rogue_drummer
Gold Member
Here we go again…the perception of “the drummer is a knuckle-dragger”…. “Me hit things!”
Geez I hate that!!!
An experimental Celtic / Folk / Symphonic band I am in has violins, harps, singers, drummers, percussionists, guitar players, a piano player, flutes, etc. Our harp player who also teaches music in the local school district is good friends with my youngest daughter's music teacher. He annoyed the sh*t out of me at a recent rehearsal.
We were doing a new piece one of the singers introduced. I had no music, never heard of the song, etc. She wanted some light drums on the song. OK. You got ‘em. I asked what time signature it’s in: 4/4, 3 / 4, 6/8, 12/8, etc. That will give me some idea on what rhythm to play. Fair question, right?
She replied “Common”. OK, cool. 4/4 I thought. No problem! I cut my drumming teeth in 4/4 and 6/8.
The harp player turns to me and says : “that’s 4/4”.
Ok, my usual jovial self at rehearsal wanted to turn into the incredible hulk and punch the guy! I wanted to scream “No Sh*t!! Really!!??!! Dang!! All this time…!!!!”
And how many times have you heard me play recently, Mr. Harp player? Yeah, ok, I thought so…..
Um…..…dude, I can read music, ok? And I can improvise with the best of them. Can you? Hey guess what there Hoss? I can also sight-read too!! Gimme a chart and you’ve got drums! I can even tell you where the term “Common time ” came from and why it was called “Common time”. Granted my drums are tuned a bit different than the melodic scale, but that is individual preference and style, not because I’m an ignorant “knuckle-dragger”.
I then proceeded to calm down a bit and regaled him with my knowledge of time, note values, music genres. I sort of threw in my experience with composer John Rutter’s totally complex arrangement of “When the Saints go Marching In”, etc.
By the end of the night he was asking ME for advice! Haha! I loved it. “Me knuckle-dragger!” haha! Yeah, sure………
Thought y’all would find that interesting.
Geez I hate that!!!
An experimental Celtic / Folk / Symphonic band I am in has violins, harps, singers, drummers, percussionists, guitar players, a piano player, flutes, etc. Our harp player who also teaches music in the local school district is good friends with my youngest daughter's music teacher. He annoyed the sh*t out of me at a recent rehearsal.
We were doing a new piece one of the singers introduced. I had no music, never heard of the song, etc. She wanted some light drums on the song. OK. You got ‘em. I asked what time signature it’s in: 4/4, 3 / 4, 6/8, 12/8, etc. That will give me some idea on what rhythm to play. Fair question, right?
She replied “Common”. OK, cool. 4/4 I thought. No problem! I cut my drumming teeth in 4/4 and 6/8.
The harp player turns to me and says : “that’s 4/4”.
Ok, my usual jovial self at rehearsal wanted to turn into the incredible hulk and punch the guy! I wanted to scream “No Sh*t!! Really!!??!! Dang!! All this time…!!!!”
And how many times have you heard me play recently, Mr. Harp player? Yeah, ok, I thought so…..
Um…..…dude, I can read music, ok? And I can improvise with the best of them. Can you? Hey guess what there Hoss? I can also sight-read too!! Gimme a chart and you’ve got drums! I can even tell you where the term “Common time ” came from and why it was called “Common time”. Granted my drums are tuned a bit different than the melodic scale, but that is individual preference and style, not because I’m an ignorant “knuckle-dragger”.
I then proceeded to calm down a bit and regaled him with my knowledge of time, note values, music genres. I sort of threw in my experience with composer John Rutter’s totally complex arrangement of “When the Saints go Marching In”, etc.
By the end of the night he was asking ME for advice! Haha! I loved it. “Me knuckle-dragger!” haha! Yeah, sure………
Thought y’all would find that interesting.