Muhammad Ibnu Rafi: JP/R. BERTO WEDHATAMA

Young drummer Muhammad Ibnu Rafi starts early. After receiving a drum set for his seventh birthday, Rafi, as he is affectionately called by family and friends, has been beating his way to drum stardom.

Now 12, Rafi has performed alongside national and international musicians. He launched an album, Can't Stop The Beat, when he was 10.

"I have set my heart on this path. My dream is to become a professional international musician. I want to bring Indonesia to the forefront," he says.

These days, he is occupied with rehearsals for his upcoming gig at the annual Java Jazz Festival to be held from March 6-8.

His latest international performance was with his new band, the Young Indonesian Prodigies, at Singapore's Great Eastern International Kids Performing Festival last December.

"We plan to launch our album this year, or if that's not possible, next year. We're still gathering material for the album. We're also searching for an appropriate name. The Prodigies is our temporary name, but perhaps we'll use it if we are running out of ideas," he says, smiling.

Consisting of Rafi, 12, on drums, Zefanya Putra, 14, on piano, Enos Martyn, 16, on bass guitar, and Dennis Junyo Gani, 16, on saxophone, the band is set to make a splash at the Java Jazz Festival. The sixth-grader at Yasporbi Elementary School said his school supported his drum career.

"If there is an activity that requires me to leave school for a while, I bring my books and study on the road. I think all subjects have a similar aim, to make us a better person in the future," he says.

Apart from his school and drum rehearsals Rafi spends his spare time making and recording songs or going around the city looking for inspiration.

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