Growing up on the prairie, I didn't have access to a drum teacher or music school like most people in large cities have. So I created my own system of drum instruction through a series of CD's I liked, Concert and Drum Instructional videos, and various people in my life. The various people in my life influenced me and told me about new drummers and styles and quite simply just gave me a solicted and unsolicited critique from time to time. I would have loved to have had a one on one private teacher. But I slowly realized that if I trained my body to do what I was listening to. Then I could be as about as good as a private teacher as I wanted. I really didn't want to learn drums by reading a book of charts or being told to correct something in my grip or playing that they thought was wrong. Not that that is bad at all, but I also think as teachers, we change up a natural approach to our instruments to much sometimes and throw our ability to foster the soul out the window.
So below is a list of Influential people in my life and a playlist of Artists and Drummers from 1991 - 1995 who taught me a lot of what I know today. I don't think I play the drums in the most correct or orthodox way but all I know is from what these guys have taught me. And from what I've been able to teach myself through their invaluable knowledge.
So how did you learn your instrument? Everyone processes information differently.. Let me know how it is best for you to learn and what also influenced you to be the player you are today.
Life Instructors:
- My older brothers -- Greg (42) and Todd (39) were both trumpet players and listened to a wide variety of music throughout the 80's and early 90's. They also had a Green Sparkle Apollo 4 piece Drum Kit in their room upstairs that was off limits to me. But little did they know that I would sneak up to their room and beat them to pieces. I'm sure they knew that I did this but that's also how cool they were. My Brother Greg is a Visual Artist and currently a Professor of Art at Troy State University. Greg would always play music like Andreas Vollenweider or The Police while working on a new Art piece. A lot of times I'd sit at the bottom of the stairs just to listen to the songs. His finished pieces of Art seem to reflect the color of the sound I'd hear in the music which fascinated me. Todd was pretty eclectic as well. I heard a lot of Miles Davis, Chick Corea, R.E.M., Van Halen, Pat Metheny, Jon Faddis, Primus, Rush, Holst, Grieg, Bach and etc. It was in the Summer of 92' when Todd decided to come home that he introduced me to Drummers Dave Weckl and Vinnie Colaiuta. I was floored to say the least. I didn't think I could ever play like them but they really put me over the top as far as understanding virtuoso drumming. While Todd was in Jazz classes at his University. He would tell me of all sorts of different meters, time signatures, and styles to play. Which really put me over the top on learning different styles of playing. So they know this, but I'll say it again. Thank You BRO's!!
- Uncle Keith -- The above Green Sparkle Apollo 4 piece Drum Kit was courtesy of my Uncle Keith. On my mother's side of the family my Uncle was the youngest of 5 brothers and had a passion for playing Drums. I have no idea where those drums came from today. Maybe a pawn shop in Longmont, CO?? But however, they ended up sitting in my Grandparents garage collecting dust after my parents got tired of the noise in our house from them. On our visits to my Grandparents, I regularly found myself in the garage playing "wipeout". I mean who hasn't played Wipeout?! In the early 90's my Uncle saw that I had an insatiable craving for the Drums. And knowing I didn't have a Father around anymore took on my obsession because he enjoyed it as well. He helped me buy my first Drum Kit in Garland, TX , in a small music store called "Zoo Music". It was a Jet Black Wrapped Mapex Mars Series 5 piece kit with all Power Tom sizes including hardware. I'll never forget that. It was a really hard time in my young life and my was there for me. Forever Grateful.. I used those drums for 4 various tours and in Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. Unfortunately I had to sell the kit in 2008 to pay for my move from Dallas, TX to Nashville, TN. I sold them to some kid for $300. I told him a brief history of the Drum and their history. He of course like most obnoxious Texas kids blew me off, threw them in his truck, and gave me cash. Pained me to sell them but you can't hang onto gold forever.
- My Mother -- You wouldn't think that your Mom would influence your Drumming but mine sure did. My mother is actually a great musician. She plays the Guitar, Piano, and has been singing since she can remember. My Mom endured years of hearing me play my drums as loud as possible in my room and in the garage. And every now and again she would comment on different things she would hear me practice on and give her unsolicited critique. Maybe they weren't always useful but there was surely a lot of content I ended up using from my mom. You gotta give it up to any Mother who endures the level of volume that any Drummer or musician brings to a home in their teen years. Gotta give it up to mi madre!!
Concert and Instructional Videos:
- Dave Weckl: Back to Basics and The Next Step -- These were probably the first Drum Instructional Videos I ever saw. Dave was rocking a full on Mullet and I didn't mind because he literally lit the drums on fire. I seriously had these videos on repeat for months. The linear time portion in The Next Step has one of the greatest drum solos I still have ever seen. Here's a portion of The Next Step below.
- Sting Live at the Hollywood Bowl -- I have no idea where this video came from. It was on a VHS with bad quality and may have been a PBS special. Nonetheless I played the heck out of it to watch Vinnie Colaiuta make mince meat of 7/8 and 5/4 time in Pop music. It is one of my favorite things to watch on Youtube still. Also "Ten Summoner's Tales" is one of my favorite albums of all time. And this song below is in my top 5 drum songs of all time as well. Listen to Vinnie's genius as he makes 5/8 time seem easy. Oh yeah .. you still sing along to it. BTW.. couldn't find footage of the Hollywood Bowl gig I'm speaking of.. But this is the same tour and same set.
- Chick Corea Elektric Band live at the Montreaux Jazz Fest 1991 -- This was another PBS special that I remember setting the timer on the VCR to tape. Remember when we had to go through that madness?? Anyways, Dave Weckl on drums here for one of my favorite songs ever. "Illusions" .. I still cannot find the footage of this particular event. So the video to follow is of another performance.
- Van Halen Right Here/Right Now -- Alex Van Halen will always be the first drummer I latched onto. And "Poundcake" will always be one of the first rock grooves I ever learned. The album "1984" has always been one of my favorite rock albums. I play Paiste cymbals because of Alex and try to hit the drums like an Ape because of him also. I watched this video a lot because I loved these songs so much. You might recognize a few :)
- Rush A Show of Hands -- I think I would watch this for hours and zone out on Neil Peart's robot like playing. I'd also be in awe that he never missed a beat or sped up or slowed down. He played everything perfect for a 3 hour show. This is one of my favorite live albums of all time. The middle breakdown/solo on "La Villa Strangiato" was huge in me understanding how to play in 7/8 time. Neil Peart is truly one of the greatest drummers who has ever lived.
Enjoy! in Part 2 you get to peruse all the hair metal CD's I enjoyed. In the meantime.. what are some of the things in life that influenced your playing and made you into the musician you are today??
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