I love going out to hear music. Part of the fun for me is to watch the musicians and the way that they interact with each. One thing in particular that I enjoy, is watching the drummer! It can be so much fun – watching, listening and learning. Over the years, I have been very fortunate to see some great players – some of whom are not well known. Some of these performances have been in small settings where I have had a bird’s-eye view of the action. Being able to watch the motions and being able to hear the sounds coming out of the instrument while sitting a few rows away is just such an incredible experience. DVDs and Internet videos are great, too – but there’s something really special about seeing it in person.
That being said, I have found that a great thing for me to do is to video record my practicing. At my studio, I can watch myself on a monitor from different camera angles while I’m playing – which is fun. I can make observations and adjustments as I see them. However, when I’m able to simply concentrate on my practicing and let the cameras capture the moment, then I can focus on the matter at hand and dissect it later. This has been such a great way for me to analyze my playing as it is – the good and the not so good. I find that by focusing on my playing while I’m playing and not trying to judge it at the same time, then I’m better able to relax and let some music happen. This can occur even when I’m learning new material. It’s a bit counter-intuitive, but it seems to work for me.
If you are able, try and video record yourself and check this out. Audio recordings are the next best thing. As the (very) old saying goes, “the tape don’t lie!”
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