[Stickman]

I read very well . As far as using sheet music on stage its sometimes necessary depending on the type of performance. I've done pit work for plays and although i didn't tottally rely on the sheet music after learning the part, i still found it a good reference for the upcoming changes.

I'm a university educated drummer. I am also self taught. Even though I was in various high school bands. I had no formal instruction. I taught myself to read by taking home the old advertisement records, memorizing my parts and by learning to count correctly.

[dtxtremeiiispecial]

Direct from Buddy Rich:

"But, I don't think any arranger should ever write a drum part for a drummer because if a drummer can't create his own interpretation of the chart and he plays everything that's written, he becomes mechanical; he has no freedom."

"So, to come in with a set routine -- it's something I've never believed in. It should depend on how you feel, because you play what you feel."

Also about Buddy, "After opening Buddy's Place II, Rich introduced new tunes with elements of rock into his repertoire, demonstrating his ability to adapt to his audience's changing tastes and establishing himself as a great rock drummer."

[Gus]

Trombone music count?

Glad to see lady Gaga as a guest!

[Alvarez]

I have got a lot of paying gigs because of my sight reading ability. Please learn as much as you can.

[thundafoot]

I learned how to read music at the age of 8 and still read music and write as well. I read the music and practice it before going on stage and I still won't play it beat for beat I always throw extra beats in there to suit me

[dtxtremeiiispecial]

Shades of Buddy Rich.

[Jazz&ReggaeRock]

I cannot believe how many drummers don't know how to read music!
Like that's something to be proud of! Well, didn't your drum teacher ever teach you how to read music?

I just don't get that... Well, they taught us how to read scales & such in school, so I already had that down years ago. Then I played in the band, Trumpet, and you'd better know how to read music, or you couldn't even play a single piece!
That's just odd to me.
However, I've run into my share of drum teachers who do NOT know how to read music!
That's tragic.. cuz you'll never be able to sucessfully teach a complicated piece to a student if you can't put this all down on paper!

Well, maybe if you are in some garage band, that's gonna work for you. But even with Guitar, we always were taught what strings represented what notes, what were 3rd, 5ths, 7th, augmented notes, etc.

If you limit yourself to NOT knowing how to read music, you cut yourself off from many many songs you'll one day like to play.
Learn tablature, it's not that hard! Really, one of the easiest types of music to read.
I think you're just being lazy not learning to read music myself.

[dtxtremeiiispecial]

So you're saying Buddy Rich was lazy?

[Jazz&ReggaeRock]

Originally Posted by Luke

Butter you are in almost the same situation as me! I like rock and metal a lot more than other genres but joining my high school's jazz band has really helped me with some of the core concepts of drumming. For example I now have better hi-hat coordination and a better overall sense of timing! I know it might seem un-useful, hard, and uninteresting at first but if you take learning new styles seriously they carry over into other genres and help you out.

Hey that's what i mean Luke. Sure it takes more work to learn to read tablature, but WHY wouldn't you want to?
That sort of reminds me of photographers who can only do photos thru photoshop.
They never learned how to adjust their cameras for different lighting, learned to focus the lens properly...or learned to develop film and prints.
Oh, all that stuff is so exciting.
It's also exciting to be able to pick up ANY kind of music and automatically play it, right from the start!
I just don't get this whole mindset, of "oh, I'm a drummer, and I don't want to ever learn to read music!"
You're just limiting yourself drummers!
Anyway.. there's nothing worse than trying to learn to learn a piece from a drum teacher who CANNOT read music. Very frustrating and very much a waste of time.
That's my 2 cents, but if you don't like it, I can always leave the forum.
I've not been here in months & months, and if I have to take a bunch of flak for thinking it's cool to read tablature, I'll not come back either.
There's so many good teachers out there, too, what is that Old Drum book? Progessive Steps to Syncopation by Ted Reed, it's blue & white... the author was a teacher and finally produced his own book.
Lots of good exercises there.
Well, I must be on my way..
Oh, who are your favorite drummers btw?

Speaking of being on my way.. I did love Jimi Hendrix's drummer, Mitch Mitchell and the guy who played in the doors, don't even know his name, Oh, he's a force to be reckoned with!
Also loved Jim Capaldi, who played in Traffic. Heard he died recently,

[Jazz&ReggaeRock]

don't twist my words moderator. I didn't even mention Buddy Rich, let alone say he was lazy.
Maybe he couldn't afford drum lessons at the time he started to learn, who knows?