Meytal’s Story

Meytal is from Israel, and is the only musician in her very big family. She has 4 older sisters, 2 older brothers, and she is the youngest of all 7 siblings! Today, she’s a successful drummer, but she had to work through many big challenges to get here. When she was just 7 years old, Meytal got some very sad news. Her dad had died, and from then on her mom raised all of the children alone.

Meytal’s mom wanted the best for all her kids. When Meytal asked for drum lessons as a young girl, her mom didn’t like the idea. Instead she enrolled Meytal in a tap dancing class[*]. Her mom worried that being a drummer would be difficult for Meytal, but she was determined to follow her own path. At 18 years old, Meytal got a job, saved up her money, and bought a drum set all on her own! She was so excited to play loud and powerful music like the drummers of her favorite bands. But her music goals would have to wait a little longer. 

In Israel, everyone spends time working in the army. After high school Meytal served for 2 whole years, but she never stopped thinking about music. When she had finished her time in the army, she moved to Los Angeles to learn as much as she could about drumming. She started school at the Los Angeles Music Academy, but there was another big hurdle ahead. 

While she was at school, Meytal got hurt in an accident and had to return home to Israel to get better with the help of her family. She wore a back brace for 6 months, but still she never gave up! She got stronger, and moved back to LA to chase her dreams. Meytal says, “I was told I'm making a huge mistake... I'm here to prove that when you follow your heart, things do work out.”[*]

Meytal started by recording a video of herself playing the drums, hoping it would help her get on the tv show, “America’s Got Talent.” Some people told her that girls shouldn’t be drummers, but it never stopped her. Even though she didn’t get chosen for the show, there are now more than a million people who watch her videos on Youtube! She says that now “a whole generation is being okay with girls being drummers, I think I may have a little to do with that.” [*]

If you set your mind to something and never give up, you can have a little to do with changing the world too!

Born August 9th, 1983

Biography written by Aimee Gruber