Sticks Will Break My Bones

I've found that my left leg seems to have more power from the thigh, but ankle movement is much better on my right side. It's annoying, because when using the heel-toe method, you strike down using the weight of the leg, and then on the rebound, the ankle moves the foot down to hit once more. It's the bass drum equivalent of a double stroke (using the sticks).

So I'm taking it all right back down to basics - slowing my playing right down in order for me to correct the muscular memory.

This is me when I first started learning the drums, to show how I've improved as part of my documentation.

My drum set up in Falmouth.

I've got a few things to elaborate on, and there'll always be lots of editing afterwards!

But it's got a really good flow to it, and it's not going to be boring at all!

Apple's 'Keynote' is by far the best presentation software I've ever used. It's part of the iwork suite, which includes 'Pages' and 'Numbers'. I use Pages for everything, and find it far superior to Microsoft Word or any other word processing application.

It's cold and wet and just shit overall. But it's time to crack on!

Hi Tim, sorry for the late reply. I don't check this email address very often.  What you're doing is exactly what I did. I played along to my favorite records, and learned that way. I never practiced with a metronome, or rudiments, just with tape player and some headphones. I don't think there's any wrong or right way to learn. It's just finding what works for you. Learning all the rudiments and exercises is great, but it's not going to be helpful for everyone. I think that's what's most important when it comes to learning drums, or anything really, to find what works for you.  I hope that helps, and good luck with the project! Aaron

Preparing the layout for my presentation.

I emailed Travis Orbin today, and got an almost instantaneous reply! What a man!

Greetings Tim,

I had a private instructor early on, so I can't exactly relate to learning on my own. I subscribed to that notion during my first year of owning a drum set (my parents wanted to see if it was merely a 'phase' that I was going through) but after a year of faithful playing/practicing, they hooked me up with a terrific, competent teacher.

Your piano training will actually come into great use since you can - presumably - read rhythms. You could read any drum set chart it you took it slow; instead of treble cleff/notes, now you're gonna deal with components in the drum set.

Anyway, I did embrace my share of autodidactism after I had reading down pat and purchased plenty of books, videos and albums without my instructor ushering me to do so. Without said knowledge (reading), it wouldn't have been possible to assimilate all the different varieties of texts and the vast amount of music and musicianship that I set out to absorb throughout the years. This 'post-training' has been nearly as beneficial in educating myself and forming my own identity with the instrument as my initial formal training.

On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 7:22 AM, Timothy Popkin wrote:

Hey, Sorry to bug you, especially seeing as people probably email you all the time, but I was just wondering if any of you could help me out a little with a university project? Basically, I'd like to know a little about how you learnt to play drums, and what you thought were the most important things to pick up on! I understand that it's a process that is different for everyone, and that we all have to find our own style within the broad spectrum of the instruments we play. I'd really appreciate anything you would be willing to share! See, I'm doing this bit on what it takes to teach yourself how to play an instrument i.e. without a tutor. I play and have been taught piano for years, but for this project I'm learning drums by myself. Sat with a metronome and various instructional videos, I'm working my way through the rudiments and I'm playing along to some of my favourite tracks. I was just hoping you might be able to point me in the right direction in terms of teaching myself! Many thanks, this would really help me out with a difficult module, and the best of luck with the new album! Tim.

Hey, Sorry to bug you all, especially seeing as you're dead busy at the moment, but I was just wondering if any of you could help me out a little with a university project? Basically, I'd like to know a little about how you learnt to play, and what you thought were the most important things to pick up on! I understand that it's a process that is different for everyone, and that we all have to find our own style within the broad spectrum of the instruments we play. I'd really appreciate anything you would be willing to share! See, I'm doing this bit on what it takes to teach yourself how to play an instrument i.e. without a tutor. I play and have been taught piano for years, but for this project I'm learning drums by myself. Sat with a metronome and various instructional videos, I'm working my way through the rudiments and I'm playing along to some of my favourite tracks. I was just hoping you might be able to point me in the right direction in terms of teaching myself!  Many thanks, this would really help me out with a difficult module, and the best of luck with the new album! Tim.

Aaron Harris of Isis talking about his Evans drumheads.