Jamer

Playing in a band is one of the top most priority for all drummers (maybe some not all) and also the most important in a drummer’s “to do” list. Being in a band (especially the band with lots of playing Gigs) can be refreshing and exhausting sometimes, it is also crazy and mostly filled with a lot of experiences (the good, the bad and the ugly). Playing in a band with other musical instrumentalist, connecting with one another to make good music, going on tour with a top music artiste in the music industry and also having to get a lot of playing Gig as a band is what every drummer dreams of. But this post is not about playing in a band and what it feel like being in one but it’s about the different type of drummers you see in a band. It is about the personality of the drummer, the relevance of the drummer and also the important contributions he or she adds to the band. LET’S BEGIN, SHALL WE: 1)The new guy:  Being a fresh recruit in a band is not that smooth and easy especially...

I am pretty sure we all are familiar with the "practise makes perfect" quote and as such put in so much effort into becoming a better drummer. It's a quote you've all used to motivate yourself into becoming the genius you are today on the drums, to becoming a player that plays smoothly with no mistakes, to becoming a creative drummer and also becoming a drummer that uses the "practise makes perfect" experience to motivate other drummers. I don't know why but I do feel like I am the only drummer in the world who doesn't take this ancient quote seriously. Don't get me wrong I do practise but not as consistent as I want it to be. There are days where the only thing I want to do is play and practise all the rudiments I can find and there are also days where I have little or no interest holding the sticks or even think of sitting on the drum kit to play something new. I wasn't happy with the way things were going, so I decided to come up with ...

Today I'll be dishing out facts about this amazing family. A family blessed with beautiful kids, a family that have impacted and invested so much into the music world, a family that have collaborated with other families to create good music, a family blessed with rhythms, rolls, fills, dynamics and rudiments. Ladies and gentle men I introduce you to the DRUM KIT'S FAMILY. With no further hyping, let's go straight to the fun facts about this family. DID YOU KNOW THAT: *The female drum sticks don't mind you cheating on her with another, as long as the other is in a good shape and makes you happy. *The beautiful drum pedal with the bad attitude is likely to break your heart, leg and vibe on a big Gig. *The drum key might be the quite one in the drum kit family but he is always there to tune good rhythms into some of the members when they are out of tune. *In a complete drum kit's family, the toms and the drum sticks are the only identical twins in the family...

Today was a good day for me and I feel so good and proud about myself and I guess you all don't wanna know why but I'm still gonna say it.    * I practised for hours today (doesn't happen often)    * I learned new rudiments, rolls, fills, and dynamics and also applied them on the drum kit in a day (yeah I'm a genius)    * I got a call back from the last Gig I had (one of the biggest Gig ever)    * I'm gonna be on tour with one of the biggest artiste in Nigeria (I dreamed about it Lol, still waiting for it to become a reality. #Positive)    *And I finally showed gratitude to the universe for making me a drummer. But None of my band mates was there to give me an high-five and tell me how good I am and also lie to my face on how I am the greatest drummer on earth but instead I sat there closed my eyes and I began to imagine things. And as you all know imagination is envisioning things that do not exist. So let's just imagine you ...

For months now I have been in a "Gig-less Phase" and so far it has been a horrible experience for me as a drummer. I do practise at home with my pads every day but it still doesn't give me the feeling and joy I get when I play on a Gig. I don't know how long it's gonna be but I really do want it to end. I feel like I am slowly drifting away from the one thing I know how to do best, the one thing that gives me joy and being away from it kinda makes me sick Lol. Every morning I wake up with questions in my head and the two questions that comes up is (1) why am I Gig-less?: Does being Gig-less have to do with the fact that I am introverted?, does it have to do with having no musical instrumentalist as friends?, being in the wrong environment?, taking the small/free Gigs for granted?, not skillful enough?(Lol I'm good, I know it), not showing enough interest? Or no musical connections? And (2) How do I get pass this Phase? I really don't know the answer ...

We all love the new, popular, packaged and fancy stuff, who doesn't? It's cool getting the new fancy drum gears but putting so much importance to it and also letting it decide our worth as a drummer isn't cool. Packaging and swags sometimes gets us the gigs we want but focusing on that alone becomes a problem, because for every gig we get through our swags, fancy gears and packaging, we are tend to pay back with our skills and personality,  and if can't payback, we don't get a call back. The ultimate goal as drummers is to focus on our skill, confidence, network and personality. If we are able to combine that and add a little bit of packaging to our goals, then more gigs shall be added to the ones we have. Getting the new (popular, fancy, packaged) gears is cool but not necessarily as cool as the important (skill, confidence, work ethics and a good personality) gears. FOCUS on the right things and also remember that: