Teach enough students for long enough and eventually you start to experience some of your own lessons. For a while now I have been "ranting" both here and in my classes about the need to always look for a new perspective whenever a musical experience starts to feel overdone. A few days ago I found myself with that exact need and the end result proved very inspiring.
I was sitting in on drums for a friend's band - something I have been doing more of lately and have been enjoying so much that I now, somewhat secretly I suppose, am hopeful to do more of it more often. Anyway, four hours of "classic" cover songs is usually not exactly my idea of musical euphoria these days. Yes, I see the hypocrisy of my attitude - I should only be so lucky as to have a band, any band, cover one of my own songs, but I digress...
Anyway, in an effort to make things a bit more interesting for me, I decided to see what would happen if I played the kit for the entire night "left hand lead." (see Simon Phillips for pretty much the absolute master in this technique.) Turned out the 4 hours flew by for me. What a blast!
Sure a simple lesson in the end, and one that I should have known would produce results, but while in the midst of it I was really captivated. Looks like there will be at least a breif addendum to my Monday lectures...
Showing posts with label cover band. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cover band. Show all posts
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Greetings from the road
Ok, so I don’t tour very much these days, but I am sitting in with a friend’s band tonight for a pre-Halloween party, and am writing this while on a short break in the set. (posting likely after the gig.)
I don’t play out nearly as much as I used to for any number of reasons, and in so many ways I miss it. On the other hand, the club scene is such a hassle, and I am sure I it is a sign of my age that I have far less patience for it than I used to. Plus I seem to grow weary of playing cover songs after a while - am forever more interested in creating something new of my own. Obviously audience opinions vary on this, but I digress.
On the other hand there is something truly joyful about playing with a group of people just for the sake of playing, for an audience that is just there to enjoy the moment with you. And that makes me think of a lesson I wish I was able to impart on my students easier: Joy and fun are not he same thing and joy is so much more satisfying in the long run.
Music is a show of joy to me. No matter the style or sound, even in the darkest of context, there is still an intrinsic element of joy. I know I need to fully explain this, but for now it’s back to the show. Anyone seen a roadie or two to carry my gear to my car later?....
I don’t play out nearly as much as I used to for any number of reasons, and in so many ways I miss it. On the other hand, the club scene is such a hassle, and I am sure I it is a sign of my age that I have far less patience for it than I used to. Plus I seem to grow weary of playing cover songs after a while - am forever more interested in creating something new of my own. Obviously audience opinions vary on this, but I digress.
On the other hand there is something truly joyful about playing with a group of people just for the sake of playing, for an audience that is just there to enjoy the moment with you. And that makes me think of a lesson I wish I was able to impart on my students easier: Joy and fun are not he same thing and joy is so much more satisfying in the long run.
Music is a show of joy to me. No matter the style or sound, even in the darkest of context, there is still an intrinsic element of joy. I know I need to fully explain this, but for now it’s back to the show. Anyone seen a roadie or two to carry my gear to my car later?....
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