I still can't think of a single anti-technque comment made on this forum. Just because people said things before I arrived here doesn't degrade this statement. So I repeat - no one HERE is anti-technique to the best of my knowledge. If I'm not aware of them that doesn't mean they don't exist of course, but I haven't been seeing them here in the half-year that I've been a regular poster. Besides, everyone needs to have
some technique to play.
However, I've seen plenty of people giving simple drummers a HUGE thumbs down. I don't think that the technicians have much to worry about with the current crew of regulars. If anything, those raising the good points of simple drummers are just creating some balance. Yin and Yang.
To me, the Yang of drumming is power, speed and independence. The Yin of drumming is subtlety and sensitivity. (I'd see groove as gender-neutral). I like to see balanced views and I have ZERO interest in any supposed drumming hierarchy. I play purely for the love of it these days with no major aspirations and my place in any real or imagined drumming heirarchy is entirely irrelevant to me. I just enjoy playing in my band with people I like and respect a great deal.
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Some art takes more technique than others but I don't care. Surely it's a matter of what hits the spot for the individual? Why not enjoy it all for what it is without ranking and competitiveness? If you feel competitiveness is important because you're in a race to establish your place in that feral cesspool otherwise known as the music industry, fine, go for gold if you can swing it. Whatever floats your boat. But many people don't see art in terms of hierarchies, which is why most of the most popular music is relatively simple.
I really don't care one bit if someone loves great chops and dislikes simplicity but am happy to put my two cent's worth in, if only to provide some balance. If the "drum philsophy" threads seem overbalanced by those who appreciate simplicity then:
1) there are heaps of threads about how to achieve so-and-so BPM, or improving independence or about exotic paradiddle variations and
2) there's nothing to stop people from making
content-rich and
respectful opposing views. The smart approach isn't to go nyah nyah but raise a specific example of simple drumming where you feel the drummer missed opportunities to turn a decent song into something special. What part/s in the song were those opportunities and what phrase would have lifted it to a higher level? THAT would be useful.
Even though as a rule I enjoy understated musicianship more than showing off I am not sure that any budding superstars have to worry about me stalking, pillaging or burning. I am not entirely web-anonymous too and also have been stalked via the web - once by a nutter who didn't like my opinions and once by a nutter who seemed to like me too much. Not fun but they go away after a while.
I've been stalked by a nutter in meatspace who could could see through my window at home. I've also put up with a peeping tom and a phone heavy breather (that was hilarious - happy to share that tale sometime). Several times I've been followed on the street by guys (alone and in groups) looking for sex. Stuff happens. If one is worried about being stalked, just be glad you're not a woman.
Defensiveness is still no excuse for rudeness, and unpleasantness is a sure way of increasing the chances of things going awry. The safest practice on the web is to be respectful, friendly and positive. Happily, it's also more enjoyable. The thing I have to learn is to ignore the nasty stuff, and it appears I'm not the only one.
We had a comment complaining that people who "can't play for crap" are trying to raise themselves on some drumming hierarchy to the same level of more seasoned players. Yet it appears that comment does not refer to any
actual people who commented on the Money Beat thread. I appear not to have realised that this was a reference to
theoretical people, not real ones
If stuff happens on other forums, then let it stay on other forums. This, for the overwhelmingly large part, is a NICE forum because it is strongly moderated. That, along with being a music obsessive, is why I post here.
I hope that clarifies things somewhat.
PS. Thanks Ken, but not
everyone