Finley Ford, 18, has always loved “tapping” to a beat and finally put his habit to good use at the beginning of the year.
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After relocating from Bermagui to study engineering at the University of Wollongong, the eager musician finally bought his first drum kit.
“I thought ‘how can I further my tapping’, there’s an instrument that allows this,” he said.
Though his first toy was a compact electronic kit, with synthetic skins, though still concerned Ford his neighbours would soon be complaining.
The trials and tribulations of living in student accommodation often means residents may be restricted in certain things they would like to do – drumming their heart out is one of them.
Ford upgraded to a larger traditional drum kit, though still “crappy” in his eyes with screws falling off and causing him trouble.
It lives in the back of his car, ready to set up whenever he wants to practice.
“I can’t play in student accommodation, so I thought no-one would get annoyed if I played out here,” he told the Mercury, referring to his spot on the side of Squires Way in North Wollongong.
While we were chatting with the musician a policeman pulled over to inspect what Ford was doing.
“That’s really cool,” the officer said.
Ford is often perched on the side of the busy stretch near the Innovation Campus, at least twice a week with headphones in and sticks in hand.
He is not busking, simply practising his art so perhaps one day he may join a band.
“I’m just having fun trying to get a bit better,” he said.
“If it’s really busy with traffic [I get] a lot of beeping and cheering out of cars. Even if I’m not playing perfectly people can still enjoy what I’m doing.”