In our household, it was mandatory to take at least two years of recorder before embarking on a more advanced musical instrument. My plan was to suffer the two years of recorder then take up the piano or guitar.

I’m not sure if I didn’t complete the full two years or if something else, such as lack of interest typical of a child which prevented me from taking up either of these instruments. However, I did not become the guitarist or pianist as planned.

Therefore, my early childhood years were not spent on a piano stool or with guitar in hand.

At the age of 14, after a couple of tumultuous teenage years, I negotiated with my mother that my weapon of choice could be the drums. With that settled, I started eagerly my drum lessons with a fantastic drum teacher whose musical tastes where in line with mine so learning the beats to my favourite songs was not a problem.

When I started learning the drums, I was not given a drum kit. To begin with, I started on a practice pad. It was about a year after I started my drum lessons that my mother & I went halves on a drum kit. I still have the kit now & the practice pad.

Unfortunately, due to lack of space, the kit is packed away but the practice pad is still pulled out to hit a few beats on.

Through my drumming, I had the opportunity to meet Chad Smith from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, which was such an amazing experience.