Wheee! Playing hooky this afternoon

[tollers]

I get to escape from work early today. Sally's African Musics class at Butler is drumming in class today, which gives me an excuse to go be an extra "person with clue" for an hour or so, with the added benefit of being able to take a couple of extra drums along for some of the kids to use

Comments

[born_to_me]

I love drumming... of course. ;-)

Seeing all the drums at Cap this year I've a mind to bring my tubano (it's a Remo) along if we can fit it in next year. It's great fun to play, although I honestly am a crappy drummer.

[tollers]

The nice thing about drumming (especially hand drums) is that you can move from crappy to passable pretty quickly by learning good technique and then doing moderate amounts of practice. Waaaaaaaay less investment of time than learning a melody instrument, imo. But then the stretch from passable to mastery is a never-ending one (which is good, 'cause that's what keeps me interested in it, instead of bouncing off to a new hobby).

I've always got a drum with me at cons (whether or not I'm helping with a workshop), and it doesn't take much arm-twisting to drag me off into a room or an out-of-the-way corner to drum for awhile. So definitely start bringing yours... we can work on "sneaky drum tricks" and get you past thinking you're crappy. :-)

[born_to_me]

I heard gundo say about the bodhran (sp?) "Five minutes to learn, a lifetime to master." I could say that about pretty much any percussion instrument, from my experience. You're right, I could be passable with a little time (and I will take advantage of you next con, you betcha! *grin*) but to master it? I *wish*. ;-)

[tollers]

Right on the first try (your spelling).

Bodhran has been the bane of my existence as a percussionist. I've had a few rare instances of getting in a groove that felt right, and then I'd start overthinking and it would just fall apart. And I've never been able to get consistently passable with it. That's why you'll see me pick up djembe or shakers or catspaws, but not bodhran. Sally "gets it"... she and the bodhran have learned to coexist. I just end up getting mad every time I try, so I'm giving in to the idea that it's just not my drum. I'll keep hacking along at it, because I go to an Irish session jam here in Indy on occasion, and it would be nice to be able to play something other than spoons, but I don't think it will ever be my drum of choice.