A Thought For "Drummers"...

[j_kay]

I'm a pony, I'm a pony...   

[JFunky]

I hear what you're saying coming from a gospel drummer who prides himself on playing with the band but what about the Dave Weckls, and the Vinnies, the Mike Portnoys and the Steve Gadds that do clinics and solo, what are they considered?

....they are considered musicians.  A clinic is put on by an Educator to teach others.  All of these guys mentioned above are educators, craftsmen and innovators.  As a matter of fact, Vinnie doesn't even do clinics anymore.  He's all about the music.

...I'll post a lil' something about "Solo's" in a minute on another thread.    

[Hotsticks1]

....they are considered musicians.  A clinic is put on by an Educator to teach others.  All of these guys mentioned above are educators, craftsmen and innovators.  As a matter of fact, Vinnie doesn't even do clinics anymore.  He's all about the music.

...I'll post a lil' something about "Solo's" in a minute on another thread.    

I hear you but let's be honest they all had a starting point as well, and every one on this site knows that most likely there was a period were these "educators, craftsmen and innovators" were sitting on the kit at the crib listening to their favorite tunes and putting all the licks that they could fit in. Other wise I don't think we would know them for being such creative "musicians or drummers". Being part of the band is something that's developed through time...

The movie drumline for instance (I know it's just a movie...but still it carries lessons for all musicians) "ONE BAND, ONE SOUND" Throughout years of playing and studying your craft you have to learn as a drummer/musician/percussionist/whatever...to develope an ear for not only your sound but the sound of the unit as a a whole as well, but first I think it is important to recognize yourself and where you stand as far as a musician is concerned.

[yamahaboy]

Sheen your a Roit....lol....

[IGotSkillzJustNeedDatPush]

I also believe that this comment was very well stated.  And it really needed to be said.  But my question is when do you showcase your chops???

[dude-on-drums]

I also believe that this comment was very well stated.  And it really needed to be said.  But my question is when do you showcase your chops???

"In the world of music, the heart is the key."  -Sheen

Follow your heart fam.  Just listen and feel it out.  Dont force anything.  There are rules in the language of music.  Your chops should come out as an emotional expression, not as an outburst of boastful comments.  If you pay attention to whats being said (musically) you can respond more intellegently with the right words.  Trust me.  You will know when its time to showcase your chops. 

[fretai03]

I also believe that this comment was very well stated.  And it really needed to be said.  But my question is when do you showcase your chops???

There's more to chops than showcasing. It's one dimensional thinking if people assume that they need chops for showcasing/showing off.

Welcome to LGM!

[SabianKnight]

I also believe that this comment was very well stated.  And it really needed to be said.  But my question is when do you showcase your chops???

You really shouldn't feel the need to showcase your chops. If you truly have "chops" they will come out naturally in your playing. Dennis Chambers, Thomas Lang, Virgil Donati, Marc Minnemann, Gavin Harrison, Jojo Mayer, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Antonio Sanchez, Pete Magadini, Steve Gadd, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Chris "Daddy" Dave, Gene Oliver Lake, Billy Kilson, Nathanial Townesley, Chris Coleman, Zoro, Russ Miller, Rick Latham, and the list goes on.... they never "TRY" showcase their "chops" because their chops are their vocabulary. Their chops are them, They are their chops at this point in their development as MUSICANS. They know the language of music, thereby making them able to express their depest muical thoughts, fully expressing their heart and soul. Chops simply flow wthout thought as a natural response to the musical situation. This is way recent articles in Modern Drummer Magazine from guys like Vinnie have them stating that it is not about chops but about the music because they only naturally play what the music requires. They have become of great report by serving the music (purpose). The music is the purpose. The message is in the purpose (in this case the music like Debra Killings says in here song).

The same is true for WE the aspiring musican or life-long student... we are the lack of musical vocabulary (rhythmic, tonal, dynamics, phrasing, time keeping (internal clock),compositional story-telling, ) that WE display. If we cannot pass the the test of understanding and application of technique required for our chosen instrument and UNDERSTANDING + WILLINGNESS to fulfill our roles in the musical settings at hand then EGO tells us to showcase.

See the musicans I mentioned all have proven themselves by playing from their heart and souls which have shown themselves prepared and able to rightly divide the truth of the professional (proven functional in knowledge an mastered application of their chosen area of study) drumset musician. professional doesn't mean your getting paid it means you know what you are doing. Misappropriated terms cause misunderstandings of where we are in our preparation as musicians, minstrels, ministers. The Bible says that if a man examine himself he should not be judged.... the Bible also says to study and shew yourself approved... a workman unashamed.... I believe these Biblical teachings should be applied to our musical service in the church and lives in general endeavours.   

[Vangie D]

very tru and wise words, thanx for teh reminder Divine.

[bigblackdrummer]

Change the way you think of yourselves, 'drummers'.

The drum-set is but one instrument. If you continue to think of yourself as a drummer, then their is a possibility that subconsciously, you percieve yourself a soloist, who has to discipline himself/herself enough to 'settle' for being but ONE piece of a band.

