Allie wanted to play an instrument. “How about piano?” asked her mom.

“No thanks,” said Allie.

“Maybe flute?” asked her dad.

“Nope,” said Allie. “I want to play the drums.”

Allie’s mom and dad looked at each other. Drums were loud. But Allie really wanted to play. So they said yes.

Allie was so excited to pick out her drums. She got a beginner set. It had a big drum and a little drum. It also had cymbals.

Allie took lessons with Mr. Perello. He was really cool. He was in a band. He taught her to practice her rhythm by keeping the beat with songs on the radio.

Once Allie was good at keeping the beat, Mr. Perello taught her some other basics. First there was the single-stroke roll. Then she learned the double stroke-roll. Soon they moved on to the paradiddle and the flam. 

Allie practiced a lot. Her mom and dad bought earplugs. Slowly she got better and better.

One of Allie’s friends was learning to play the guitar. Another was taking singing lessons. Maybe one day they would start a band.

“Great!” said her mom and dad. “But I think we’ll need more earplugs.”