2 year junction

Hi,

I have been taking lessons and playing for the last 2 years (FWIW, I started from zero at age 43, fulfilling a childhood dream) While I have been quite happy and encouraged by what I have learned so far and can do, I am also a bit discouraged by what evades me (and there is no rhyme or reason, some things I get at once, others, (fewer) not so).

My teacher from the get go advised me (correctly, I think...) to 'do it right' and learn to read music, and advance from the bottom up. The good of this is obvious, but the down side is that it is a long road - one that isn't easy to follow with the interference of 'life' and age. I am well aware that there are no quick short cuts (right? but after 2 years it seems as if SOME of the initial 'magic' is disappearing. I like my teacher, he is knowledgeable and very clear and patient, but our style in music is very different, I wonder if that matters as well.

Finally my 2-part question:

1. Any advice or ideas of what to add/change/do to keep the 'flame lit'?

2. For encouragement sake (or possibly the opposite! but still...) can some of you who may remember, tell me what they could and couldn't do when you were where I am now? What gave you a hard time till you eventually mastered it etc.

Thanks!

Play along to some of your favorite songs. That's always fun and keeps the "flame lit." Also, try starting a band. Doesn't have to be anything serious, but it's loads of fun.

And don't be discouraged. I've been playing for 8 years and every time I learn something I wanted to be able to learn, something else took its place. It's a vicious cycle, but I love it. Keep on truckin' on. It's definitely worth it!

Buy new heads, and a new toy, like a cow bell, or cymbal or something, that always gives me a short little boost.

Are you playing in a band or just practice alone? If alone, that's the problem. Go jam and have some fun.

find a Bass player

Count with me...

1 e and a 2 e and a...

if its hard to find members...check out the turn it up lay it down (somethin like that..?) cd's. Its all the instruments except the drums. Pretty cool.

step out of your comfort zone. Bob gatzen talks about this a lot. Say you like and only jam to funk music...try playing jazz or bossa nova..or some rock..idk something different. it'll definitely throw you off, but i will bet that something positive will come of it.

challenge yourself. pick up The New Breed book.

+A million

Playalong tracks without the drums are the best. Also get Tommy Igoe's Groove Essentials. Amazing book and it teaches you everything you'd ever need to know.

Yes on what the others have said. Even if you only know one guy who plays guitar, have him come over or you take your drums over there and just jam, let him start a song he knows on guitar and you just follow him. Or go to a local club on a jam night and have fun. Listen to different music than you normally do.

OR leave the drums alone for a week or even a month. It sounds kinda like you've been hard down on your lessons and practice for two years. GO outside and get away from them, Watch a football game, go hang out with friends, Go see a concert or local band. When I do that, after awhile I'll hear a great song on the way home, go out and hear a great live band, need to get my frustrations out and play and zone out. THen it becomes fun again and not like work. Cause it sounds like your drums have become work in the sense that your have lessons to work on, songs to learn, etc. Sometimes just having sombody watch you is fun. Is normal to have "blah" times, is why some of us come on here and talk. DOn't give up yet.

I taught myself and had a few small lessons. I remember after playing a few years I had rough time with shuffles and making them sound smooth. Rushing and dragging the beat, ghost notes, 3/4 time or odd time measures, getting the "feel" or being in the "pocket", I could play the beat but it just didn't sound as slick as the song or CD did, I used to grunt or utter stuff as I played, took a long time to quit that, just all kinds of stuff.

Being in a band or just some guys to jam with may help too as well as taking a break and picking up the sticks when you are full of piss and vinegar again. My two cents.....

Also, just surf youtube for all the great legendary drummers. Watching people better than me has always served as great inspiration. you also get a bunch of cool ideas to apply to your own personal style.

