Other drummers

After hearing a group with a drummer who is on fire, there have been times when I have felt like selling my gear! In the past, I tended to focus on the things that that drummer could do that I couldn’t do. I would come away from that performance feeling less than adequate as a drummer, let alone as a musician. I usually did this without taking the time to consider my own skills.

I have learned to be accepting of my perceived shortcomings and to realize that we all have something to offer – all of us. I have also come to realize that it has never been healthy to compare myself in this way. It’s not a competition to me.

Don’t get me wrong – there is something to be learned from other musicians. I come away from these performances now with a sense of inspiration – hey, if he/she can do it, then why not me too? With access to books, CDs, DVDs, videos on the internet (free), etc., there’s no reason I can’t find out more about certain styles and techniques. There is so much information out there and, to me, that’s a good thing. I can learn from it all, and, in the process, I can add to my bag of tricks. A good mentor/teacher can be extremely beneficial, as well. I believe that we all have something to learn – still!

I have to thank all of those musicians who have inspired me to grow – thank you all.