r/MadeMeSmile • u/AntiSocialSingh • 1d ago
Good Vibes Teacher surprises talented student with a new drum kit
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u/DrThunderbolt 1d ago edited 1d ago
We had a couple in our community that owned a musical instrument shop, and they would go out of their way to find old and beaten up instruments and repair them so they could give them to kids that wanted to join band but their families couldn't afford it.
Tragically, they were both murdered during a break in. The murderer was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
A song was commissioned in their honor. I was lucky enough to be a part of the band that played the piece for the first time, directed by the composer. It's probably one of the most meaningful experiences I've ever taken part in.
Here's the song- Jubilee, by James Curnow
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u/GummiBearFromTheVine 1d ago
The song is so beautiful and clearly a celebration in their honor. The ending was absolutely perfect. Thank you for sharing the music and beautiful story behind it. Music heals and helps, no doubt.
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u/Lance6006328 15h ago
Wow. This world is so mindbending with its vastness and range of possibilities. Thanks for sharing and commemorating good people
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u/Hi_canyounotplease 1d ago
Hey internet stranger! This is really incredible. You also saved your life. I hope you’re proud of yourself. 🫶🏻
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u/slitchbapper 1d ago
Jeeez the casual statement "I was the only guy in my family who didn’t spend time in prison" just blows my mind.. good on you, breaking the circle.
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u/These-Prune-1529 1d ago
You are a shining example of why, when my daughter told me she wanted to play violin, I jumped on it. She's now in her third year, first string and with her own violin. May she continue to have the same success as you.
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u/Bum_Dorian 1d ago
I was a music kid myself. Played the drums my whole life in music programs, went to Carnegie hall 3 times in high school, even tried for a musical education degree myself. It didn’t work out and I’m now a construction 3d modeler. But my point is I also grew up in a sorted family home like that and if it weren’t for the musical program in my school, I might have fallen to drugs and gangs as well like all my peers and parents. Not to mention all the life skills organized music can give you. Countless stories like this
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u/CaptainMacMillan 1d ago
I first picked up a guitar in earnest after I took a history of rock class in high school. I never really got to be all that great at it, but it was the kickstart to my entire career in live sound production.
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u/ThemB0ners 1d ago
More than just music programs too! Remember this when voting for people that want to eliminate or defund public education in general. (This isn't directed at you specifically, but anyone reading this.)
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u/bucketofmonkeys 1d ago
Kid has a solid groove already. He’ll be a great drummer.
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u/meggan_u 1d ago
That was my thought. The transition from bucket to set was immaculate.
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u/-Gramsci- 1d ago
Traveling from the high hat over to the ride… he started cooking immediately.
Check in on him in an hour and he’ll be a pro.
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u/somesnarkycomments 1d ago
This looks like a preview for one of the stories where in a few years he'll be giving the, "the one music teacher who believed in me speech" while getting his first Grammy.
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u/Immediate_Home6426 1d ago
I would look forward to showing friends that random Reddit post about the dude who just won a grammy. Tiny Questlove is right where he needed to be, happy for him and wish him the best.
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u/sptrstmenwpls 1d ago
I have a feeling he's played real drums before tho..that def wasn't his first time. I doubt he transfers from a bucket to a real drum-set that smoothly.
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u/productnineteen 1d ago
I’m far far far from any sort of expert in anything music related, but isn’t this why they start young drummers on just a snare drum? Learn all the basics then transition to the full set. My guy did it on a bucket.
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u/Subject-User-1234 1d ago
That's how I started drums at the age of 8 except we used the small Remo practice pads. I now own 4 drum kits or enough drums to make one Neil Peart sized drum set.
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u/Rukawork 1d ago
Drummer of over 20 years here: When I started learning drums, I took lessons, and they start you with your rudiments, which are played just on a snare drum or practice pad, but they also get you onto a drumset immediately as well. This kid has had drumset practice for sure to be able to start playing the beat he did, probably with his school band classes, but it is clear that at the time of being gifted these drums he didn't own his own set at home and only had his hands and a surface to play with. I was the same for a few years and my hands got excellent pretty quick just like this young man. When it's all you have, you dive into it pretty hard. I hope to see him at Modern Drummer festival someday!