Hi, I have been taking lessons and playing for the last 2 years (FWIW, I started from zero at age 43, fulfilling a childhood dream) While I have been quite happy and encouraged by what I have learned so far and can do, I am also a bit discouraged by what evades me (and there is no rhyme or reason, some things I get at once, others, (fewer) not so). My teacher from the get go advised me (correctly, I think...) to 'do it right' and learn to read music, and advance from the bottom up. The good of this is obvious, but the down side is that it is a long road - one that isn't easy to follow with the interference of 'life' and age. I am well aware that there are no quick short cuts (right? but after 2 years it seems as if SOME of the initial 'magic' is disappearing. I like my teacher, he is knowledgeable and very clear and patient, but our style in music is very different, I wonder if that matters as well. Finally my 2-part question: 1. Any advice or ideas of what to add/change/do to keep the 'flame lit'? 2. For encouragement sake (or possibly the opposite! but still...) can some of you who may remember, tell me what they could and couldn't do when you were where I am now? What gave you a hard time till you eventually mastered it etc. Thanks!

I have only been at it a few months I am 41 and wish I had started years ago. I have all those same issues! So many things evade me I cant even come to grips with I get discouraged every time I sit down, but then some thing usually comes out that sounds pretty cool that will fire me up.Another thing that helps me is to just bang away get some flow going around the set whether it sounds good or not it will get your adrenaline pumping, and always finish your practice session with something fun that you feel you have already mastered to some extent that way you dont walk away discouraged!

Hi, I have been taking lessons and playing for the last 2 years (FWIW, I started from zero at age 43, fulfilling a childhood dream) While I have been quite happy and encouraged by what I have learned so far and can do, I am also a bit discouraged by what evades me (and there is no rhyme or reason, some things I get at once, others, (fewer) not so). My teacher from the get go advised me (correctly, I think...) to 'do it right' and learn to read music, and advance from the bottom up. The good of this is obvious, but the down side is that it is a long road - one that isn't easy to follow with the interference of 'life' and age. I am well aware that there are no quick short cuts (right? but after 2 years it seems as if SOME of the initial 'magic' is disappearing. I like my teacher, he is knowledgeable and very clear and patient, but our style in music is very different, I wonder if that matters as well. Finally my 2-part question: 1. Any advice or ideas of what to add/change/do to keep the 'flame lit'? 2. For encouragement sake (or possibly the opposite! but still...) can some of you who may remember, tell me what they could and couldn't do when you were where I am now? What gave you a hard time till you eventually mastered it etc. Thanks!

Zoo, I've been playing drums for 45 years, and I still learn new things all the time. It never ends! I've also been a teacher for 30+ of those years and will tell you that a good teacher should mold your technique, so that you can apply proper technique to whatever music YOU want, not just teach you songs.

Perhaps you could bring in material you would like to learn, and ask your teacher what skills or techniques do you need to play like that, and hopefully, he will teach you the fundamentals of proper technique to do it, and that will last a lifetime.

I found over the years, that sometimes another hobby, for a few weeks helps me. Paint, play a computer game from beginning to end, pick up a guitar and laugh at yourself. Then go back, after a few weeks, it is all "newer" again.

Your not alone, always someone better , better accents, better chops ,better rudiments, or just knows more than you and plays better than you. How do ya feel now? If you think about it to much it will get you down- so play the blues.Play along with some Cd's you like--pick something in your wheel house, AC/DC maybe, don't pick something like Yes or Rush you'll just get frustrated, also work on perfecting the things you already know, so you don't have to back track and have fun

Dude you gotta start playing with some people and jamming or start a band or whatever. It doesn't matter if you guys all suck, it will still be fun. It's just simply not fun to sit around in your room and practice and read music all day. You need to do that stuff, but at the end of the day it's about making MUSIC and having fun while doing it. That will keep the flame lit!

Dude you gotta start playing with some people and jamming or start a band or whatever. It doesn't matter if you guys all suck, it will still be fun. It's just simply not fun to sit around in your room and practice and read music all day. You need to do that stuff, but at the end of the day it's about making MUSIC and having fun while doing it. That will keep the flame lit!

Damn straight man, it's about making music. I'm sure there were many things Bonham struggled with too, but he capitalized on what he could do, and did well.. Now get out there and jam...

First and formost, make you happy. Don't "think" it to the point you're "crippled".

