I have a few students who are accomplished, professional drummers. I always ask them, “Why are you here? You play well, and you’re working. How can I help you?” In almost every case, the response is, “I just feel stuck. I feel as though I’ve stopped improving. I feel as though I’m up against a brick wall and I can’t get past it.” My understanding of this predicament is that, sooner or later, we all seem to have a dry spell. This is because the ideas that help us get to a certain point in our careers become obsolete. Practicing from books that we have been through many times usually doesn’t help much. Reviewing old warm-up exercises or “going back” to the rudiments is not effective. A new approach is needed. A wise man once said, “A person who helps you is usually one who shows you a new way […]

November 1986 Issue