Professional drummers and sheet music

[drummerchick435]

My mom (doesn't play drums) and I got into an arguement today about whether professional drummers read (for the most part) drum charts or do they "make stuff up". My side is that some pros do read music when they're practicing stuff unrelated to their bands music. My mom thinks that they read music all the time. What's your take?

[TitanSound]

Some play with it all the time...some just use it to learn the song.

Some like me do not use it at all! You will find that most session players read as they are playing for somebody. Most other drummers just come up with drum parts to fit the song.

I am sure it runs a lot deeper than that but reading music is not my strong point!

[Sesh]

Some play with it all the time...some just use it to learn the song.

Some like me do not use it at all! You will find that most session players read as they are playing for somebody. Most other drummers just come up with drum parts to fit the song.

I am sure it runs a lot deeper than that but reading music is not my strong point!

my view is it depends on what you mean by 'pro drummer.' As titansound said, most use it to learn songs when playing others music. In terms of pro drummers in specific bands (like joey kramer of aerosmith, tre cool, travis barker etc) then probably not - they learn their own bands songs, make up parts and remember them.

Personally (as a "pro" drummer) I use charts (guide charts - not sheet music) when learning/playing songs with some bands, use none with others, and use sheet music a ,lot when playing musicals, pantos, shows, etc. It depends on what the music is and how much it is improvised (i.e do I need every note perfect (sheet music), or just the sections in the right place (guide charts) or is it something I either know fully, or have to learn without music).

It really does depend on the scenario, but most session/freelance players (i.e none specific bands) read in some form - you have to unless you're going to memorize everything in the world. And in the case of recording session work (what still exists in that field anyway) then sheet music/guide charts are important - there's no need to memorize because no-one sees you doing it, and time is very important to cut down studio costs (so reading speeds things up).

In short, you're both right - either way, everyone needs to learn to read regardless. Very few people who aren't already established will be able to survice without reading, it's become taken-for-granted and there's simply no reason not to learn in my opinion, it only limits you.

[ermghoti]

My impression would be: the overwhelming majority of drummers in nationally known bands do not read from charts, and I'd suspect that most would be hard-pressed to do anything with sheet music. However, the overwhelming majority of professional drummers (those who make a living drumming) almost certainly read from charts, being the studio musicians and instructors of the world. epending on what you mean by "professional drummers" one of you is right.



Edit: I type slowly.

[drummerchick435]

By professional I mean people in touring rock bands. You see its a pipe dream of mine to be a touring pro drummer. My mom told me that I need to read music to be a pro drummer after I said to her that I'd like to quit my school concert band because I hate reading music. I feel so restricted. I don't want to be a pro "concert" drummer. I hate being one of many percussionists on a drum section. I do better being the only drummer (with perhaps some sort of light auxillary percussion) playing to guitars and singers than playing with five other drums and horns. I'm not saying I hate "big band" music. I love listening to it but not playing to it. Sorry about that rant.

[dizkneelande]

well they dont read music all the time but you need to learn because you really limit yourse lf if you dont learn.

[Bad Drummer]

I'm not trying to insult those who hate reading music, but why would you NOT learn how to read? I don't understand how it constricts your playing at all. Good sheet music leaves a TON of room for interpretation for the drummer, and it is extremely helpful if you ever want to make it as a professional musician.

[Joe Morris]

Reading music certainly cannot hurt your career as wanting to become a pro drummer. It can only help you. Look at it this way, "WHO IS NOT GOING TO HIRE YOU BECAUSE YOU READ MUSIC"? It can only help it sure can't hurt.

I read, but no where as good as years back. Some sessions there are charts, some sessions I am hired to make parts up. Mostly the later, but hey man, reading music is just another plus in your bag of chops and grooves. Plus, you should play in concert band. It will do you a world of good. Help you with arrangment skills, listening, dynamics and your reading. It can't hurt you. Play whenever you can and be more open minded.

Joe

[Wavelength]

You need to broaden your perspective, Chick. I've found out that during my posts as a theatrical and orchestral band percussionist, my concentration, musicality and passion for playing has increased in huge amounts. I mean, if I have to strike the triangle once in a song, I'd better make that the best note I've ever played.

Quitting the band because you hate reading music seems, well, immature. I've read sheets and charts pretty much since I started drumming, and I've never felt restricted. The more you read sheets, the more you gain confidence to play around the notes -- that is, if the situation calls for it.

