We’ve all seen it – kids banging away on pots and pans, tapping pencils during homework, or drumming along to their favorite songs. What looks like just making noise (sometimes lots of it!) is actually the start of something pretty amazing. It turns out that all this drumming and rhythm play does some incredible things for kids’ developing brains – way beyond just learning music.

What’s Actually Happening in Those Little Drummer Brains?

Scientists have been digging into what happens when kids play with rhythm, and the findings are pretty cool. Research from Northwestern University found that children who got just 15 months of music training developed stronger brain connections in areas that handle sound processing and attention (Kraus & Strait, 2015).

But drumming has some special superpowers compared to other musical activities.

Dr. Nina Kraus, who runs Northwestern’s Auditory Neuroscience Lab, found that rhythm is fundamental to how our brains process both music AND language. Her research shows that kids who have better rhythm skills also tend to process speech more consistently, which helps with reading and language development (Kraus et al., 2014). Pretty neat connection, right?

More Than Just Keeping the Beat

When kids drum, they’re giving their brains a full workout. Here’s what’s happening under those drumming hands:

1. Building Brain Boss Skills

You know those executive function skills that help kids pay attention, control impulses, and remember instructions? Turns out drumming is like a training camp for these abilities. A 2020 study found that elementary students who did rhythm-focused music training showed big improvements in these skills compared to kids who didn’t (Slater et al., 2020).

In real life, this means:

• Kids who can focus better in class (because drumming requires that same sustained attention)
• Better impulse control (hey, you have to wait your turn to play!)
• Stronger memory (remembering rhythm patterns exercises the same mental muscles as remembering school instructions)

2. Stealth Math Skills

Don’t tell the kids, but when they’re counting beats, learning note values, and following patterns, they’re actually doing math! And they’re loving it!

Researchers at the University of California discovered that second-graders who got music training with an emphasis on rhythm scored 27% higher on proportional math problems than kids who didn’t (Courey et al., 2012). That’s a pretty significant boost just from having fun with drums!

3. Reading and Language Connection

Here’s something cool – the rhythm of drumming and the rhythm of speaking are super connected. Both involve patterns, timing, and breaking sounds into segments.

Dr. Jessica Grahn, a brain scientist at Western University, has shown that how well kids can feel and understand rhythm strongly relates to their phonological awareness – which is a fancy way of saying “the ability to hear and work with the sounds in words” (Grahn & Schuit, 2012). This skill is a major predictor of reading success.

Many kids who struggle with reading actually have trouble with the rhythmic aspects of language. Drumming can help strengthen these pathways in the brain, potentially giving reading skills a boost.

Physical Perks: Coordination and Movement Skills

Beyond all the brain benefits, drumming helps kids physically develop in some important ways:

1. Getting Both Sides Working Together

Drumming requires both hands (and sometimes feet) to work independently yet together – what experts call bilateral coordination. This cross-body coordination strengthens connections between the brain’s hemispheres and helps with everything from handwriting to sports.

2. Fine and Gross Motor Skills

Depending on the kind of drumming, kids develop:

• Finger and hand control (great for writing and other detailed work)
• Larger arm movements and posture control
• The ability to plan and execute sequences of movements smoothly

A study in 2018 found that kids who participated in just a 10-week percussion program showed measurable improvements in both fine and gross motor coordination (Brodsky & Sulkin, 2018). Not bad for something they think is just fun!

Social-Emotional Growth in the Drum Circle

Some of the biggest benefits of drumming come through its social side:

1. Emotional Regulation

Having a tough day? Drum it out! Drumming gives kids a physical way to express emotions. The rhythmic nature of drumming has been shown to help regulate heart rate and breathing, which helps with emotional self-regulation (Bittman et al., 2001).

One mom told us: “After a frustrating day at school, my daughter heads straight for her practice pad. Twenty minutes later, she’s like a different kid – calmer and more balanced.”