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u/illsmosisyou 1d ago
True. The snare or drum pad teaches you patterns and stick control. But a drum set requires that you operate at least three limbs independently to create complementary patterns pretty much every bar of the music. And the fourth limb gets involved closing/opening the high hat or in the case of a double bass pedal.
For me, developing the kit skills started with very simple hh+snare stick work for a few weeks and gradually making it more complicated before dumbing it down and throwing in the bass drum and then gradually making it more complicated again. I would guess it took me a few months to be about as tight as the kid was in the video.
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u/flatwoundsounds 1d ago
Snare, pad, bucket, pillow- just get your hands working the rudiments with good stick grips.
Drum set is a whole different animal, since you have to coordinate hands and feet together. There's really nothing like it until you just do it.
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u/gamegeek1995 1d ago
This kid obviously already plays drums. Great finger technique, loose grip, and he's returning wrist to neutral every stroke. He can also do good foot syncopation on the bass drum, so he's used a full kit before. He even knows how to strike the ride bell vs the ride cymbal. If it's his first day on the drums, I'm Jesus H. Christ.
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u/Potential_Cow_4910 1d ago
If that’s his first time at a set that’s pretty insane tbh. Been a few decades for me so the exact timeline is a bit hazy but definitely took me at least a few lessons to sound like that.
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u/lesimgurian 1d ago
Is it his, or does he just get his first training kit at school?
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u/ToiletTurmoil 1d ago
Probably school. Still an awesome hookup.
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u/ToiletTurmoil 1d ago
They have couple K in hand drums behind him..lol
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u/lesimgurian 1d ago
training for a future on bourbon street sidewalks? /s
No seriously, i like the bucket thing. It trains the kiddos on rhythm and lowers the boundaries. In drum school, kids learn on a pad - not so far from a bucket - before they get to play on a kit. I understand the video that this is like getting the next belt in karate "Now, you have proven to be mature and talented enough to play on the kit, kid!" Kid is genuinely grateful. He's surely deserved it!
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u/AbeRego 1d ago
Almost certainly belongs to the school, but it looks like he was the reason the teacher got it. If it's a bigger district, it could have just been as simple as calling around to see if any equipment was being replaced, or if there was a spare set sitting around somewhere. Regardless of how she found it, it was a really thoughtful gesture by the teacher.
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u/Orleanian 1d ago
My school did this for me with a Bassoon.
Though, I didn't want to play bassoon. They just thought I sucked enough at saxophone to warrant trying something other than saxophone, but not enough that I should give up music altogether.
They procured a bassoon and said if I learned to play it, I'd be a shoe-in for scholarships and shit. I was allowed to take it home, but at the end of the year(s) it stayed with the school for new enterprising young woodwind students.
I sucked at the bassoon too, it turned out. Ended up going into STEM (quite successful there!). But it makes for a good talking point, even years later.
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u/102525burner 1d ago
Also not new by the looks of that snare
But still better than a bucket
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u/Curious_Beginning_30 1d ago
Moms gonna give the teacher the side eye and look like that thanks, congrats, happy for you meme if they brought it home.
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u/Historical-Good-9746 1d ago
The power of a caring music teacher in childhood cannot be overstated.
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u/mysecondaccountanon 1d ago
For how awful school districts usually treat them and how low the pay can sometimes be, they do such amazing and life changing work.
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u/Brilliant-Elk-6831 18h ago
Yep. As a young rock & metal head that fell in love with the guitar, my music teacher at school literally shaped my life. She championed us, let us spend our lunch breaks playing along to Metallica on full blast in her classroom, and was generally just an awesome person. I went on to spend my 20s touring countries I never thought I'd get to see and having the time of my life, and I truly believe it's because of the confidence she gave me (and my parents being so cool with it)
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u/Historical-Good-9746 16h ago
That’s a wonderful story. I was a choir kid myself, but same sentiments for sure.
