[zap98]

Who isn't?

There's a time for practice and a time for playing. Alternate between those states of mind.

If you pay for lessons and your just doing rudiment reading exercises and your teacher is not telling you why you have to do it, he is leading you on and sucking you. Drum teachers have to eat and pay bills. But doing rudiments and stroke techniques and foot techniques and independance exercises these are the foundations.

You learn doing your homework.

Then learn to play and have fun; being creative, blah.

Being able to alternate between practice and playing.

[Andy B]

Originally Posted by zap98

Who isn't?

There's a time for practice and a time for playing. Alternate between those states of mind.

If you pay for lessons and your just doing rudiment reading exercises and your teacher is not telling you why you have to do it, he is leading you on and sucking you. Drum teachers have to eat and pay bills. But doing rudiments and stroke techniques and foot techniques and independance exercises these are the foundations.

You learn doing your homework.

Then learn to play and have fun; being creative, blah.

Being able to alternate between practice and playing.

My thoughts on this are being a drummer is genetic.....
you either got it or you ain't i'm afraid like any talent you cant teach basic skills like co-ordination and dexsterity ....its bred...

.look back through your family history and you will find musicians going back decades if not question your mother....i had four uncles all who played the drums my Grand father on my mothers side played bass drum in a marching band in the first world war. On my Fathers side they all played piano or other instruments music is in the blood.
i have seen musicians level/Grade five to Grade eight who cant get on a stage and play with a band... they don't know how to jam and listen they have there head at a music stand and it sounds sterile and lacks feel and any emotion...i have seen drummers who have had lessons off the best tutors and are crap and i have seen drummers told by tutors i cant teach you anything what you have is feel and learning to play regimently will ruin your style which is what Lloyd Ryan told Phil Collins............................anyone want to add to this

[zap98]

Wow...how's it boss!

Genetic is dangerous. But the family tree business is your business. BTW thanks for sharing this; i can see you there are links to drums in your family tree.

I agree with the teacher bit. Like kids aspiring to be their idol or just having a go at it; instant sucess without putting the work into it. Sometimes kids or people just like to have a go.

Did Phil Collins have something also to do with Max Abrams; british drum teacher?

[Andy B]

I was kidding with ya .....British humure n all that... Lloyd Ryan made a career out of it... i like working with poor kids best the one' who cant afford it.....
but i guess i'm an anti capitalist at heart anyway so lets have a drum revolution......

[zap98]

LOL

Like your spirit!

I know all about the people upstairs and the downstairs people and the robots that serve them. I'm a different kinda robot.

Drum revolution; i sense one coming...my Jedi thoughts.

[slug]

i have a mute paid for my snare but that doesnt do much. my friend has a electric ket and it is efectively much quieter. thus i do not have the money to waste on one soo i dont think that will be much of a problem anytime soon lol

as far as showing my parents my respect i do with the utmost respect possible my mother doesnt have a problem with it.. only my father and thats for other reasons. but i also work so that limits my time even more.

I greatly appreciate your help and tips. Ill look into that practice pad and yea a set of head phones or maybe even ear plugs might help him out.. or maybe ill buy them for me so i dont have to listen to him haha

[Andy B]

Glad i could help i went through all that back in my teens i was a right pain... so just passing the wisdom on...i even set my kit up in the garden once and the band full on...nearly got arrested when the police turned up well one bobby who had one complaint off a neighbour who was having her afternoon snooze... so we packed up and went back inside for a couple of hours to my dads amazement...i used an upstairs spare bedroom to practice in with three bands. i cleared it all out and sound proofed it with three carpets on the floor and cling film on the windows it was ace...
it kept the sound right down guess i had some cool parents...sound proofing is an other option old egg boxes foam and plywood you could do it on a budget "rock and roll" good look with your drumming dude.....your only young once so enjoy.....

[ken1471]

I'm 40 and I took snare lessons in 7-8 grade but never had any lessons after that. I started a band with my teenage friends but never really got anywhere. Then quit for about 12 years and then started back up. Taught my stepson some tricks on guitar and then started a band with him and a few of his friends. We weren't half bad but then we had some falling out and a few moved away. He still practices but my drums are sitting in a closset. Hard to play now, nieghbors are a*******s. I've accumulated a decent set through the years. Double bass, 5 toms plus floor tom, high-hats, cowbell, 3 crash, and a 21 inch ride. Still a little off on the fast double bass but it's awesome playing. My alltime favorite hobby!!! Wish I could find a local band or even another guitarist to play with, even if just for fun !!!!!!!!!! see my post at
ken1471 Good luck to all you drummers. There's a lot of compitition out there!

[Andymac2003]

Alright guys im new to this site and only just purchased a kit after 10 long years away.......and I must say im loving it......feel a teenager all over again.

On the topic in hand I am all self taught Drums and Guitar with not a single lesson had..... Guaranteed I picked up some bad habits along the way but my method of drumming along to records (big CD's for you young drummers out there) didn’t hurt me in one bit and made me practice along to some great drummers/bands out there. In case you are wondering KISS was one of favourites to practice along with and a bit of Van Halen on occasion.

[Tainojim]

Come to think of it, being self taught. We learn bad habbits.

Like: picking our nose with a drum stick.
Or scratching our butts with a drum stick.
Scratching our backs with a cymbal.
Using a 7A stick to get the wax out of our ear.
Tapping my son with a 5A stick to get his attension.
Tapping my fingers on the snare when I'm thinking.

Well, you all get my meaning. Self taught is not easy, but more than most drummers have fun mimmicing other drummers styles and riffs. And yes it's a challenge. We self taught drummers learn allot and it is more difficult for us to learn all the rudiments. But most of us were born with the beats of our hearts and we all have the rythem to show for it.

Been doing it for 53 years now and still feel strong about it.