OMG. What Have I done? What Have We Done?

[RetroLounge]

It's my daughter's 5th birthday today, and my wife and I bought her the exact present she asked for.

A Drum Set...

:JustShootMeNow:

RL

[johnnie]

1. LOL

Usually that is the kind of gift us uncles get for our nieces and nephews. Have fun.

Oh, and I hope your daughter has a great day! Happy birthday Little Retro.

[RetroLounge]

29. Thanks!

Yeah, I WAS that Uncle :D

RL

[WCGreen]

2. Get ready.....

Why didn't you buy her the electroic drum kit.... They are just a cheap and she coul play with ear phones...

[kick-ass-bob]

3. HAHAHA! YOU IDIOT!

At least it was the grandparents that got our child a drum set.

:silly:

[China_cat]

11. That's what grandparents are for

to annoy the shit out of parents. Hey, we had to put up with it, why shouldn't you?

[NNadir]

14. My mother-in-law is world class at this.

[matcom]

4. LMAO!

"It's the end of the world as we know it....

[RetroLounge]

32. and I feel fine...

for now

:D

RL

[xmas74]

5. Even I didn't buy that!

But you can shoot me anyway. I bought my kid a guitar for Christmas. It's hidden in my bedroom closet right now. I thought maybe my brother could give her lessons.
I have the feeling that any instrument will be regretted shortly.

[RevCheesehead]

6. earplugs, aisle 3.

:rofl:

Sometimes you're the dog, sometimes the fire hydrant.

[RetroLounge]

30. I'm the dog this week...

in the doghouse.

RL

[progmom]

7. progspawn has one

After the first few days, he generally only plays them when we all get together and bang on drums or play guitars. It's not too bad. :) Good luck.

[billyskank]

9. progmom!!

:hug: Hi there. :)

[progmom]

13. billyskank!!!

:loveya:
how is your afternoon?

[billyskank]

15. It's great, thanks!

Main reasons:

(1) It's Friday!

(2) I've seen you. :loveya:

I hope your morning is equally good. And, if not, that your afternoon surpasses it.

[progmom]

17. you know...my morning is going pretty well

thanks for asking!

:loveya:

and i am thrilled that you're having a good day. :)

[rbnyc]

8. Good for you!

My husband started playing drums around that age. And since about that age, drumming has been one of the most fulfilling, happiest things in his life.

That's worth a little noise.

:)

[RetroLounge]

33. Definitely worth the noise.

I drove my parents bonkers with my guitars, but they were always there at the gigs and supported it all the way.

I have to do the same for RetroGirl

and RetroBoy wants to play guitar...

RL

[rbnyc]

43. You've got a band.

Family groups are coming back!

[RetroLounge]

49. Gotta teach Mrs Retro to play Bass

and we'll be all set!

RL

[henslee]

10. Absolutely the worst instrument in more ways than one. If she ever

gets serious -- she has to lug that thing all over, set it up, break it down. Plus if she ever gets in a famous band -- you know that they always dump the drummer as soon as something goes wrong.

[RetroLounge]

34. as long as she does not Spontaneously Combust

:rofl:

RL

[Bassic]

12. Music...

Is one of the best activities you could wish for your children to have.

Encourage her and buy her some lessons.

[tonkatoy57]

18. What He Said

Music has been perhaps the most consistently fulfilling activity in my life. I played in orchestras from the time I was in my teens and was able to both see the world and make a living at it for a while.

One of the most important parts of music was what it taught me about the rest of life. A lifetime of lessons and practice taught me so much about problem solving, time management, self discipline, and the joy of taking a project from a very difficult beginning to a successful conclusion. Participating in chamber music ensembles taught me interpersonal skills that I find valuable today. In any small group project you have to be able to communicate your ideas clearly and concisely and listen to other peoples input and arrive at a synthesis of ideas. Playing in an orchestra taught me that sometimes you're just a cog in a machine and that leadership often is top-down. What the conductor says goes. You play it that way and sublimate your own ideas. Who could disagree that the workplace is so often cut from the same cloth?

But of course the most important part of music is the adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment you get when you create or recreate music. It's hard to beat.

Enjoy the drums. As bad as it will be at the beginning it only gets better. If it's something your child really enjoys and sticks with the payoff is priceless for her and for you. Just think of how proud you'll be to see your child hunched over the tympani awaiting the cue from the conductor or seeing her wailing behind a rock band. As an aside, my son started french horn two years ago and really has a knack for it. He's 11 now and was just named principal horn in our symphony training orchestra. All of the other players are in high school. While my wife and I know he has a great deal of talent I think we're both more impressed and prouder at how hard he has worked and what that work has taught him about other facets of his life.

[Bassic]

19. I so agree

I'm a bass player and I've been in a steady rock band for 5 years now and it's one of the best things in my life. It just makes life more fun and a bit easier.

[RetroLounge]

64. Yeah, I miss playing in a band

RL

[jane_pippin]

16. Hahahah. Awesome!

If I hear drumming followed by a long "aaaaaarrrrrrggghhhhh" sound reverberating through the city, I'll just assume it's coming from your house.

[RetroLounge]

35. and maybe I'll get to see her on stage someday

at the Cactus Club!

