[guss]

Originally Posted by Church Drummer

Playing in church keeping a beat, while playing the proper dynamics, putting in an occasional fill, or Cymbol Crash where appropriate, is about the most I can or should do. I try to vary the beat I'm playing in some way between the chorus and the verses. For the most part my philosophy for the type of playing environment I'm in is Keep It Simple Stupid!!!

If it were the only think i got out of it its the truth KISS, what made punk so good, KISS its some thing to remember allways about music(mabe not mozart) but relly I love you,(not relly), Relly I love KISS(meaning keep it simple stupid, not the other misles theory).


LOL

[tas4499]

I am self-taught. For me, drumming is a feel, and I have a deep love and connection with that. I gig about 2-3 times a month so that helps keep my chops up and progressing. On the other hand, I will be the first to admit that I am not a technical drummer and do not have an extensive rudiment knowledge (which is important to have). This makes it challenging to learn complex fills and beats at times because rudiments are the basis for these (lessons would help extend this knowledge and make me a more rounded drummer). At the end of the day, I would describe myself as a minimalist who tries to play for, and within the music. What I lack in technicality and rudiment work I try hard to make up for in feel, soul, and dynamics.

Peace and a Groove,
T

[Tainojim]

Self taught since 1959. Paying close attention to what I heard on the record player. Then mimic the sound. Carrying the beats, mostly at 8, then progressively building up on the rhythm came natural as I got older. "IT'S PLAYING BY EAR". Couldn't afford drum lessons.

Shined shoes at 11 and saved up $500 to buy my first kit.

I would exchange bottles at the store and save up enough to see the live bands play. To see Jimi Hendrix as the opening act for The Young Rascals in 1966 if my memory doesn't fail me.

I would constantly look at the stage to see techniques by the drummers.

Strictly self taught.

[Infero Exicution]

I've been self taught for 4 years! And still going strong!

[butter]

self taught here. i think getting lessons decreases the ability to be creative. when someone is always telling you how and what to play you cant think for yourself... i guess you could, outside of the lesson but you catch my drift? lessons can probably be great for some drummers, but they just arent for me

[Thunderfoot]

self taught and dropped beats

I am self taught and consider myself to be a decent drummer. I think a few lessons along the way would have been useful, but mainly to push the practices, increase arrangement memory and understand dropped notes and added notes....I still try and fathom what exactly goes on in 'Out on the Tiles' where there is the odd dropped note and possibly added note after the second Chorus?!?

5/4 12/8 7/8 3/4 etc I can understand but a rockin'4/4 with the odd 'clever' drop or add still confuses me...I can do it on the hoof as it were and can reverse the beat and correct myself by quarter or euth notes but to actually always be prepared for that tiny add or drop requires lots of repetition....

[Tainojim]

Originally Posted by Thunderfoot

self taught and dropped beats

I am self taught and consider myself to be a decent drummer. I think a few lessons along the way would have been useful, but mainly to push the practices, increase arrangement memory and understand dropped notes and added notes....I still try and fathom what exactly goes on in 'Out on the Tiles' where there is the odd dropped note and possibly added note after the second Chorus?!?

5/4 12/8 7/8 3/4 etc I can understand but a rockin'4/4 with the odd 'clever' drop or add still confuses me...I can do it on the hoof as it were and can reverse the beat and correct myself by quarter or euth notes but to actually always be prepared for that tiny add or drop requires lots of repetition....

Well under stood, for us Yanks learn the old habits of learning to driving from our parents. But at the same time I've taken defensive driving, and now am a much better driver.

It's similar to drumming. I've also noticed that in the UK, the music is more melodic in comparison to that of the U.S.
The U.S. style has more roughage, That's why allot of people from the UK that I've known in my time, love that soulful music. I'm still waiting to here a band that combines both UK and U.S style with a mix down.
Even the Beatles have tried it, Jeff Beck and others, but not quite successful at it. Now when drum schooling is in the picture, we tend to categorize them. Such as Big Band, Rock, Marching, Jazz, and so on.

Getting back to the drumming, as I've mentioned before, I'm self taught, but my son also plays drumms and he's into Industrial Rock. Now he's coming around to the 60's interest of sound. Just got him some Jimi Hendrix Tabs for guitar. He's very talented and also plays keyboard. I think that he's also looking for that mix now that he's older.

Mitch Mitchell for example, was able to "DRUM" to just about anything that was thrown at him and he went to drumming school. As was I able to "PLAY" to just about anything that was thrown at me as a self taught..

So the bottom line is that, Drumming and playing drums are of two different concepts.
Bananas and Apples as you may.

I don't play drums, I play with my drums in order to complement the bands needs.

Some drummers take drumming very seriously, while other drummers are having fum, as I am.

[drumt3ch09]

I actually started off in middle school marching band hold the bass drum on my shoulders, and my uncle gave me my first snare to practice ruddiments on. From there I got a set a few years later, So I was sorta familiar on how to keep a beat.

[Meddy]

Interesting stuff going on in this thread... just read it all haha. Some good quotes ideas and motivation/inspiration for me! I like to think that i'm just beginning what will be a great career in drumming... and that a lot is in store for me. I've never been this motivated before about anything in my life, drumming has become me.

Anyway, of my total 9 months playing i'm mainly self taught. What started me off though was a few free lessons from the minister of the church I drum for. He basically showed me a few rhythms and got me practicing for up to 2 hours a day so i've progressed nicely over the months Up to now the internet has been a great source of information but I've applied for some formal drum lessons... better check i'm not developing any bad habits.

I totally agree with church drummer as well... drumming in limiting environments really does seem to help you improve in the areas you wouldn't normally get much practice at. For example controlled drumming in church. I see too many drummers who just hit the drums as hard as they can. If you tell them to play quieter it's just "hey, i'm a drummer, I play loudly and can't control my volume, turn yourself up!'. That annoys me. Having to control your volume and play beats that really compliments the music has really helped me improve I think. Playing big heavy fills during "More Love, More Power" or something really doesn't suit the mood :P but that's what the other youth drummer in the church does >.< Anyway i think i'm ranting a bit here.

I just find for self taught people, the best way to improve is, as well as practising, participate in drumming in different scenarios... join African drumming and percussion groups on the bongo's/djembe's etc... a bit or marching band snare work and controlled drumming really helps drummers improve quickly - especially self-taught drummers who don't have a professional teacher to guide them. Otherwise new drummers sit behind a kit, and just play. Which is fair enough but that way your only scraping the top layer of drumming.

I'll end my wall of text here. It's damn satisfying doing large posts for some reason

[butter]

i guess i wasnt totally self taught. after reading drumt3sh09's post i see that i kind of have the same intro to drumming as he does. i started playing percussion in the school band, then started marching band, and at about the same time i was introduced to set drumming. so i too had an understanding of beats and such before i started set.

id love to complain about marching bass drum but i dont think anyone wants to hear about it