27 replies to this topic

[Nate Brown]

Hey OLD,

I just thought I'd start a discussion concerning why we play. I've taught students to drum for a number of years and encountered a lot of different personalities, motivations and feelings about what drumming means to them. Some students enjoy drumming more lightheartedly, playing for personal enjoyment. Others play with dreams of playing on stage some day. But, there are many, many other drummers that haven't yet thought about the value of drumming or the purpose it serves in their lives.

What drumming means to us changes throughout our stages of "drum-life," but I do think it can be a very helpful motivation to identify what drumming ultimately means to you RIGHT NOW.

Right now, drumming means to me...
- Career (pay the bills and provide for my family)
- A chance to bring joy to others through teaching them to play
- Much-needed stress relief and enjoyment (no better medicine!)
- A sense of accomplishment & setting an example for my kids to chase hard after their dreams.


What does drumming mean to you?

[machinegunbassdrums]

drumming = a way of life/

its what i am going to do, and will be doing for a job (got some seriously good news about it) or if not palying, working with drums

its stress/anger relief, it helps control my mental illness and give my ADHD something to seriously focus on (its the ONLY thing ive been able to focus on for so long!)

its my main hobby and passion in life, and its about the only thing im passionate about.

[dormouse1976]

Despite only starting to play the drum a little over a year ago, I've been getting flashbacks to moments in my life when I've wanted to play the drums but never taken the opportunity to do so.

Where its going to go and why I've had these drum based motivations in my life I'm uncertain.

I would like to get to the point of feeling completely at ease in front of a drum kit and hopefully one day teach others.

At the moment, I'm just enjoying the experience and the journey.

< Okay, time to go drink beer, fart, and do other manly things!>

[melteddrummer]

Drumming to me means hard work and commitment, probably the only thing that I've worked hard and stayed committed to to date.
Personal goals change all the time, what your learning is forever changing. It's got to be the most interesting thing I've ever done, I love it. At times it's REALLY frustrating but I wouldn't give it up for the world. I can honestly say hand on heart that I'll always be a drummer.

Excellent topic!

[DarthDrum]

I had always wanted to play a instrument.I tried Guitar but i lost interest.

Then,when i got the my drumkit just last christmas i LOVE it!I hope one day i will start a band.But,i need to get good first,though.

[weirdfish]

• It makes me feel alive.
• I go to band practice on a Wednesday night so it helps break up the mundane pattern of office work and gives me something to look froward to during the week.
• I love being part of a team, especailly when the resulting band is greater than the sum of the individaul parts. I get a real sense of achievement from that.
• It's actaully bought me out of my shell as well. When I started playing again about 8 years ago, I was a very timid player and would hide behind the kit and not hit the drums very hard, but now I'm rocking out loud 'n' proud on drum risers and I get into the whole live experience.

great topic

[caulkie]

Drumming stopped me from being a Nun

[Nate Brown]

I thought it was the habanero sauce...

[springermom]

1. I play for the joy it brings me.
2. It's a musical instrument I can actually play.
3. It's one more item off of my bucket list.
4. It provides an outlet for me to express my love of rock.

[metalmarvin]

I remember seeing the video for Metallicas one when it came out, and watching Lars play made me want to learn how to play drums.

Since the mid 90's I found out there's much more to life than Metallica and much more to Drumming than I had previously realised.

Drumming is a great form of exercise for me, as well as being a great creative outlet and a break from the routine of general life.

I wish I'd had the Internet and OLD when I first saw that video!