How do you begin to change this?

Think of yourself as a musician. Before you became a 'drummer', and got into all of the fancy fills, did any/much of the music you love have a drummer who was showcasing all of fills?

More than likely, it did not. It was a collective effort from MUSICIANS, who knew their roles. I think this obsession with licks stems from the fact that we're breeding way too many drummer's, and not enough musicians...

Think back to the first time you became fascinated by an instrument. For many of us, we sat and watched that one musician, instead of appreciating the groove that resulted from a collective effort by all the musicians. As a result, we subconsciously disassociated ourselves from the group, and saw that instruments as a means to showcase our abilities, as an individual. That's why so many musicians are so eager to be the center of attention, and yet need 'discipline' to not do more than what your role call's for.

.....let's renew our minds, starting today. A "drummer" may or may not play for the music, but a MUSICIAN ALWAYS does what the music call's for. That's why he/she is called a MUSICian....

All of these youtube 'shed' clips, believe it or not, do nothing more than reinforce the notion that you're a soloist. When you're an impressionable, immature musician .... you see these clips, and want to express yourselves in that way. That is NOT what real music is about; yet some people consume that stuff on a daily basis.

Lastly, their is nothing wrong with listening to a song to hear what the drummer is doing; however, while it may be hard at this point, try to enjoy the music too. The more you can enjoy the music as a whole, I feel, the less you'll feel the need to interrupt the flow, by showcasing your chops. It definitely all connects.

At the end of the day, you should think of yourself a MUSICian who happens to plays; and not a drummer who happens to play music.

That's all.

Heck ya!

[JFunky]

*bump* 

...this needs to be in everyone's drum notebook.

[Lildrummaboy66]

THough I understand what you are striving to say... MUSIC is the foundation. Let's not push false information based on the stereotypical church and urban players of today's music. Any Solo and Ensemble jury situation or Recital totally discredits your statement. Elton John, James Taylor, Chic Corea, Stanley Clark, Victor Wooten, Christian McBride, John Mcglaughlin, Al DiMeola and countless others blow that theory to shreds. The don't need accompaniment they choose to use it.

We must keep in mind that EVERY MUSICIAN in order to be truly effectictive must have a good/great UNDERSTANDING of TIME & RHYTHM. You cannot play music with those and they are synonomous. When you play time notational values you are playing rhythm. A quote from Max Roach in TRAPS magazine says that he feels sorry for musicians that cannot play time. THe drummer has been given the job of rhythm because the lack of definite pitch in the instrument not able to play a TRUE melody. However, everyone is responsible and accountable for time and rhythm. We are simply insurance to that end.

We drumset players/percussionist/musicians must step up and KNOW MUSIC. We must deliver ourselves from people and their limitations by eliminating our own. We have to stay on our game. A 'REAL' bass player and organist can shine on their own.   

'nough said!!!!!
God bless

[Jaychurch]

Bra you so right. The church I go to got two musicians. I'm one of them. They always want my cousin to play because they claim I play too fast. Like for example, I played only one song last Sunday and I was supposed to play for the entire service because he played first service. I believed I was following the keyboard player because I know he's the lead musician. He also was leading the song. So now I decided to only play when he's not there. If he's not there, thenI'm the back up musician. It get on my nerves because I haven't played in a long time and this happens all the time.

[Jaychurch]

I got another proposition for you man of god. I want to play for my uncle church right, and my daddy told me I can't play at his church because I have to go to the church my brother plays for. He's the organist over there. I been at my uncle church for a while. I was going there before my daddy took us back to the church he play for now. In my heart, I really want to play for him and I'm a musician over there. I feel like I need to go back to my uncle church. He wants me to come back anyway, but my daddy won't let me. So I've been praying and asking God to try to persuade my daddy mind. He told me when I get my licenses, then i can go back. So I have a desire to do that because I love my uncle church. I started playing at my daddy church, but he doesn't have a church anymore. He said he won't have a church again until 2010 and I can't wait that long to start playing again. What do I do brother?

[SabianKnight]

I got another proposition for you man of god. I want to play for my uncle church right, and my daddy told me I can't play at his church because I have to go to the church my brother plays for. He's the organist over there. I been at my uncle church for a while. I was going there before my daddy took us back to the church he play for now. In my heart, I really want to play for him and I'm a musician over there. I feel like I need to go back to my uncle church. He wants me to come back anyway, but my daddy won't let me. So I've been praying and asking God to try to persuade my daddy mind. He told me when I get my licenses, then i can go back. So I have a desire to do that because I love my uncle church. I started playing at my daddy church, but he doesn't have a church anymore. He said he won't have a church again until 2010 and I can't wait that long to start playing again. What do I do brother?

You become a diligent student of the craft of drumming, the craft of music and you study to show yourself approved. Get a metronome and learn to sight-read music. Folks want be able to accuse you of playing to fast etc if you are prepared.

Most of all honor thy father and thy mother and be ready when your time comes.

[dude-on-drums]

Thread is always a good bump!