I agree with play some music that YOU want to play. Find some guys to jam with- make it fun!!!!!!!!!!!! If it becomes a band, great!

yea, buyin' {censored} does light a fire if you add something new, but take it from me, it's a disease that must be controlled, an addiction if you will. It's mine for sure.

Someone wil ALWAYS be better. If you relax, I've found that without the pressure, chops just happen outa the blue and I find myself saying, "where the hell did that come from"? It came from playing in the moment, being in the groove and I wasn't even thinking about it. It's music, let it live and breath.

keep jammin' man:thu:

You're discouraged after 2 years? Try give or take 46 years of going at it...and I STILL get discouraged. But it's magic man...it's magic!!!! Climb up behind a rig and get in the drivers seat and say "gentlemen, I am Spartacus...follow me to heaven!" (from That Thing You Do)

You just need to be near players...all taking, breathing, eating and sleeping the thunder in the music. I left the business in '92, and now I'm back and still can't get enough! It never leaves you, so find yourself a niche, be happy and go at it like there's no tomorrow! Ya never know when tomorrow won't come any more...Carpe diem...seize the day!!!

One more vote for playing with others.

Even if it's just an informal jam with some guys in a garage, it's the interaction with other players that will keep you coming back for more....then one day, you'll experience that 'high' that happens when everything just falls into place on that one song - everyone is just in tune with each other, and you find yourself doing {censored} that you didn't think would ever come out of you. That's when you'll be hooked for life!!

...but this can't happen if you don't get out and jam with players.

Go for it! You're good enough.

One more vote for playing with others. Even if it's just an informal jam with some guys in a garage, it's the interaction with other players that will keep you coming back for more....then one day, you'll experience that 'high' that happens when everything just falls into place on that one song - everyone is just in tune with each other, and you find yourself doing {censored} that you didn't think would ever come out of you. That's when you'll be hooked for life!! ...but this can't happen if you don't get out and jam with players. Go for it! You're good enough.

I've explained this over and over to non musicians, and they all look at me like its crazy talk, I might as well been talking about ghosts or aliens from mars, probing my dog, but that statement is exactly the "magic" that happens when everybody's brain shuts off and the music starts talking..

Tons of good advice here...

I would just add that maybe during your practice time that you try to spend a chunk of it doing what you want and not what your teacher has given you or learning theory.

Can I ask why your spending so much time on music theory? Of course its important but are you wanting to become a song writer or be able to read scores for studio work? Sometimes I think some stuff can be a bit of over kill if in the end your really not going to use it.

When I started out all I wanted to do was jam with my friends and play music. I would totally neglect what my teacher gave me...I mean I'd learn it a bit...but I didn't devote the time to really mastering it. I have recently found that I really enjoy the simple challenge of practicing the huge book of stuff he gave me too do years ago. Really you have to have that desire inside and its not something you can just turn on or off...you either want to do it or you don't.

Thanks to all who replied and advised!

I do a lot of what was suggested (play to fav songs, get ideas from youtube, buy 'drum toys' etc), but not the most common denominator - which my drum teacher also pushes me a lot to do, and that is play with others. I don't know... I don't have stage fright at all (in another field I often speak in front of a lot of people) but for some reason this idea is causing me more resentment than joy.

My teacher scheduled for some of his other-instruments-students who are also looking to play with others to visit after my next lesson, so that we could try out some things. Maybe if that goes well... :-)

Either way, I am not quittin'

Thanks again.

Hey , if you play with those other students , they might feel the same way, so suggest some easy songs to get started, just a thought

Am I the first one to mention that you might consider switching teachers? I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with your current teacher, but it sounds like a change of perspective could be valuable.

Personally, I'll never forget trying to get the solo from Mile's Davis' Billy Boy up to speed. There's a four bar break where Philly plays some backwards 9 stroke rolls expressed as triplets. I spent a SEMESTER trying to work it up, and I never got it really clean at the right tempo until about now... almost a year later. Some kinda blockage. It was infuriating, because it was my semesters' project. Here I was, jazz performance major, and I can't conquer 4 {censored}ing bars of music. Kept at it, and now I own it, rip it out in performance whenever there's somebody in the audience I think'll recognize it.

/w