I played the drums in high school, and my husband bought a drum set for our kiddos when our oldest was a toddler. Music is super important to me, and I include music in our homeschool lessons. When recently offered the chance to review Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons written by Jeremy Bridgman and illustrated by Gabbi Steiger in exchange for my honest opinion, I eagerly accepted the opportunity to add a new musical title to my home library.
Author/Illustrator
An active member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators and a life-long musician who currently plays drums in two music groups along with composing and producing music in his home studio, author Jeremy Bridgman currently resides in the charming downtown Westchester neighborhood of Bakersfield, California. He is married to lovely piano teacher and singer and the proud father of four musical children He manages his own company consisting of IT services and support, book authorship, music recording, music production, music performance, and other multiple distinct aspects. He came up with the idea for Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons from his own musical adventures starting from at a young age and the experience of music lessons that his own children are blessed to receive.
Originating from Bakersfield, California and frequently hanging out in random coffee shops drawing people and doing odd jobs like pet portraits and courtroom sketching, freelance illustrator Gabrielle “Gabbi” Steiger recently graduated from California State University of Northridge with a BFA in Animation and has since been building herself up as a brand and as an independent business. Her life goal is for art to be her career. She runs her own shop from which she sells stickers, prints, buttons, and more with her original art and illustrations. She is in the process of creating original self-published comics and zines for the public to enjoy.
Synopsis
Recommended for readers between the ages of 4 and 9 in kindergarten through fourth grade, Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons tells the story of a second grader named Darci who is a passionate drummer at heart. Banging to the beat with natural rhythm on anything that she can find when she hears a good song, Darci dreams of the day when she can play on a real drum set with skill. Her little brother hates the noise that she makes and puts her down with hurtful criticism. When she is filled with self-doubt, her parents surprise her with drum lessons and encouragement. The story invokes the passion of music and of learning how to play an instrument while introducing young readers to various musical terms and the names of some interesting famous drummers that span different musical genres. The 24-page full-color paperback book currently costs $7.99 on Amazon.
Evaluation
Music was a huge part of my life from fifth grade through high school graduation. I still love music and strive to expose my homeschooled kiddos to as much music as possible. My oldest daughter really wants to learn more about music too, so I love that I can introduce her to a little more about drumming through Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons. The story introduces some basic musical terms such as metronome and beat while telling a tale of a little girl who loves to drum. The colorful pictures in a comic book-style help bring the story to life.
I really love the message in Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons. Darci feels discouraged and becomes filled with self-doubt when her brother criticizes her drumming. Despite her hurt feelings and negative thoughts, she takes her first drum lesson and vows to practice to become the best drummer that she can. The positive massage of perseverance in the face of doubt, struggle, and criticism is important for any child. My six-year-old second grader can easily read the text on her own, and my two younger children enjoy listening to me read the book out loud.
Final Verdict
If you are searching for a book that imparts a message of perseverance with a musical background, definitely check out Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons written by Jeremy Bridgman with illustrations from Gabbi Steiger. Recommended for readers between the ages of 4 and 9, the story tells about a second grader named Darci who is a passionate drummer at heart. Working through doubt, struggle, and criticism, she perseveres and takes her first drum lesson. The colorful illustrations bring the story to life, and my three kids enjoy reading and listening to the book. Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons is an excellent musical book with a powerful, positive message.
Purchase Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons on Amazon via my affiliate link. You can also follow Darci the Drummer on Facebook and Instagram.
Image Credits
‘Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons’ Book Review © 2018 Heather Johnson
Cover of ‘Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons’ © 2018 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons’ 1 © 2018 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons’ 2 © 2018 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘Darci the Drummer Takes Drum Lessons’ 3 © 2018 Heather Johnson
