INTRODUCTIONS: Please Use This Thread To Introduce Yourself!

Real name? Rich Sherkin
Age? 47
How long have you been playing? Since I was 12 but very rarely between 18 and 46. Got back into it seriously about a year ago.
Origin of user name? Forgot to flare my parachute as I landed when learning to skydive. Lucky I can still play my bass drums
Your top 5 drummers? Neil Peart, Bill Bruford, Alan White, (old) Phil Collins, Martin Deller
Make of drumkit? Gretsch Renown
Make of cymbal? Zildjian
Where do you practice? Basement / home studio
Are you in a band? No but work with artists to put tracks together
Do you play covers or originals? Mostly covers
What style of music? Classic Rock, Progressive Rock (old-school progressive)
Favourite take out food? Dante's Pizza
What country do you live in? Canada
One really odd fact about yourself? Once travelled 217 MPH without a vehicle
How did you start drumming? I watched a lot of Partridge Family as a kid and thought Keith was an a-hole. To me the little s#@%-disturber behind the drums was the cool one.
 
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Deafdrummer

Hello!

Last night, I sort of "came to" in terms of a direction in music. I ought to introduce myself, I guess. I'm a profoundly, prelingually deaf lady in Houston, Texas, and I have played drums off and on since 1977, and I played bass guitar for a small number of those years. I have played in school bands (marching, concert, symphonic, jazz band, percussion ensembles, solos, even choir for my senior year in high school). I played for America's Youth in Concert in 1983 and United State Collegiate Wind Band in 1984 (in case you're looking for me). A rock band playing covers and writing/playing originals was my last gig a few years ago. Since that went down in flames on stage, I have floated on my own, trying to find my direction, as I didn't like what I saw.

I went off on a trip to visit family last fall, and it was right at the time that the Bastrop Complex fires started near Austin, Texas, and I had friends who lost their homes, their animals, everything... And it was so hot outside that I nearly fell sick during a volunteer outing. I had a lot of thinking to do about my life, with no sense of direction on music at that time, my friends' tragedies, and the direction that my life was going in financial research. Visiting family in a much cooler place helped me to decide to pull back from underground financial research, pull back from playing drums for a while and see where the chips fall. I also realized that I needed a change in my life, which I'm still figuring out.

But last night, I realized that I needed get back on the drum set in a new direction. I can't stop playing. I did that last time, for 17 years, and it just about destroyed me. This morning, I woke up feeling refreshed, feeling like I have a renewed purpose in life. I just played drums for a bit today. It's the first time in a long time that I've felt like I'm playing with a purpose.

I guess I ought to explain my background a little more. As I was classically trained, I felt like I needed to get away from what was thought to be "the right way to play music." Like you have to play cross handed on a drum set, you are not a musician if you're playing double pedals, rock 'n roll is about worshipping satan, or it's not music, just noise. WHATEVER. I feel like people have forgotten or never understood in the first place that music is to be enjoyed for what it is. I had to break out of that by starting with correcting some bad hand grip problems in my right hand, and then learning to play open-handed so that I can lead with either hand. And then I learned double pedal so that I can lead with either foot and either hand at any time. And then, instead of joining a Jazz band or symphony, I joined a rock band down here (even moved here for it!) and got my feet wet in it. Afterwards, I felt lost, because I ran into rock music screaming away from establishment music because I felt caged up in a formal music setting. One note off, and you've ruined it for the night. Rock still wasn't right for me, even though it's fun to play. I feel like I need even more freedom than that. It'll be a while before I get a good feel for what I want to do, but I'll say that I want to go off into left field, a place that is littered with didgeridoos. I want to see about building at least for myself a "drums & didge" band, and if someone wants to layer extra parts on top of the drone that forms the basis of this music, they're welcome to do so, but isn't required.

I have to think about what my performance environment looks like, where I perform, WHAT I'm performing, and so on.

Let's see if this direction pans out.
 
Re: Deafdrummer

I wholeheartedly agree to get back in drumming, any serious time off is always a regret later. Doing a didgeridoo band sounds awesome, and music is whatever is inside of you, there are standards but there aren't any rules set in stone. I'm also curious of your perspective of playing as a deaf musician, I would imagine you have some wonderful insights.
 
Re: Deafdrummer

I also am curious as how you get along on the drums with your disability.

I can imagine being partially or completely deaf would definately be a struggle at points.

The fact are back playing again, is great. Hopefully you continue.

You could use a computer and loop someone playing dig, or find a dedicated player.

You could theoretically be your own band with samples, MIDI and whatever for a while UNTIL you find other players....

Just a thought.

I went for almost a year of not playing before I started having problems with depression due to not playing, and the anxiety of never palying again. The first tent imes, maybe, I thought about how much REWORK was needing to be "back in shape"

Get past that, and you'll be right as rain.

Your an inspiration , being a drummer, and deaf. Hats off to you.
 
Re: Deafdrummer

some of my closest friends are deaf and they all love playing drums.....they love feeling the beat

if you have not already heard of Aneta Brodski ......look her up...she is a close friend of mine

she is touring the country in support of her new movie Deaf Jam where she performs and urban type street poetry ...its awesome ...you should check it out

here is a trailer
http://vimeo.com/28547215
 
Come on say hello - you might as well - there's DRUM PORN too! :)

Hey folks,

I have read this forum pretty much every day for about 5 years and figured it's probably about time I contributed :)

I have been a busy gigging drummer over the last 4 years doing between 60-70 gigs a year and in 2 bands; British Indy and a 80's hair-metal tribute band \m/ lol

I dropped the Indy band as it was to much and started a 90's Grunge tribute band. I'm now on a more more manageable 30ish gigs a year.