[finnhiggins]

You need to learn to read. It's really helpful on many levels. The only reason you wouldn't need to learn to read is if you were already succeeding fine at achieving your goals without it. I don't need to do reading gigs very often, and I'm rusty as hell at it. But for example I have an audition for exactly what you're after coming up soon - a touring, working rock band. Actually more metal than rock, but that's no odds. Anyway, they've given me a pile of stuff and it is very complex music. If I tried to learn this by sitting down and bashing along to it I'd get nowhere. So instead I've started transcribing songs, note-for-note, and learning the parts off the page. I can play through a couple of the songs with the chart handy now. The next phase is getting so comfortable with the parts that I can ditch the chart. But it's nigh on impossible to hold 15-20 minutes of music for an audition in your head, note-for-note, without being able to write it down and read it back as a learning aid.

Just because you don't need to use chart reading on stage doesn't mean that having a lot of fluency with reading and charts isn't going to help you achieve what you want to do with the drums.

[mlehnertz]

You should stress the fact that you've got a steady gig and that you don't need to read at the level that a session player is required to read at. You have the luxury of rehearsing, trying this, trying that until you create something that works for a particular tune.

I'm a "professional drummer" and I find that it is absolutely required that I can read and read well. Often I'm given music at 6 pm for an 8 pm show. You get one run with the rest of the musicians and then it's showtime.

As an added bonus you should learn to sight read as well.

I read, but no where as good as years back. Some sessions there are charts, some sessions I am hired to make parts up. Mostly the later, but hey man, reading music is just another plus in your bag of chops and grooves. Plus, you should play in concert band. It will do you a world of good. Help you with arrangment skills, listening, dynamics and your reading. It can't hurt you. Play whenever you can and be more open minded.

Joe

[newbie]

I think it is extremely important to be able to read, sight read and write your own sheet music. I am only 15 but dream of becoming a professional perccusionist. Right now I am in 2 full concert bands, 1 orchestra, 2 jazz bands and a pit orchestra for a musical play. I play everything from the drum set through, xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, concert bells, Timpani and almost anything else they can throw at me. If I could not sight read I would be dead in the water. Just last evening with the pit orchestra our drum set player fell very ill half an hour before showtime but because I have listened to him play I was given the music and told to go for it. I recomended another student to play my part that I knew could read as well as I can to cover my part. Nobody but the orchestra even noticed that we were fill ins. The conductor told the audience after and it was nice to be recognized because of it. I have 2 teachers right and one is for the drumset and the other for general percussion and both give me a new piece to sight read at every lesson. After they have given it to me I have 10 minutes to figure it out then then they play the sound track for me to accompany. I think that other than knowing your rudiments like the back of your hand, sight reading is one the most important things to do.

[Paul Quin]

There are some interesting and varied responses here. Overall, I am sure that the general point that you need to learn to read is a good one. If you want to make your career playing drums then you need to have as broad an array of tools as you can have - and reading should be in that toolbox. Remember that being a member of a touring rock band (where you can earn your living) accounts for a tiny percentage of musicians who earn their living playing music. The lucky (and talented ones) make a living playing music and only a tiny fraction of those get the luxury of making it as a band member without the additional stress of having to play small gigs with different folks to pay the bills.

I can only offer my experience which is slightly different than some of the others. Your Mom's comments remind me of my Dad's comments when I left high school to pursue a career playing music back in 1980. He told me the same thing and my opinion, back then, was not very different from yours. I spent a number of years on the roads with various bands (never had to read to music) and I did many, many gigs at hundreds of working man's clubs around the North of England, often backing singers that I had only met ten minutes before going on stage. In the early days of doing this, their set list would often include material that I never heard before let alone played. Barely 10% ever turned up with charts or music for the drums. They would have music for the pianist (or organist - if in Wigan, Bolton or Oldham -(in joke)), but not for the drummer. I also spent six months playing chart music in a "Mecca-club" - four sets a night, four nights a week - and was never once provided with music of any sort. In addition, I used to do some recording at several Manchester recording studios (back in the days when a drummer might be needed for jingles or demos) and received charts about 5% of the time.

You will notice, however, that my experience was still limited to the popular music front and I beleive that if I had paid better attention to my reading and had been able to market myself as a sight reader (rather than one who could work out the piece if I had about 30 minutes to translate it into my own chart) I would have done much more varied work.