2. Teamwork and Listening Skills

In a drum circle or ensemble, every kid has to:

• Listen carefully to others
• Add their part at the right time
• Follow directions while playing their own rhythm
• Experience how their contribution affects the whole group sound

Dr. Edward Hubbard, who studies music and the brain at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says that “synchronized activities like group drumming create a sense of social connection and belonging that few other activities can match” (Hubbard, 2017).

3. Confidence Boosting

Mastering even simple rhythms gives kids immediate feedback and a sense of “I did it!” As they progress to more complex patterns and performances, they build confidence that carries over into other areas of life.

Why Starting Young Is So Awesome

While anyone can start drumming at any age (yes, even you, parents!), there’s something special about starting during the elementary years (ages 5-12).

During this time:

• Kids’ brains are super adaptable and responsive to learning new skills
• Coordination and motor skills are developing rapidly
• Learning patterns that will support future education are being established
• Social skills and group awareness are forming

A long-term study found that children who began music training before age 7 developed stronger connections between motor and auditory regions of the brain – connections that were still evident years after they’d stopped training (Bailey & Penhune, 2013). Talk about a lasting impact!

Real Results from Our Drummers

Here at Groove, Inc., we see these benefits play out every day. Parents regularly tell us about improvements in their children’s:

• Focus and attention span in school
• Ability to follow multi-step directions
• Confidence in group settings
• Willingness to stick with challenges

As one dad shared:

“Before joining the drumline, my son struggled with sitting still and focusing on homework. After just one season, his teachers commented on his improved attention span and ability to stay on task. He’s applying the same focus he learned in drumming to his schoolwork.”

Getting Your Child Started with Drumming

The great thing about rhythm is that everyone can do it, regardless of previous musical experience. Kids don’t need expensive equipment or years of private lessons to start experiencing the benefits of drumming.

If you’re curious about how drumming could benefit your child, here are some easy ways to check us out:

• Drop by one of our upcoming performances or rehearsals (they’re fun, we promise!)
• Visit an open house to meet our instructors and see what we’re all about
• Ask us about scholarship opportunities if cost is a concern

Our beginning classes for ages 5-9 focus on fun, basic skills, and the joy of making music together. No experience needed – just enthusiasm and a willingness to try something new!

Join Our Drumming Family

Registration for our programs opens soon. Shoot us a message at groovesiouxfalls@gmail.com to learn more about how your child can begin their drumming journey.

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References

Bailey, J., & Penhune, V. B. (2013). The relationship between timing ability and motor sequence learning in children: Effects of age and early music training. Developmental Science, 16(4), 594-606.

Bittman, B., Berk, L., Shannon, M., Sharaf, M., Westengard, J., Guegler, K. J., & Ruff, D. W. (2001). Composite effects of group drumming music therapy on modulation of neuroendocrine-immune parameters in normal subjects. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 7(1), 38-47.

Brodsky, W., & Sulkin, I. (2018). Handclapping songs: A spontaneous platform for child development among 5-10-year-old children. International Journal of Music Education, 36(4), 554-568.

Courey, S. J., Balogh, E., Siker, J. R., & Paik, J. (2012). Academic music: Music instruction to engage third-grade students in learning basic fraction concepts. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 81(2), 251-278.

Grahn, J. A., & Schuit, D. (2012). Individual differences in rhythmic ability: Behavioral and neuroimaging investigations. Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain, 22(2), 105-121.

Hubbard, E. M. (2017). Linking music, movement, and math: Integrating rhythm and numerosity processing. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 21(6), 419-420.

Kraus, N., & Strait, D. L. (2015). Emergence of biological markers of musicianship with school-based music instruction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1337(1), 163-169.

Kraus, N., Slater, J., Thompson, E. C., Hornickel, J., Strait, D. L., Nicol, T., & White-Schwoch, T. (2014). Music enrichment programs improve the neural encoding of speech in at-risk children. Journal of Neuroscience, 34(36), 11913-11918.

Slater, J., Ashley, R., Tierney, A., & Kraus, N. (2020). Got rhythm? Better inhibitory control is linked with more consistent drumming in children. Journal of Research in Music Education, 67(4), 431-445.