:hi:

RL

[jane_pippin]

40. There you go! Optimism all around--yay for it!

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

41. Optimism is one gift I need to use

else, well, you know...

So Yay!

RL

[samdogmom]

20. We got my daughter a drum set two years ago. She's very good and a joy to

listen to. When you've got rhythm--it's not noise, it's music.

[Pithlet]

21. That's what I was thinking of getting my son for his 5th

It's not for a few months yet. I know I'm insane, but he has an amazing sense of rythm, and I think he'd love it. I'll just have to stock up on Advil.

[DemBones DemBones]

22. Good for you for getting her what she wanted!

She'll either become a good drummer or she'll lose interest, so either way you shouldn't have to listen to too much awful drumming.

And if she's serious about it, you can always soundproof her room so you don't have to hear her practice.

Our daughter is a musician and we're glad she has followed her dream and is still living her dream. What more can you want for your kids? (Well, besides a job with good benefits, LOL.)

[Shine]

23. LOL!! Wow, 5 is pretty young for a drum set. Are you talking a

real drum kit, with snares, cymbals, the whole thing? They have these kiddie sized ones that look pretty cute...and probably are capable of making a lot of noise. I feel for ya, buddy.

My 11 yr old son took up drumming about a year ago and has been taking weekly lessons. We got a nice Yamaha drum kit online for about $500 last May. Luckily, for us, he's got some chops and is actually pretty good.

Still, closing his bedroom door and limiting when he plays always helps.

Have fun and good luck,
Shine
:hi:

[RetroLounge]

37. It's a kid sized real drum set

Bass, Pedal, Cymbal, snare, Tom and Stool.

Can add hi-hat and more toms later, or move her up to a real set when she gets taller.

Drum set moves from livingroom to bedroom tonight :D

RL

[Shine]

42. Cool.

Those kiddie sets are good for her age. She'll have fun, I'm sure.

Good luck, Dad!

:)
Shine

[RetroLounge]

48. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[Zomby Woof]

24. Cool!

As long as she has a cool model train set, she's set! :D

[RetroLounge]

28. Of course!

:hi:

RL

[Not_Giving_Up]

25. Stock up on Advil and earplugs

You'll need both.

[tigereye]

26. yee-haa

all girls should play the drums! :thumbsup:

signed TE, (old self-taught female punk drummer.)

It's actually more popular than it used to be.

[RetroLounge]

38. You can come over and give her lessons!

:hi:

RL

[tigereye]

44. well, I just spent 2 years unlearning all of my bad self-taught

habits at my drum teacher's, like double hitting the hi-hat. It is cool to know how to play correctly, with hand independence and such, but I miss my haphazard approach somewhat.

I know she will have fun, and she's got a good rock and roll pedigree, too!

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

47. Yeah, I found it really hard to take guitar lessons

as I was self-taught, more of a punk-basher power chord, occasional burst of lead kind of player. And they wanted me to learn scales and theory etc.

"a good rock and roll pedigree" Yeah, she thinks Daddy was a rock star based on old pictures and cassette tapes. Pretty funny, actually.

RL

[Left Is Write]

27. Happy Birthday to your daughter, and good luck to you!

My 5yo daughter would also like to learn to play the drums AND the guitar.

[RetroLounge]

39. Go For It!

She'll love it!

RL

[anarch]

31. That's a great present!

Really, it is. However, you may want to consider:

http://www.soundproofing.org/

[RubyDuby in GA]

36. Dude - that's what I'm getting my 6yo nephew for X-mas

My brother just bought a new house far away from mine :evilgrin:

[radwriter0555]

45. NEVER. BUY. TOYS. THAT. MAKE NOISE. That disturbs MOMMY. DO NOT

disturb MOMMY.

You'll regret it, a LOT.

:glowers:

[RetroLounge]

52. Mommy idea too.

really...

RL

[radwriter0555]

60. those bastards NEVER think of the MOMMY.

All toys that make noise are herewith removed.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

62. It'll cease to have been Mommy's idea shortly. History will be rewritten.

Just wait. :evilgrin:

[RetroLounge]

63. Yeah, I suspect that will be the case...

RL

[Magrittes Pipe]

46. I'm glad I moved away.

:P

[RetroLounge]

53. You just fear a strong cool punk drummer chick

even if she is only 5.

:hi:

RL

[LoZoccolo]

50. Rock on!

Having a musical outlet is cool, and if she keeps up she'll be really good by the time people start forming bands in junior high and high school. Though I would have tried to convince her to want those ones with electronic drum pads with the provision that she could play them at any time of day with headphones on.

[populistdriven]

51. just shoot you?

http://www.hitman.us

[RetroLounge]

54. Funny site

:scared:

RL

[RetroLounge]

55. Here is a picture of the Birthday Girl

looking rather happy...



RL

[RevCheesehead]

56. She is a cutie!

Obviously, she takes after her mother. ;)

[RetroLounge]

57. Obviously

else she would look like Alec Baldwin...

RL

[greblc]

58. Ear Plugs.....

[KitchenWitch]

59. You need your head examined!

:rofl:

[RetroLounge]

61. Yes, I know that

but what do you think about buying her a drum set?

:rofl:

RL