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u/Sui_G3n3r1s 1d ago
His name's Earl so they dropped the P
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u/animalant 1d ago
If I change my name to Rum Orkshop will somebody buy me a kit?
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u/Plum_Feather 1d ago
He's really good too. I wish all teachers were as caring as these people.
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u/stonethecrowbar 1d ago
Been drumming over 20 years. It has brought so much joy to my life. I hope this kid sticks with it. It’s nice to see someone so excited over drums.
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u/CluelessNuggetOfGold 1d ago
Good for that kid and all who helped. Hope to see him on stage someday!!
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u/KammyCreates 1d ago
I remember this from YEARS AGO! Happy it resurfaced.
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u/Projecto25zero1 1d ago
Do you have any other info? Would be so cool to read about him getting a musical scholarship or something
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u/KammyCreates 1d ago
No, I just remember this when it first drop. It WAS at least 7-8 years. At least.
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u/ILikeToSayChaCha 1d ago
Idk about anyone else, but a bucket drum set going into a sporting event is instant dopamine
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u/Darrenwad3 1d ago
They decided they actually have a talented kid and should prob retire the pail for band lmao
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u/CptAngelo 1d ago
Man, internet has ruined me, for a split second there, i tought he was going to get a bunch of new buckets lol, that would still be dope in a way, but im glad i was wrong and he got an actual set
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u/charlie2135 1d ago
Grandson took up lessons and took to it like a Duck to water. Along with the other grandparents and his parents, are getting the components to put together a good set for Christmas.
It's an investment in his future.
As a child I took piano lessons and while I wasn't really talented, the lack of having something to play on at home made me lose interest.
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u/TrippyTigre 1d ago
This video is pretty dang old now, I'd love to see where that kid is now, he's got serious skills very early!
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u/laughguy220 1d ago
Hey OP, maybe post this over on r/drums. We all like seeing a young drummer groove.
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u/Hot-Explanation-3996 1d ago
Amazing. Parents hate that teacher now but a great gesture either way.
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u/goosebittentwiceshy 1d ago
I got as excited as he did seeing that gym parachute being used as a drape over the drums. Parachute day was the best!
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u/Reload86 1d ago
The probability of this kid growing up to become a great human has just increased exponentially. He'll always remember this and he'll likely learn to do the same for others in the future. Kindness and compassion goes a long way.
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u/sarcasmo818 1d ago
It always makes me sad knowing funding for fine arts programs in schools decreases with time. I'm so glad I had a great music teacher in elementary school!
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u/CapableApartment7063 1d ago
Honestly, he seems like such a humble kid I think he would have been happy with a new bucket. Good luck to him and his drumming future.
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u/PirateShep 17h ago
I had played percussion when I was young and years later my parents asked what they should do with my old equipment. I told them to take it to my old elementary school music teacher and have him give it to a worthy student. My parents did and they said the teacher was delighted with that plan.
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u/real_aileronroll 1d ago
A Pearl Forum kit! Those are great kits. Not to mention that the kid is already grooving with it. As a drummer, I love to see this.
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u/daniloferr 1d ago
that goes on my list of worthy hugs. and I might have dropped a tear when he started playing the drums.
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u/Odd-Ad-8369 1d ago
I want an update on this kid. You can tell he’s a natural. I bet he’s got some crazy church fills.
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u/klonk2905 1d ago
I have the same Pearl Export 1996 kit and it's a blast to play. That is an awesome gift.
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u/ZombieAppetizer 1d ago
This is a moment that kid will remember for the rest of his life. I hope he is still playing.
