One of my drum students emailed me a question after he had a rehearsal in his basement with some friends. It sparked a resopnse from me that I must develolp further and perhaps more clearly some time in the future. Both my student's email and my response are unedited below, with the exception being that I have changed the names ("... to protect the innocent").
The idea that something is supposed to be only a certain way - that there is one right way - is one that has plagued me through my entire career. Fom ignorant laypeople to seasoned and respected professionals I have heard all kinds of ridiculous statements regarding the truth of music.[For example: "You can't ride on a cymbal that has 'Crash' written upon it!" ; "Eighth notes don't swing."; "You can't learn to play the blues by listening to John Coltrane!"] People who utter such nonsense have been brainwashed into disbelieving they have an ability to discern things for themselves. I have patience with it when I see it in the young. They have been victimized.
Here are the emails:
[From my student "Spiff"]
hey ben,
I just got done with a rehersal with Biff and Boff. I had an idea to trade the head with Biff (well parts of it at least) we get done doing it and Biff gives me a funny look. He says he dosn't like it because i don't have enough drums. (i was using a snare, hi-hat, bass drum, and ride) Then him and Biff's dad started to tell me that it would be like Boff not bringing an amp to rehersal or Biff bringing his mouth piece. Not even close.
Anyway I got piseed about it wasted rehersal time and set up a tom. I then continued to play the rest of the rehersal on the tom. wrong?
[From me]
well, the anger and sarcasm are well appreciated!
It takes much patience to educate those who are ignorant of the large picture. Seeing that they are your friends it is worth taking the time to try and teach them.
For the time being you can set up 2 additional toms around your kit and simply never play them. Then you have "brought your entire instrument" to the gig as far as they are concerned.
However, it does allow you to raise a challenge to them: Simply ask them to show you proof, beyond doubt, of what a "drum set" is. Can they find a definition of "drum set" that is universally agreed upon? We know the answer to be "no". Yet they should be allowed some time to reach the same conclusion. They may learn something in the process.
If that is too hard of an assignment for them at first, simply ask them to define "drum", and then have them tell you why bringing 2 empty coffee cans with their lids on would not satisfy the statement that " I am playing drums", or even that, "I am playing a set of drums".
What about cymbals? Where does it say a drummer must use cymbals? Answer: Nowhere. At least not by any respected authority on music.
Your person is your entire instrument. Anything else you choose to use becomes another instrument for your expression. When making music there is no right or wrong, except that one is doing the best to bring out an honest expression of their personal feelings and experience. Telling someone else that their chosen instrument is wrong or insufficient is bullying and is an attempt at enslavement to their own ideas. If you give in to them now you send them the signal that they may continue to harass and control you in the future.
The only time it is acceptable to unquestioningly accept someone else's demands is when you have agreed to work for them with the understanding that they may ask you to do things "their way". If you agree to accept their money with that understanding, then sure, no problem, right or wrong, you can do what they ask. 7 cymbals and 2 snare drums and a shaker? Sure! Brushes only? You got it! No yawning on stage? Absolutely!
Now. You are working towards getting all the sounds possible out of the few things you are setting up, YOUR drum set.
The question is, are they working towards getting all the sounds out of their instruments?!
Are they utilizing every single note on their instruments? Does Biff utilize false fingerings, does he circular breath, does he play in all 12 keys, does he know every possible scale and chord substitution? I don't think so.
And same for Boff - does he use every single note his bass is capable of playing, etc...? I don't think so. And remember, a bass used to be (and still is!) 1 string attached to a wash tub!
Maybe the analogy is more like this: You say you play sax? Well why didn't you bring the soprano and tenor and bari sax too. If Boff plays the bass why doesn't he bring an upright bass, a 4 string bass and a 5 string bass and a 6 string bass?
Ultimately the point is not how much stuff you have, or even what you know. It is simply, Are you making an honest attempt to make the best music that you can, with WHATEVER you are using.
There are enough rules out there already in school, on the gig (where you have been hired), in society. ALL of those rules were made without your input. NONE of you were asked to contribute your input towards the making of those rules. The people who made those rules do not know you and probably never will. They were made with absolutely ZERO understanding of who Spiff, Biff and Boff are.
While you explore music in the freedom of your own home, why not make up your own rules? If they don't work change them, if they do work, keep them as long as they continue to work for you, knowing that you can always change them.
But ask yourselves if you are happy accepting the rules made by people who do not know you. Ask yourselves if you have to accept those rules in order to have fun making music together.
see you soon