So, in long form - both you and your Mom are right - but if a real career - and a long term one at that - is your goal, then listen to her, as I should have listened to my Dad. Take lessons and practise until reading notation is as easy as reading a book!!!!

Paul

[a_kiraly]

Hi there,
I am new to this site and the reason why I signed up connects to your topic. I believe that professional drummers have to be able to read sheet music (that is if they are hired guns), but if you became a professional drummer because your band made it, (Aerosmiths' Joey Cramer for example) then I don't think you need that skill becuase you come up with ideas while your band writes the songs. I myself just started to put a lot of energy to perfect my sight reading skills; that is the reason I signed up for this site.
zsolt

[a_kiraly]

Hi there,
I am new to this site and the reason why I signed up connects to your topic. I believe that professional drummers have to be able to read sheet music (that is if they are hired guns), but if you became a professional drummer because your band made it, (Aerosmiths' Joey Cramer for example) then I don't think you need that skill becuase you come up with ideas while your band writes the songs. I myself just started to put a lot of energy to perfect my sight reading skills; that is the reason I signed up for this site.
zsolt

[drummerchick435]

Thanks for those comments.I thought about it last night and I guess I was just feeling crappy because I'm the only junior in high school with a bunch of snooty 5th through 7th graders who don't practice. (I'm in a small homeschool band). They fussed at me for not bringing my cymbals and forgetting my drum key. I'm hoping next year will be better because I going to be in a larger more mature private school band. I use to be able to deal with all of those little kids but now its become too much. Sorry to dump this on yall.

[Bad Drummer]

Yeah don't worry about. I definitely know what it's like to play with a bunch of crappy players in a school band, it drove me MAD. I ended up quitting because the band director was being a huge dick and it wasn't helping me. Hopefully that private school band works out better.

[xMrJeffx]

I've talked to my fave drummer (Mark Graalman - Sanctus Real) twice after concert's and I asked him that and he said "I don't read music for what Sanctus Real plays BUT! I do for warm ups and stuff like that"

So I'd say most only read music for PRACTICING!

Jeff

[drumtechdad]

Good advice here. It boils down to: not being able to read limits what you can do with drums, even if your present desire is to play in a situation where you don't have to read.

A small illustration. One of my best friends is a show drummer, mainly. But he also plays orchestral percussion, and plays set in orchestral pops shows. If he couldn't read he could do none of those things.

Playing a show, you'd better believe his head is in the book. Depending on the show, you may have every note written out or you may have a groove written out and a bunch of slashes. But with most Broadway-type shows they want it exactly the same every night, and I do mean exactly. If you try something different in a show you'll get a note on your stand the next night that says "Please don't do that again." And sometimes they leave off the "please."

Yet when he comes in to do an orchestral pops concert, for example--always on short rehearsal time--his parts are usually nothing but slashes and the form. Sometimes they'll write out a bar of groove. For these he prefers to have a horn part on his stand, say lead trumpet--that way he can see where the hits are and where the setups need to be.

One thing is invariably true, I think: when you can read you'll be able to get more work. If you can sight read really well you'll be first (or close to it) on the contractor's list.

By being able to read you'll be able to do more gigs, and who knows? You may decide you like making a living with the drums even if it turns out your rock band doesn't make it big.

[metalheadeza666]

i know its been said in about every post here but it must be stressed, not even having a small amount of knowledge about reading music can limit you hugley at some points in your career. The benefit of reading music is not only being able to be given a chart and sight-read it, therefore keeping a job or gettin a gig or whatever, but it also opens the door for learning musical theory, introducing you to how to "understand" the "language" on this peice of paper you've got on the music stand in front of you.

I've certainly found this to help me alot, i knew musical theory before hand because i play trumpet so have progressed through orchestras, jazz ensemble, brass bands etc so i guess i had a head start, but when i applied that knowledge to playing the drums and when my teacher handed me music to read, i helped emensley.

And it then leaves you free to invent whatever you want on the drums, because you're not just throwing your sticks blind at the kit and hoping what comes out sounds cool, but you understand what you need to hit when to achieve this.

I was motivated hugley also when i found out that Andols Herrick (chimaira) had theory lessons and thinks this way. And okay there are great dr`ummers who didn't lean this way particulary, buddy rich, to name one i think, but i think whats been said in this thread is something to give thought to when considering "do i really need to learn to read? even if i don't want to play gigs involving that" etc

so yeah, hope that was a little helpful

and also, sorry to hear bout the other members of your band, it sucks when that's that case.

peace