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Tuesday, July 24, 2018

The excitement of a newbie learner



Darci the Drummer taught me about famous drummers as well as the "Practice pad" and "metronome". The metronome I am used to hearing about from my musical friends is a different one. Now I also know what tom toms are. And did you know that the drummer's chair is referred to as throne.

Darci the Drummer takes drum lessons deals with something all readers of any age are familair with. The learning of a new hobby, skill. the classes that go into it. The classes that you run out of. The classes that your parents sign you up for. Triumphs and Failures all reel in front of your head.

On rereading I notice, Placement of the text on page is creative. In one page, Darci's shirt is the frame. That sort of captures Darci's passion for drumming and how that is all that matters to her, the practising. In another page, the whole drum set forms the background with text overlaid on it. Also the metronome before its introduction, high on a music sheet holder.

Darci's excitement is palpable. The emotional rollercoaster of learning something new formally is well shown. I love the supportive parents.

I didnt know about the accomplished drummers Shiela E, Neil Peat, karen Carpenter and Ringo Starr.

This book was fun to read with a preschooler as I would read about say metronome and ask where it is on the page. With older kids, you can relate it to their trials and tribulations with swimming, soccer, drawing and all things that are frustrating when you cant do them as well as you think you should. I had a similar bout very late after college, where I badly wanted to learn writing and didnt know how. I writhed at a park, but slowly and steadily I inched towards it with reading.

Maybe there will be a sequel to the book, with Darci' s experiences as she grows through this period into an expert.



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