Bo Eder
Platinum Member
Like everyone else here, I read alot about people going to eKits for the quiet practice, or guys trying to discover ways to mute their acoustic kits so they're not bothering everyone.
The other day a friend sent me a message that simply stated, "When you don't give a damn, you're much happier".
This got me thinking of my younger days when I first got sticks in hand. And it made me think about how we all change over time. I get it - we don't want to bother people with our questionable drumming skills - but on the other hand, when I was a kid, I didn't care what others thought and I practiced as loud and as long as I could. I would, of course, stop before 8PM on a school night, and if someone in the house was sick and trying to recuperate, I wouldn't play at all (did alot of pad playing on those days).
My only focus was getting better and maybe getting to be a professional player one day (ok - I admit when I was 14 I wanted to replace Stewart Copeland in the Police - highly unlikely but things you thought about at that age).
And sometimes I think the attitude then is what shapes you as you get older. So, being brash and "not giving a damn" kinda' shaped the player I am today. Which makes me wonder, if you're learning how to play now, and you really care about bothering others, will you become a good player? Will you be an aggressive enough player necessary to say, "Yes I can do that. When do you want me to show up?"
Drums are loud and noisy, and there's a certain kind of aggressiveness that goes into playing them, especially if you're in the driver's seat of an over-powering big band or rock act. If this is the case, and that's what you want to do, why are you so concerned with "keeping quiet"? To be a drummer, means everybody knows your a drummer, because they all have been listening to you already. Maybe if you don't hide it, and just play, you'll get much better quicker because you're not worried about people noticing or being bothered. So you can get stuff done much quicker because you're allowing everyone in the neighborhood to experience your lesson with you.
I'm not saying that if you live in an apartment you'll never become good. Maybe there's a deal that can be struck? I know I live in a house, but I'm sure my immediate neighbors know when I'm playing, and nobody has ever complained. I think of all those hours my parents had to endure when I was a much worse player, and feel blessed!
I would just encourage our "quiet players" to be a little more out anyway. You've chosen an instrument that is designed to be breathtakingly loud, yet need an eKit or pads to "keep it down". I'll pass on that attitude. Where do you stand? Maybe some should be playing electric guitar or keyboards instead? Is that being cruel?
The other day a friend sent me a message that simply stated, "When you don't give a damn, you're much happier".
This got me thinking of my younger days when I first got sticks in hand. And it made me think about how we all change over time. I get it - we don't want to bother people with our questionable drumming skills - but on the other hand, when I was a kid, I didn't care what others thought and I practiced as loud and as long as I could. I would, of course, stop before 8PM on a school night, and if someone in the house was sick and trying to recuperate, I wouldn't play at all (did alot of pad playing on those days).
My only focus was getting better and maybe getting to be a professional player one day (ok - I admit when I was 14 I wanted to replace Stewart Copeland in the Police - highly unlikely but things you thought about at that age).
And sometimes I think the attitude then is what shapes you as you get older. So, being brash and "not giving a damn" kinda' shaped the player I am today. Which makes me wonder, if you're learning how to play now, and you really care about bothering others, will you become a good player? Will you be an aggressive enough player necessary to say, "Yes I can do that. When do you want me to show up?"
Drums are loud and noisy, and there's a certain kind of aggressiveness that goes into playing them, especially if you're in the driver's seat of an over-powering big band or rock act. If this is the case, and that's what you want to do, why are you so concerned with "keeping quiet"? To be a drummer, means everybody knows your a drummer, because they all have been listening to you already. Maybe if you don't hide it, and just play, you'll get much better quicker because you're not worried about people noticing or being bothered. So you can get stuff done much quicker because you're allowing everyone in the neighborhood to experience your lesson with you.
I'm not saying that if you live in an apartment you'll never become good. Maybe there's a deal that can be struck? I know I live in a house, but I'm sure my immediate neighbors know when I'm playing, and nobody has ever complained. I think of all those hours my parents had to endure when I was a much worse player, and feel blessed!
I would just encourage our "quiet players" to be a little more out anyway. You've chosen an instrument that is designed to be breathtakingly loud, yet need an eKit or pads to "keep it down". I'll pass on that attitude. Where do you stand? Maybe some should be playing electric guitar or keyboards instead? Is that being cruel?