As humans we have the tendency to try and package everything into neat little boxes. We are always trying to "straighten" things out or "square" things up.. The saying "there are no straight lines in nature" is often repeated, but rarely fully understood or felt.
So now that the philosophy is out of the way, my question is: Is drumming becoming to linear and mathematic?
We seem to tend to create boundaries and limitations with drumming in genera (along with most other things in life)l. In the discussion on simple drumming (which I have absolutely no problem with) comments were made regarding drummers being the lowest level on the food-chain. Since when did music have some sort of political hierarchy? Do drummers really feel like they are isolated time keepers? I do not disagree with practicing to a metronome, but I can't quite grasp the fact that people actually count numbers when they create music. This isn't supposed to be a math class, it's supposed to be an art. If I had to count "1 and 2 and 3 and 4..." when I played with other musicians, I wouldn't want to play anymore. Have people lost the ability to tap into a deeper state and to feel the music with all of their heart and soul? Is there anyone else who isn't concerned with just "getting gigs" and is pursuing music as an art form?
While some people write poetry or creating paintings, I use drumming as my creative outlet and always try to play without any preconceptions or limitations for myself. This is one reason that I never felt the need to learn any sort of music theory. I never felt compelled to learn one man's attempt to categorize and make music into some linear thing. Music is not a bunch of straight lines, it's a dance (literally and figuratively) and I think it's better to dance along with it rather then attempt to "straighten things out" like we try and do with everything else in our neat little lives.
Are there still drummers out there who take a sort of zen/meditative approach to drumming without abiding any sets of rules and regulations and preconceptions? Do you really think a tribal drummer in New Guinea sits down with a special drum book and a metronome while counting "1 e and a, 2 e and a..." praciticing his paradiddles and rudiments? Or does he tap into a deeper state of energy that we seem to have forgotten about and play with every single atom of his body?
These are just a few thoughts that I have been having lately and I do not mean to bash anyone. To each their own!
So now that the philosophy is out of the way, my question is: Is drumming becoming to linear and mathematic?
We seem to tend to create boundaries and limitations with drumming in genera (along with most other things in life)l. In the discussion on simple drumming (which I have absolutely no problem with) comments were made regarding drummers being the lowest level on the food-chain. Since when did music have some sort of political hierarchy? Do drummers really feel like they are isolated time keepers? I do not disagree with practicing to a metronome, but I can't quite grasp the fact that people actually count numbers when they create music. This isn't supposed to be a math class, it's supposed to be an art. If I had to count "1 and 2 and 3 and 4..." when I played with other musicians, I wouldn't want to play anymore. Have people lost the ability to tap into a deeper state and to feel the music with all of their heart and soul? Is there anyone else who isn't concerned with just "getting gigs" and is pursuing music as an art form?
While some people write poetry or creating paintings, I use drumming as my creative outlet and always try to play without any preconceptions or limitations for myself. This is one reason that I never felt the need to learn any sort of music theory. I never felt compelled to learn one man's attempt to categorize and make music into some linear thing. Music is not a bunch of straight lines, it's a dance (literally and figuratively) and I think it's better to dance along with it rather then attempt to "straighten things out" like we try and do with everything else in our neat little lives.
Are there still drummers out there who take a sort of zen/meditative approach to drumming without abiding any sets of rules and regulations and preconceptions? Do you really think a tribal drummer in New Guinea sits down with a special drum book and a metronome while counting "1 e and a, 2 e and a..." praciticing his paradiddles and rudiments? Or does he tap into a deeper state of energy that we seem to have forgotten about and play with every single atom of his body?
These are just a few thoughts that I have been having lately and I do not mean to bash anyone. To each their own!