Tampa drummer Nate Young is sticking to his self-taught skills and the result is rocking his world.

“Not to sound cheesy,” said Young, 18, drummer of rock/alternative Tooth & Nail Records band Anberlin, “but this has been like a dream come true.”

Young grew up in Tampa and was home-schooled all of his life. Six years ago, after being inspired by his guitar-playing older brothers, he “randomly picked an instrument” to play.

“I took a couple of lessons, but pretty much, I taught myself,” he said. “I just kind of kept going from there.”

After playing in a few bands with his brothers and friends, Young and the group of musicians that now make up Anberlin took a trip to a Georgia recording studio. It was that recording that led to Anberlin’s successful start just over four years ago.

“We recorded in Georgia, we put it on mp3.com, it got picked up really fast and that was the birth of Anberlin,” he said. “We kept going from there. The first time I toured, it felt like it was what I was supposed to be doing.”

While Young’s musical goals have been fulfilled being Anberlin’s drummer, he encourages every drummer to take advantage of any opportunities he or she might have to hone his or her craft.

“Practice like crazy. You can always improve,” said Young. “I don’t think there’s a place you can get where you don’t need to practice.”

He said that all of the hard work certainly becomes worthwhile “as soon as you get on stage.”

Young also encourages novice drummers to take every opportunity to learn from experienced drummers.

“I do wish I took more (lessons). I wish I was more knowledgeable. It’d be a good thing to have. I’d feel more confident.”

Young said that if he had the time, he would take lessons now.

“Anyone who’s starting out should learn from as many people as they can,” he said.

Influenced by such drummers as Jon Bucklew of Copeland and Tom Wisniewski of MXPX, Young feels that it is important for drummers to step into the foreground.

“It seemed like all drummers were in the background,” said Young of the drummers he met and saw play live even before he started playing the drums. “I can’t play and just sit there. I have to get into it.”

Four years into his musical career, Young is grateful for the opportunities that being in Anberlin has given him.

“It’s my favorite thing to do — tour with the guys and be in a band,” he said.

Young is currently a part of the Take Action Tour, a tour supporting the National Hopeline Network, featuring bands including Anberlin, Sugarcult and the Plain White T’s. Anberlin will open for Taking Back Sunday at the Ford Amphitheater in Tampa on April 25.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “It keeps getting better and better.”