummer I played with had (4) 18" crash cymbals... there was no escape.

Play a few years, with electronic drums, then play again with real drums... It is a severe shock to the systems... all of a sudden, you can't hear the monitors, and the guitar amps start to get turned way up/

[Jimbilly]

Yeah, you're right, not much impulse control around here, the real drums would be fun but it would be a constant battle to make them wear ear protection. I've got a set of over-ear headphone type 'protectors', I forget why I got them for the older kid, but he has used them.

I'm totally careful, I also won't mow the lawn without earplugs , I use earplugs and those over-ears when doing anything really loud, like using the angle grinder.

I'll find an electronic set, -thanks dudes!

[gorch]

Plugs anytime! Our youngster (7.5) started playing last year. He's always wearing plugs. His teacher is seriously taking care of the matter.

Drum sound intense is easily underestimated. Even (s)low playing of our son could be heard down the road as I'd had to rise the volume for guitar playing a lot and still would not reach the same intense. Windows closed of course.

At least every neighbor knows our son's playing drums. No one ever asked who'd played guitar. I just think that raises other questions.

[JohnnyB]

+1. Kids don't have any impulse control, they like things loud, just like they like watching TV as close as possible.

Yes they do if they have parents like I had. I could watch TV at a safe distance or not watch TV at all. I could play drums for as long as I wanted or I could pound them for a few minutes. What happens depends to a large extent on what environment and playing style the parents tolerate or encourage. I started playing drums at age 9 and my brother had been playing drums since I was 5. I played throughout my teen and young adult life, and put myself through college playing drums. In my mid-20s my hearing still tested out to 19 Khz.

There are plenty of things you can do to a conventional set to keep the volume at safe levels. Smaller shell kits and cymbal diameters don't play as loud. You can dampen the room to absorb a significant amount of sound, put tape or felt on the heads and cymbals if necessary, and use light weight sticks and rod bundles. I used to accompany unamplified acoustic and vocal ensembles a lot. It can be done, but it has to be taught. They can always learn to pound drums on their own, but environment, training, and expectations teach them to play musically.

[crunchee]

Like I said, kids don't have any impulse control...

Edited to add: apparently she had her hands over her ears due to the roar of the crowd! I guess she coulda used some hearing protection.

[JohnnyB]

Edited to add: apparently she had her hands over her ears due to the roar of the crowd! I guess she coulda used some hearing protection.

I saw the video today. She was reacting to the flyover of a formation of vintage WWII war planes.

And I could just as easily say that based on the behavior of the children in the wedding procession, they are quite capable of impulse control. They were very focused and well-behaved, and Kate's sister leading them was a touching sight.