[Church Drummer]

I've been working with the book a couple of days now and it definately isn't something I'm going to master in short time period, but it does seem worth while to buy it. I've bought so many guitar books in the past that I wish I hadn't, that now if I can borrow them and try them out first I do. Saves on some of the guess work.

[mouse]

I got fired from my first ever band by the blow arse guitarist who basically told me i was useless. I had just started out on the drum kit and somehow managed to bluff through the audition to get into the band. That was my first lesson in the rock circus. That kick in the guts only encouraged me to "show him better". A few weeks later that band folded because they couldn't find another drummer. The vocalist from that band came to me and gave me a second chance as he liked what i did but had no say in the matter(something i will never forget) , and we formed a very sucessful band (and i improved). The guitarist had no one to play with (as talented as he was).
Over many years i have had different musicians like guitarist point some things out to me and as they were both encouraging and constructive with their comments and so i took it all on board. Anything negative, i would just block my ears.

Unfair or demeaning critising of any muso can only come from low lifes.

[Pyrochazm]

I thought I'd finally jump on this thread. As a lot of you know, I'm new to drumming too. In fact, I thought that I had zero musical ability untill october of 05, when I jumped on a kit and somehow managed to sound like I knew what I was doing. Most of the people that I learned from worked at Guitar center, and they were extremly helpfull, and good whith the whole constructive criticisim thing. The best advice that I've recived so far would be to practice slow and with a metronome. When you are too hard on someone, It can be really discourageing, especially to kids.

[givemethebeat]

I agree with all of the above.

I strongly believe there is a distinct difference between personal criticism and 'professional' criticism. Regardless of how it is delivered, this defines the intent.
Then of course the critic needs to be credible otherwise it's just hot air.....

[UPSTROKE]

We all need criticism. At times, we go looking for it. What we all want to hear are great huzzahs & accolades. Sometimes the negative criticism, if delivered properly is very good for us. The key is to deliver a negative comment in a positive way. Even after all the years I've played, if someone told me I sounded like crap, my feelings would be seriously hurt. If the same person told me that the way that I played was OK, but what if I tried doing such & such instead.
If they added, with your talent you would have no problem playing it that way,
then I would feel confident & challenged. Beats hell out of telling me I suck.
Constructive criticism helps keep our hat size from growing larger.

[mouse]

Then you you get told some nights that your playing is great ( and it's usually the night you have turned off and just let things flow without too much concentration), and wonder what the fuss is all about, but it does give you a lift being told and a good feeling that you have lifted others so must be on the right track?
Had a frail old man from come see one night after a gig when i was packing up, and told me " i really enjoyed your percussion young man". Things like that give you a buzz.
Same applies for encouraging another muso, give credit where due (especially if you are in a band), be generous with helping others if you think suited.

[givemethebeat]

Language is a great thing, A guy from the the back streets is possible to say something different than a guy form the posh private school. Articulation is an element of effective communication. I have been told I was crap. I was also told that I needed to explore things and look at them differently. The one the made me really think about what I was doing was the guy who said I was crap.

[mattsmith]

Originally Posted by givemethebeat

Articulation is an element of effective communication. I have been told I was crap. I was also told that I needed to explore things and look at them differently. The one the made me really think about what I was doing was the guy who said I was crap.

I'm glad you feel this way. Check out my rebuttal to your recent technical comments. I think they were articulated quite well.

[mattsmith]

Originally Posted by Church Drummer

Givemethebeat, I guess we'll have to agree to dissagree, I just think telling someone they suck falls outside the realm of constructive criticism (especially when dealing with a beginner or young person).

As an underage drummer, I have absolutely no problem being decked by an older musician with superior skills. It's part of the growing up process.

However, on drum forums the older people who enjoy the decking most are almost always frustrated and embittered imposters, yearning to be something they never were...and who for some bizarre reason can't understand that their anal retentive attitude is why they are involuntary literalists at the expense of a creativity they are ill equipped to understand.

You have one of those people here on this forum. It doesn't take a lot to discern who?

They most often engage in the following behaviors.

1. Nitpick everything from stick sizes to ghost notes they will themselves to hear.

2. Become all knowing gear/tech gurus. It's a safe world because the cymbals don't talk back.

3. Engage in back in my day dialogue, which upon further investigation turns out to be someone else's back in the day.

4. Invokes the word musicality as a way of artificially implanting IQ points on a drum forum, when he/she rarely understands this word's meaning...or that most times they are actually describing the word musicianship.

Mainly, younger drummers who are sort of getting out there are exposed to far more information than older drummers ever were, and with respect to those who make these points, quite often these implanters of wisdom are unaware of this. With that said, young drummers are still VERY MUCH in search of and are appreciative of the wisdom that comes from our older musicians. The only difference between my generation and yours is that our BS meter is far more pronounced. Besides with forums being as they are (a vast playground for anonymous pretenders) this is a very necessary behavior for people like me.

[UPSTROKE]

I say!! That seemed to be a very soft, but biting reply, wouldn't you say old chaps???? heh, heh Here Have a bigger fork. Well done. A big bite out of our butt is good for all of us sometimes.