Inspiring the Next Generation, One Beat at a Time

Two Days, Two Presentations, One Shared Inspiration

Two days, two presentations.

When I wrote some time ago about the experience of teaching just one child, I had no idea what still lay ahead of me.

After my experience in September, I expected that sparking interest in such a loud instrument among younger audiences would be a real challenge. After the last two presentations, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Most of the students were already fascinated by the instrument itself — and even more so by the energy it produces once it comes to life. On the other hand, feeling the genuine excitement of more than 200 students in one space was just as overwhelming for me. It’s the kind of experience you don’t come across every day. You sometimes feel something similar at concerts, but even that doesn’t quite compare. When the focus is entirely on you and your project, the intensity is on another level and hard to put into words.

Although I’ve grown used to all kinds of “special characters” over the years, it’s young people who still manage to surprise me — and remind me, time and again, that there’s always more to learn. One moment, a teenager surprises you by talking about her love for horror films, then sits down at the piano in the music classroom and plays excerpts from two of her favourite movies. After a few seconds of staring in disbelief, you realise you’re not just looking at talent, but at a kindred spirit. I was just as obsessed with horror films in my teenage years, and meeting someone so young with such a strong artistic interest feels truly special. Creativity shows itself in many different forms, and experiences like this have once again pushed me to rethink my approach to teaching — and to adapt it even more in the future. Sometimes it takes only a small moment to spark an insight that may lead to something much bigger down the line.

I was also reminded of a less pleasant reality: money. There were many questions about the cost of drums, equipment, and learning materials. Normally, these are questions you answer quickly and almost automatically — but in this context, it felt different. It’s unsettling to realise how early teenagers are already burdened with financial concerns. Of course, it’s a fact that many families today find it harder to afford certain things. Still, when you see that spark, the motivation, and above all the potential in young people, you almost wish you didn’t have to mention money at all. In cases of exceptional talent, finances should never be a barrier — and fortunately, there are individuals who dedicate their careers to helping develop that potential.

As I’ve already mentioned in one of my previous posts, not everyone needs top-of-the-line drums when starting out. In some cases, you don’t even need the equipment that is often aggressively marketed to beginners. Sometimes, a simple practice pad for hands and feet is more than enough. Many drummers started exactly this way — and what they later achieved is proof that almost anything is possible.

Until next time: stay inspired — and inspire others.