I have been active as a player and educator for more than 20 years, and I've been interested in music and particularly drums since my early school years. Although I have set off in other directions, taken a few detours, and branched into other things, I have always found my way back to drumming.
After a tour in the US Army Airborne, I worked to support my family; but, all the while I never stopped thinking about drums. After a few years I decided I wanted to get serious about playing. At first I taught myself and worked around with small groups. Although I loved playing, I always felt I was lacking.
As chance would have it, I found myself in a traveling show band working thoughout the United States. I was able to meet other drummers in other show bands. The one important thing I received from this experience was the confirmation that “I was lacking,” not in the ability to perform what was presented to me at this level but in the ability to grow musically and technically. I realized this early on when talking to other drummers. I came away with the thought that to be better I must study.
I continued to travel for a while longer; but, I was not happy with my performance or what I had to offer to the band I was supporting. I left the road, came back home, and found my first teacher. From there I have been on a quest to learn all I can. That hasn’t stopped.
I believe that a drummer can learn more in a lesson with a good instructor than he or she may ever learn in a lifetime of playing on his or her own. That is not to say that there aren't great self-taught drummers out there. On the contrary, there are many. But it is not easy to keep focused on the road ahead without some inspiration and direction to keep us going.
A good teacher can provide that inspiration.
Even now with many years under my belt, I am still excited about learning and playing and, most of all, passing on to a new generation of drummers my love for drumming.
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