By Bronwynne Jooste
Five-year-old Daniel Petersen lifted his first pair of drum sticks before he could walk.
Now his talent is gaining him recognition from all over.
Not many young musicians can say they have performed for Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka - twice.
Last November he performed at the Edu-Jazz event at the Baxter Theatre before a 1 000-strong crowd. And he is the youngest person in the Western Cape to be officially endorsed by music equipment-makers, Yamaha.
But given his family's rich musical background, it was a given that he would have some musical inclination.
His father, Daniel Petersen senior, is a professional musician, having played with the likes of the late Taliep Petersen and David Kramer.
His mother, Antoinette Petersen, is a classical pianist. Throw a musical director grandfather and a host of musician uncles into the mix, and it seems artistic greatness was always in the stars for young Daniel.
As a very small boy Daniel would often crawl to the piano and tap out notes in key with sounds on the television or radio.
"I was convinced he was going to be like his mother and become a pianist, and I was very excited," said Petersen.
But returning from a business trip, when Daniel was only 14 months old, he realised the toddler had other plans.
"He was standing and playing my drum kit - and I couldn't believe the sounds those little hands were generating.The quality of the sound was something you would think only an adult could produce."
After Daniel hijacked his father's drum kit, Petersen senior decided to buy the toddler his own set.
Video clips of a two-year-old Daniel playing the drums are unbelievable. With immense co-ordination and concentration, he produced sounds many professional drummers would be happy to master.
Even Petersen admits that he has been unable to produce the kind of rhythms his son does so effortlessly.
"I was trying to play a Latin song at a wedding in Durban, and I just messed up, because I couldn't do it. I looked over at Daniel and he just shook his head and covered his face," laughed Petersen.
Daniel is able to play a range of genres and has already started composing his own pieces.
His mother said they never force their little musical prodigy to practise. "If there are interviews or if people ask him to play at informal gatherings, we don't push the issue."
Despite all the fuss, Daniel is unaffected. He is still a normal five-year-old who enjoys swimming in the family pool and keeping a protective eye on four-year-old sister, Robyn. He also likes watching cartoons and idolises martial-arts legend Bruce Lee.
Daniel starts Grade R at Young Eagles Christian Academy in Kuils River next week, but his drumming will never be too far from his focus.
"He is always thinking, always playing," says his mum. "He kicked a lot while I was pregnant. And today, if you watch him sleep, his hands will move and you just know he is hitting away at those drums."
- Daniel will perform at the Cape Town Jazzathon at the V&A Waterfront on Sunday.