the metronome thread gave me this idea but do you think that if you put a metronome click to your ear while sleeping it would improve your time and feel? hmmmm im seriously about to try it.. lol

that is one of the most ridiculous things i have ever heard... obviously ur not conscious so it would do nothing.. plus i cant imagine being able to fall asleep with an annoying tick tick sound constantly going off

[Coach McGuirk]

I have heard of people trying that, but I always wonder: if the batteries run down will it teach you to drag?

use ENERGIZER!

well when i was playing in the marching band i would have dreams of the sticks hitting together for the beat.. it was drilled into my head because we did it for so long... nightmares!

[dtxtremeiiispecial]

My understanding is that subliminal messages don't work because, by definition, your bodymind cannot pick up on them.

Besides, your mind has important processes going on as you sleep. Better to leave those undisturbed.

[deanc54]

Hey Dtxt!

Once while delving into the realm of dreams and dreaming, I happened on to a school of thought that described a process by which you could manipulate dreams to your advantage. The process descibed was to say over and over to yourself whilst falling asleep that you will be aware that you are asleep, but dreaming. The next step is to try to look at or at least be aware of your hands in your dream and try to manipulate your fingers. If you can accomplish this, it follows that you could use your fingers to tap out a consistent rythym that would be in your head subliminally in the waking world. Trying to be aware of all of this while you are playing in the concious world may be a stretch. In fact the entire concept is a stretch, but it never hurts to try a few bizarre things from time to time!

[dtxtremeiiispecial]

deanc54,
Well, I can at least start to buy that. First, it's not a subliminal message. You have the process in mind before you fall asleep, and I believe that we can be somewhat consciously aware during the shallower parts of sleep. I suppose we could manipulate our fingers some, at least mentally.

During deep sleep (REM) we're aware of our dreams, maybe, but I doubt we'd be tapping then. Unless it would be a dream about drumming.

You know, there are lots of subliminal ryhthms -- breathing, blinking, words spoken on the TV that we're not listening to, fingers typing on the keyboard, songs playing in our head.
I believe that our inner music continues playing whether we are hearing it or not. Many times I have had songs come into my head that described my mood at the time: "Gee Mr. Custer, I don't wanna go." How did that song come into my head? Who is the invisible DJ within?

I believe there is a subliminal world whirling within us, probably a product of our incredible brains, but I think we often need to work to bring it into the waking world. Awareness, talking with friends, study, intensity, therapy -- we can learn more about what is going on inside us in many activities.

What does this all mean for the drummer? We are rhythmic powerhouses inside. Every beat and groove ever played is inside us. We have only to connect with it or let it emerge.

We are masters of rhythm, even if we're just walkin' down the street.

[deanc54]

Hey Dtxt,

There's a quote for the all the ages, 'We are masters of rhythm, even if we're just walkin' down the street'. I couldn't agree with you more (I was trying to be a bit facecious above). Do you suppose we drummers are all descended from a goup of primevil percussionists that followed the early hunter-gatherers down thru the Bering land bridge some 13-15k ago playing the tunes of the day? All joking aside, I wonder who was the first drummer that started it all? What is the oldest surviving conteporary drum kit (hollowed out logs and the like aside)? Where is it located? Who made it? You (if anyone) should know this.

[dtxtremeiiispecial]

Yeah. And what species was the first drummer?