Any tips for a starting drummer?

I used to play....in the high school band Don't laugh, it gave me experience on a lot of different types of drums...including African tribal drums but that's a different discussion for a different day. For performance play, like in a "rock band," on a kit, my best advice is do what feels most comfortable. If your kit is set up in a way that feels awkward to you, even if it's the "conventional" way, move things around. If you like the high hat better off your right side instead of your left, put it there. If you like to play standing up, play standing up (you're going to get very tired but you'll have killer calf muscles by the time you figure out sitting is better). If you want to wrap your right hand around the stick in a fist instead of holding it like a fork, then grab it in your fist and go to town. And by all means, be loose. My biggest problem (with pretty much everything I do...my jitterbug partner scolds me for it too) is being too stiff and precise. Do what feels natural and comfortable to you.

well, i have played the drums for a month already and i recommend doing a "tiptoe"stomp on the pedal. that way, you can do a follow-up beat easier than doing a flat-foot stomp.

My son started learning when he was 11.He is now 30 and doing very well. You can hear one of his groups in my profile. He had lessons, many lessons right from when he started. He now teaches, plays and owns his own recording studio. I wish you luck with your career too.