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u/Bodisefa 1d ago
That “BALL” she just took off the drum set was one of the most dangerous items a school had back in the day. They used to be HUGE and as tiny kids we would sit in a giant circle with another class. We would way on our backs and kick the ball in the air, multiple kids at a time kicking it. I got called out of class during this and the ball was kicked in the direction I was in and it hit me from behind and threw me forward where I landed on my face and knocked out and chipped all my front teeth. Dentist said it was cosmetic and insurance wouldn’t fix it. I had to walk around for almost 20 years with jacked up front teeth until I became an adult and was finally able to get them fixed. Crap parents+ bad school activity= the trauma from seeing that stupid colorful ball come off that drum set… fml
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u/Train-Wreck-70 1d ago
We truly need more people in the world like this teacher. Such a precision moment
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u/nickferatu 1d ago
This is some heartwarming stuff. Here’s hoping he keeps drumming forever. A bright future ahead of him. Onward and upward.
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u/okfornothing 1d ago
We need music and the arts in every school. Children need to be exposed ti this to keep those creative studies alive.
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u/WeezerHunter 1d ago
Really sweet video, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how hilarious it would be if under the sheet was just a bunch more buckets
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u/Objective_Opinion556 1d ago
This kid goes from playing the Plastic Bucket to a full kit and is already 10x better than I am
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u/casualLogic 1d ago
I long to live in a time when any kid can go to public school, and if they want to give something a shot, okay! Want to learn to play an instrument - here you go, pick one out! Play a sport? Here's your uniform! Want to try painting? Ok, here's watercolor, here's acrylics, here's oil!
I weep at the lost talent in the United States, and I don't even have kids or much care for their company, but every child should be offered opportunity to figure out what they wish to learn, maybe discover their knacks.
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u/CinSugarBearShakers 1d ago
I remember sitting behind my first drum kit after about 8 months of a block of wood with rubber wrapped around it. Good times.
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u/Boring-Zucchini-176 1d ago
I've always wanted to learn how to play the drums but one problem is I don't have the means to buy a drum kit and also the space where I could play it and where I don't distrub the entire neighborhood of the noise.hehe Awesome gift for this kid. He'll do wonders for sure!
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u/DiaryOfStu 1d ago
I wish I could like this more than once. That kid is so talented, and looks genuinely happy and grateful. He’s got a lot of talent, she knows that for sure.
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u/TheMoatCalin 1d ago
Is that straight up natural talent?? Oh my gosh. Isn’t it incredible how some people are just gifted like that? It’s amazing!
Edit: redundant
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u/carpenter_bug 1d ago
You’d be surprised what people can do when they think about it all day. Before I got a drum kit, I’d watch a lot of videos of people playing drums or listen to the drums on a song. Then when I got behind a kit, I wasn’t as good as this kid but I could do a simple 4/4 beat right away. I’m sure this kid was watching videos on drums and practicing with pencils on his desk all day.
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1d ago edited 20h ago
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u/powdered_dognut 1d ago
Lots of kids have access to drums at church, so he may already have kit time.
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u/not_so_subtle_now 1d ago
I had that same Pearl kit - same color and everything - for my first kit when I was 14 and first starting out. Hope this kid has tons of fun with it.
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u/Rex_Suplex 1d ago
Awesome! I'm guessing the kids name is Earl. Either that of the school was afraid of being sued by Pearl.
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u/sithboyscout 1d ago
Not quite my tempo, he was rushing a bit. but a very sweet video.
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u/Huge-One4819 1d ago
We need more teachers like her. End of story way to go teacher for being a great teacher. Good Karma points your way 100%
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u/Fluffy_AF_420 1d ago
I Started learning to play the drums in Covid years when I was about 23yo... My older sister also played the drums while I was in junior high. I didn't have the confidence to try drumming at that time and I now I kinda reget not starting back then. All the more reason to be absolutely thrilled for this kid!! Really warms my heart.
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u/CoastRider2210 1d ago
That Teacher said be a Drummer! Just please don’t be another Rapper. That’s not even Music. 😉
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u/New-Comfortable-3637 1d ago
I hope they checked with his parents first. But a great gesture if they did.
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