How I did it: In the fourth grade, I signed up to play the clarinet in the school band, liking not only the sound of the instrument itself, but what, at the time, I thought was versatility. I quickly learned that if I was going to do anything besides join an orchestral group, clarinet was not something that I really had an interest for any longer, and as such, made the decision to switch instruments from woodwind to percussion.

Not the most likely situation, I know.

Over the course of a summer, I met with the school's band director, and he tutored me privately, once a week, on the techniques I would need when thrown to the sharks that first semester of seventh grade. I managed to learn quickly, practiced for hours, and am still playing into my senior year in high school. Percussion is something that is really a good thing to know how to do; keeping a beat is something that so many people lack the ability to accomplish these days. I've learned to play piano, and many of the advanced mallet instruments in my time as a percussionist, as well as becoming a slightly accomplished drum-set engineer.

Lessons & tips: Practice, practice, take a nap, and practice some more.

I know that this is something that no one particularly likes to do when it comes to instrumentation, so the best advice I can give, is to find a way to practice your trade while doing something you enjoy. Maybe it's rocking out to your favorite band while learning the drums and playing along with them; or even just tapping out paradiddles and flams while surfing the web. Drum all the time; everything helps.

Resources: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District:
    Mr. Tetlak
    Mr. Giroux

the Radio (mostly FM)

Oct 13, 2008, 05:29PM PDT | 0 comments | 6 cheers