Is it true that drummers, and people who listen and play music in general, have add?

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vorsybl

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The attention disorder, their reasoning was that playing music and listening to music with an ipod all the time throughout the day like I do means that I have add. But that doesn't like a characteristic ... as drummers what do you think? Because I've learned that this disorder is due to a smaller prefrontal cortex physically than "normal " people.
 
Never heard of such thing. On the contrary, musicians need to have a keen sense of attention, to play music, especially drummers who have to stay on tempo. Can you picture a drummer who always wonders off??? It would be a disaster
 
Never heard of such thing. On the contrary, musicians need to have a keen sense of attention, to play music, especially drummers who have to stay on tempo. Can you picture a drummer who always wonders off??? It would be a disaster

Well that's precisely what I tried to argue to them, that playing WELL at least requires a vast understanding of time feels and paying attention to four limbs at the same time. Besides, I dunno, I guess it doesn't matter what other peopl ethink..
 
Sounds like someone heard the old joke "what did the drummer get on their IQ test" and took it to a literal sense.


(and for anyone who hasn't heard the punch line, the answer is "drool"
 
Well that's precisely what I tried to argue to them, that playing WELL at least requires a vast understanding of time feels and paying attention to four limbs at the same time. Besides, I dunno, I guess it doesn't matter what other peopl ethink..

I think your doctor determines if you have ADD, yes? It sounds like some kind of reverse-nepotism: somebody says you have ADD because you're always listening to your ipod. But then, as an educational exercise, if you're not listening to all kinds of music, then what good are ya' as a musician without it? Sounds like someone is trying to create less work for themselves.....
 
There's a great study that goes into detail about... boy, I'm hungry. BRB.
 
There's a great study that goes into detail about... boy, I'm hungry. BRB.

LMFAO!!!............

And oh, ADD?...Yeah...I got it.


peter-boyle-young-frankenstein.jpg
 
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There is such a thing as Adult ADHD, which I may have... and you may as well... But who knows... A lot of doctors these days are so quick to tell you how screwed up, or weak, or fragile you are... I'm not so sure I buy it.
The most important thing to remember about add or adhd is... well, it's slipped my mind. My wedding band is pretty shiny though.. What were we talking about?
 
It is true that many musicians and artists tend to have ADD at higher rates than the general population. ADD is usually associated with an improper chemical balance in the brain not reduced or enlarged structures. ADD needs to be properly accessed by a doctor and there are a variety of drugs that can help with the condition as well as learning "coping skills" to better manage the symptoms.

The are two main types of ADD:

ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder where a person is hyperactive and therefore cannot concentrate on a task.

ADD Inattentive Type is shown as a person who has depressed activity, gets bored easilly and has trouble staying on task.

A common feature of ADD is a person who constantly starts new projects without finishing the previous project. Google ADD and get some concrete information.
 
I'm apparently ADHD - done the tests, had second, third and fourth opinions. Hate the meds and quit taking them some time ago - they make me more focused but play merry hell with my emotions.

I told my doc that my main issue is that I'm a dickhead and he said there's no cure for that ... cool :)

Being ADHD doesn't mean you have to take meds. I much prefer coffee, nicotine and pot, but of course I can't recommend that as "treatment" haha ... but seriously, cognitive strategies, good food and lots of exercise and simply accepting that you ain't normal (and convincing others that it's okay not to be normal) are also good coping strategies. I also advise, avoiding any work that even smells like it's administrative or clerical - I can't organise stuff to save my life.

Agree with Flamboy ... "musicians need to have a keen sense of attention, to play music, especially drummers who have to stay on tempo".

ADDers actually can pay great attention when they're engaged, to the point of hyperfocus but if we ain't turned on, despite the best of intentions (really, we're trying!) we simply zone out. The problem is being able to regulate and control your attention. So, when playing, if I'm on I'm really on, and when I'm off you'd do better bringing in a kid who's been playing for three weeks.

Biggest issues for me are practice pads and playing non-exciting parts in songs that don't turn me on. Of course, they're a bummer for almost everyone but it's a matter of degree.

The disorder is caused by an inability to produce dopamine in normal amounts, which ultimately comes down to "ah cain't get no satisfac-shun" ... "and ah I and ah try and ah try" ... and then people start hinting that I'm being a dickhead :)

Can't say for sure if music attracts ADDers or not but the scene is absolutely chock full of flaky loonies, isn't it? Definitely seen some sociopathy in the scene (great for not being nervous, I'd imagine). Also narcissistic personality disorder. The self obsession at times is legendary. Lots of anxious, depressive screwballs as well.

A lot of us are pretty emotional types so maybe we're naturally attracted something as wonderfully expressive as music??
 
Well interesting responses but I'm not sure what to believe. I honestly don't think I have ADD or I would know about it. Yeah they also said since I smoke pot all the time I Must have ADD for that reason too.

