[SuperKierann]

ive been playing 8 years completely self-taught. i think its better because you play with your own style and technique instead of doing everything really textbook and like a robot.

[badhabit]

There are a wild number of self taught very successful players .
Like most things in the world of sound , it all in the dedication , I think the best
part is hearing something new in a sound you thought you had nailed .

Anybody attending the Smooth jazz Fest in Woodinville Washington in August
sponsored by KWJZ

[meahal19]

Had band in school which only taught you to play one drum, other than being told to tap foot while playing. I started taking lessons the last couple of months after trying the video and internet methods. Sometimes having a professional watch specific things that you wont notice like posture, hand positions how you use your feet etc..
He has also focused on some of the fundamental things such as rudiments, stick height and untangling exercises. I also like the pressure that im paying someone to help me so I tend to practice more. It really boils down to dedication of the individual. I have seen many self taught drummers that are incredible.

[orionsbelt77]

Yup, selt taught. Started playing with Kite sticks cut in half on plastic pails back in 1963. Enrolled in band in junior high school in 1964. Learned how to read music on the fly. Got my first snare drum,( a Ludwig and Ludwig brass with nickel plating, and Calf skin heads and Cat gut snares, which I still own to this day,). How boring......counting 163 thousand measures before you stand up for a rat a tat tat. Excelled at that , moved on to High school marching band, where (lucky me) , I was the only one who could play the bass drum part.
Have been recording and playing ever since.

	Ludwig Drums Shop for Ludwig Drums at Musician's Friend

[Tainojim]

Cat Gut Snares? You sound about as old as me brother.

What year was that Ludwig? I had a 1959 Black Onyx Rock kit back then.

	Ludwig Drums Shop for Ludwig Drums at Musician's Friend

[orionsbelt77]

Yes, cat gut snares. The drum is a Ludwig&Ludwig, so, it was produced while Theobold Ludwig was still alive. I believe Theobold died around 1917.
I am 58 years old. started playing in 1963.

	Ludwig Drums Shop for Ludwig Drums at Musician's Friend

[Der Trommler]

Very nice, I would love to see a photo of that bad boy. I am a firm believer that a drummer can never have too many snare drums, and that sounds like one anyone would be proud to have in their collection.

[orionsbelt77]

The drum has not been played since 1976. The catgut snares may be dust by now, as I have not examined the drum since 1995, when I moved into my current residence. 1976 is when I purchased a new Ludwig Supraphonic . It has been my main snare since. The Ludwig & Ludwig snare was captured on tape in May of 1970 at Audio City studios in Minneapolis. Copies of those recordings exist to this day. The three piece band I was in at that time , went in to record three songs. One of which is lost and two remain.
Two things in particular about that drum I did not much care for. One, was the snare strainer mechanism was not user friendly, and second, the hoops were thin and would chew through sticks in short order when playing rim shots. I may have to resurrect that drum so it at least appears to be of value, otherwise my kids might throw it out when going through my stuff when I die. I would rather be tossed in a dumpster, than that drum. Long live the snare!

	Ludwig Drums Shop for Ludwig Drums at Musician's Friend

[Tainojim]

I think I may have some cat gut string left over from repairing the old dial tuning radios some wear. It should still be available since they are used in lots of instruments like violins, old guitars and even tennis rackets.

So some music outlets, electronics parts stores and perhaps some hardware stores should have some in stock.

I just turned 59 last month.

[butter]

Cat gut snares are indeed still available. They are hard to find, but I have come across them once or twice when just searching up snares or something similar.