A Perth musician has made a teenage music fan’s day by giving him her drum kit.
Kylie Soanes, drummer for the band Legs Electric, donated her beloved long-time drum kit to 14-year-old Rosco House.
Ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, Kylie and fellow Legs Electric member Erin Gooden also presented to Rosco a $100 Mega Music instrument store voucher.
Rosco’s mother Annie House said her son’s response to receiving the drum kit “was like he won the lotto.”
“Rosco couldn’t wait to meet the girls and have a jam with them. He hasn’t stopped playing on it since he received it,” Annie said. “He phoned all his mates after the girls left to tell them about meeting the girls and about his drum kit.”
Kylie, who recorded Leg Electric’s Maximum Rock ‘n’ Roll EP on the kit and played it “with many bands nationally and internationally”, said Rosco was “very excited even to just meet us, let alone have a new drum kit. There was hugs all around and he drew us a picture to say, ‘thank you’. He can keep a great beat and bang the hell out of the drums and loves it, that’s the main thing,” Kylie said.
Kylie knows how much young people appreciate the opportunity to play a musical instrument. “Music makes everyone happy and every dream starts with an opportunity. I thought of the idea of ‘giving back’ a long time ago and wanted to give my drum kit away to a child or family that really needs it,” Kylie said.
Annie said Rosco, who has Down Syndrome, has “loved music from the moment he was born”.
“It just made him happy, relaxed and he just loves to dance and belt out a good tune. There is always music playing in our home, from Rosco playing an instrument or the stereo blasting at full volume,” Annie said. “Rosco also loves playing the guitar and singing and can head bang like no other!”
Annie said Rosco is part of a program called Music Rocks which teaches children with special needs how to play instruments.
