Following in dad's footsteps are classical guitarist Kevin Loh and drummer Aaron Lee (pictured right, with father Jimmy). -- ST PHOTOS: DESMOND FOO

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But the aspiring drummer says his biggest influence is his father, session musician Jimmy Lee, 44, who has played for the likes of Stefanie Sun, A*mei, George Lam, Sally Yeh and the Wynners.

Father and son will be playing together on stage at ChildAid, the annual charity concert which raises money for The Business Times Budding Artists Fund and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

It will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at the University Cultural Centre at the National University of Singapore. Tickets for Thursday are already sold out and there are limited tickets for Wednesday.

Aaron, a Secondary 1 student at Queensway Secondary, has always had rhythm.

His father says: 'Aaron has had a really good groove since he was a toddler. When he was three or four years old, he was already tapping away on surfaces. He had his first jamming session at 10.'

As if on cue, Aaron's sneakered feet start drumming a complex beat in the middle of the interview.

'But I wanted to keep him level-headed. So he didn't start performing in public till last year,' adds Lee.

Although the teenager is obsessed with his drums, his parents insist school has to come first.

He says: 'I have two drum kits at home. But I'm only allowed to play from 6 to 7pm, and at that time I play like crazy. We have an arrangement with our neighbours, so they don't complain.'

His father adds: 'During exam time and the first two months of school, the drum kits are dismantled and kept in a closet.'

Aaron lives with his mother, jazz singer Anne Weerapass, after his parents divorced three years ago, and drumming is an even more precious and special bond between him and his dad.

The teenager has big dreams: He wants to be 'half-marine biologist, half-drummer'.

'But if it's too much work, I want to do what he does,' says Aaron, pointing to his father. 'Teaching and drumming, playing with different bands. I also hope to some day go to the Percussion Institute of Technology in the United States to study drumming, like he did.'

Like Aaron, classical guitarist Kevin Loh, 10, is influenced by his father, Mr Marcus Loh, 40, an IT professional, who also plays the guitar.

The Primary 5 student at St Joseph's Institution Junior picked up the guitar at the age of five and gave his first public performance when he was six.

He played for President SR Nathan at a golf charity last year and also performed at the Patron of the Arts ceremony earlier this year.

'I like challenges,' says Kevin. 'Like learning a new song or new chords. Maybe that's why maths is one of my favourite subjects.'

Last year, he was a semi-finalist - and also the youngest competitor - at the Singapore International Guitar Competition. This year, he is determined to make it into the finals.

The duo, who play classical and jazz guitar, perform with a group called Guitar Synergy. Kevin has two siblings, a brother aged four and an eight-month-old sister.

His favourite song is Sunburst by composer Andrew York. 'I can feel and express the dynamics of it,' says the precocious musician, who hopes to enrol in the School of the Arts.

taratan@sph.com.sg