One of the perks of being a busy gigging drummer have been the opportunity to re-invest and improve the gear - 2/3rds of gig money on gear... the rest on beer :)

WARNING - drum porn follows...

For the Grunge band - Yamaha Oak Customs with Sabian HHX Evoluation Cymbals:

This kit has wood hoops now... and slightly less cowbell ;)
 

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Re: Come on say hello - you might as well - there's DRUM PORN too! :)

For the 80's hair metal tribute band: original 70's Ludwig Vistalite - fully restored - with Paiste 2002's (mainly).
 

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Re: Come on say hello - you might as well - there's DRUM PORN too! :)

home / rehearsal kit - complete with outboard gear to plug all band members into - headphone monitoring for all too which helps:
 

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Re: Deafdrummer

Thanks, everyone.

What I plan to do is add the didgeridoo as another instrument to play for myself. I want to create the drum track myself, and then play the didge over that.

I've not heard of Aneta Brodski. I will look her up quickly. Thanks!

I've always learned a song with sheet music, and then everyone else plays to me. As for didgeridoo music, there is no way I'm going to try to imitate someone on a song. Everyone has their own song.
 
Re: Come on say hello - you might as well - there's DRUM PORN too! :)

Thanks for "surfacing" and posting eye candy. Good stuff.​
 
Re: Deafdrummer

I'm going to check out that movie.

I knew there was a deaf DJ at some point, the vibrations in that made it easy for him.
 
Re: Deafdrummer

Are you sure you're not thinking of its all gone Pete Tong? That's a movie about a deaf DJ. But its fictional.
 
Real name? Connor Auvil
Age? 17
How long have you been playing? Since about age 9
Origin of user name? My friends called me Terminator for a while and it kind of changed into The Swagganator
Your top 5 drummers? Jukka Nevalainen, Tim Zuidberg, Carter Beauford, Travis Barker, Tré Cool
Make of drumkit? Pearl Export
Make of cymbal? Meinl
Where do you practice? Basement / Bedroom
Are you in a band? I'm a member of the Community Orchestra, but not a band (yet)
Do you play covers or originals? Mostly covers with my own style infused
What style of music? Punk Rock, Symphonic Metal, Metal
Favourite take out food? Lil' Caesar's $5 Pizza
Where do you live? Georgia, U.S.A.
One really odd fact about yourself? I never pull in forward in a parking spot
How did you start drumming? My cousin had a set and she got me hooked
 
Real name- Ryan
Age- 24
How long have you been playing- 14 years
Origin of user name- acronym for the band i am in
Your top 5 drummers- no order Gavin Harrison,Thomas Pridgen,Tim Alexander,Danny Carey,Max Roach
Make of drumkit- ddrum Dios M 5 piece
Make of cymbal Paiste pst 5 hats, ride, and crash, zildjian trashformer 10 inch. evolving with funds
Where do you practice- home
Are you in a band-more like a project
Do you play covers or originals- originals
What style of music- Prog, avant-garde,
Favourite take out food- jimmy johns
What country do you live in- Montana United States
One really odd fact about yourself- Can dislocate my left shoulder
How did you start drumming- elementary school on the snare
 
Real name- Brian
Age- 39
How long have you been playing- on and off over the last couple years
Origin of user name- rzewski is a composer I enjoy
Your top 5 drummers- elvin, tony, roach
Make of drumkit- mapex pro M snare, pulse junior kit for the rest :)
Make of cymbal- paiste 101 hats, sabien xs20 med ride
Where do you practice- home
What style of music- jazz
What country do you live in- WA USA

How did you start drumming- You'll laugh. I bought wifey Rockband for xbox a few years back. I played plastic drums with her for a couple days, and enjoyed it. But the plastic drums and play-along by flashing lights weren't my thing, so I quit her "band" and gradually picked up a real set.

One really odd fact about yourself- I come from a classical background. I have a bach. music in oboe. I've played lots of classical guitar in school, too. On the outside, I got tired of trying to find decent people to play with, so I went back to classical piano since that works well solo. That's still my main instrument. But I really enjoy drumming, too.
 
Hello from Pennsylvania!

Real name? Zach O'Neill
Age? 14
How long have you been playing? I've had a kit for about a year but just started taking formal lessons last month.
Origin of user name? My favorite Green Day album :)
Your top 5 drummers? (Not in any order) Tré Cool, Dave Grohl, Jared Champion, Neal Peart, Chad Smith.
Make of drumkit? Tama Imperialstar
Make of cymbal? Meinl HCS 16" crash, 14" hats, 12"splash, and 20" ride.
Where do you practice? Basement
Are you in a band? Not yet, wanting to start one soon.
Do you play covers or originals? Covers for now.
What style of music? Alternative rock, punk rock, pop punk. Stuff like that :p
Favourite take out food? Bourbon Chicken
What country do you live in? USA
One really odd fact about yourself? Umm...I have double jointed thumbs?
How did you start drumming? A few years ago my parents got me the video game RockBand for Christmas and I got hooked on playing the drums. From there I upgraded to a real kit.
 
Re: Come on say hello - you might as well - there's DRUM PORN too! :)

You've been hiding these for 5 years? I'm impressed. Thanks for sharing. Not much of those earnings being put in a bank, huh? It's tempting I know. Nice vistalites too. Clear is the best of the colors in my opinion.
 
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