To some people, self-discipline is a term that carries unpleasant connotations. It may mean “forcing” yourself to do something you hate to do. It may also mean suppressing feelings or ideas, because they are not acceptable to someone else. To me, self-discipline is generally the result of doing something because you love to do it. For example, if you have an important audition with a really hot band, exhibiting the self-discipline required for getting out of bed on time will be no problem. You will probably be awake before the alarm goes off, because you want to be there on time. Drummers sometimes say things like: “I hate to practice. I just don’t have the self-discipline to do it every day.” What this attitude suggests to me is that drummers who feel this way most likely never had the benefit of an imaginative teacher. Imaginative teachers present practice ideas that […]

November 1985 Issue