Kind of sucks being labeled with a disorder, I play drums because I want to make new songs, not because I have less dopamine being produced than other people

Like I get straight A's taking 6-7 college level courses every semester. If I had ADD I doubt I would be able to do that, AND practice drums at the same time. Like really
 
I have ADD, I have had the tests and I have ADD not ADHD. I don't know why people think that have ADD gives you some creative advantage. I have struggled my whole life in school and in life. When I was in middle school and high school there was very little on about ADD. I discovered my problem when I was in my 20's. Here are some some things that I did and is a characteristic of ADD. When I was about 8 all I did was play the drums constantly. When it came to learning a new drum beat or getting prepaired for my lesson I had a hard time focusing on that, its called hyperfocusing, meaning doing something to stimulate your brain. As I grew older and matured I still could not focus or complete goals( on drums or in life ) In my 20's I was srtuggling and was about to loose my job, because I was not paying attention to details or finishing things in a timely fashion. My doctor suggested I se a specialist, I found out I had ADD. I do take a light dose of meds. All of that time I still played drums like it was the last day on earth. Here are the Pro's and Con's on the drug side of this condition.
Pro's The meds made a huge difference in my life. I could sit down and read a book and get things done. I became one of the best employees at my job. I could sit down and play rudiments for hours and stop when ever I wanted. The Con's of the drugs, I lacked creativity my personality was not as colorful as it is when not drugged. Like I said I take a very light dose now to balance things out. ADD is not some gift or some sort of artist thing, ITS A PAIN IN THE ASS.
 
The attention disorder, their reasoning was that playing music and listening to music with an ipod all the time throughout the day like I do means that I have add. But that doesn't like a characteristic ... as drummers what do you think? Because I've learned that this disorder is due to a smaller prefrontal cortex physically than "normal " people.


ADD Inattentive Type is shown as a person who has depressed activity, gets bored easilly and has trouble staying on task.

A common feature of ADD is a person who constantly starts new projects without finishing the previous project. Google ADD and get some concrete information.

This will probably upset a lot of peoples idea of mental "illness", just a warning.

I wouldn't take those "facts" as concrete evidence, many exclude the individual element of humanity, willpower. Sure they may struggle to stay on task, but I wouldn't go telling them their brains are wired wrong like the psychs do, rather encourage them to pursue self-improvement if they think it is necessary.

I got diagnosed with all the symptoms of ADD but proved them wrong by sticking with something and staying on task more then my peers. I've had people say that I never really had ADD, I was just misdiagnosed, I disagree, I have the propensity to show those symptoms more than an average person but in knowing I do, I've found ways to work around it.

The most extreme example is that I find studying at home hard even if the subject interests me so I travel out of my way to go somewhere I don't necessarily have to as the effort of travelling makes me feel like I need to make the trip worthwhile. I'll add other benefits on top and make a trip out of it, it doesn't feel like a chore for me, it feels positive, I meet people and I enjoy myself more then the average person sitting in their room droning away.

If you tell someone they are depressed constantly, they are likely going feel bad for it. Even the idea that it is an illness, that they are sick has a negative emotional impact. I don't know about you, but telling a depressed person they are mentally ill does not seem like a good idea to me.

The idea that there is something wrong with them pisses me off as o.k, they get bored, they might be a perfectly nice person though. What about that guy who gets angry all the time, is he mentally ill, what about her, she worries a lot, she must be ill as well. The rate psychology is going, what makes a child's behavior popular or unpopular at school will be determined by some kind of wired thought process and they will be trying to fix that as well. All for the good of the child, but before you know it, individual personality is gone and the whole world is the same before everyone is taking medication to normalize themselves. It's the plot for a sci-fi program waiting to happen.

The real heart of the human problem is the human heart and why people find it hard to motivate themselves, but you'll never see me taking a motivation pill.
 
Well let's not forget that the "meds" used to treat the thing is essentially amphetamine. I don't need those things to function or to stay on task like I said...

I'm not depressed, but I am alone, but because I choose to be. I'd rather not be around people usually and just do my own thing. I've had girlfriends in the past but right now I like being alone, left to concentrate on what I'm trying to accomplish. I don't see how that constitutes a disorder
 
I firmly believe concentration is based in dedication. I practiced staring at a dot when in my late teens. I began at 30 seconds and developed it to 30 minutes. I did this because I needed the skill to save me from injury in daily life.

I proved to myself that concentration is a skill.

Over the years I have heared many excuses from people who failed at their chosen endeavor. "I can't play because of reason A" or B or C, whatever. The bottom line was laziness and a lack of dedication. Excuses excuses.

Yawn.

I think it has become a habbit of idle doctors to impose the idea of ADD upon problems (also known as patients) as an easy out. In my experience many doctors are incompetent. Much like many lazy musicians who never practiced and foist the blame on ADD.

Of course I am not a doctor and I may be wrong. I did however sacrifice my day off today in practice. From 10 am until 7 pm.
 
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