Anniversary

Today I celebrated my 21st year of playing drums. I cannot express how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to learn so deeply in an art form, firstly on the drum set which led the way to music as a whole. My love for drumming is something that I cannot even analyze or explain and I’m not really sure when it started, I think the Beatles and Ringo had something to do with, yet I’m not really sure the first time I saw a drum set. One distinct memory I do have from childhood regarding the drums was that on the days leading up to Christmas some years before actually receiving my drums as Christmas presents (I must have been 7 or 8), I had wanted a drum set but was given the choice between a “drum set”(I’m not sure the folks would have sprung for a real one back then) or a Sleep and Snore Ernie. Let’s just say it if hadn’t been for that dang toy, I’d be celebrating 23 years of playing drums (oh well).

In recent years it’s always been my tradition to play a lot on Christmas as a fun reminder, and I gotta say; today it felt probably better than ever. I’ve never had as advanced reading skills, had such good a practice habit, or even have been as strong physically. What’s even more important; when I sat down behind those drums today I felt relaxed and was able just to enjoy the beauty of the music I can make with my orchestra of hit-able things. I mentioned how I’m shifting my mindset in regards to practice and performance and today that was really clear: I felt like I could go to the instrument and ask musical questions and really explore music instead of asking the same question only to constantly have to re-affirm “am I any good?”

To me, that’s a gift.