From: someone@anywheret.net   
      
   "JimD"  wrote in message news:2018100213340855010-email@nowherecom...   
      
   > I read somewhere once that the reason drummers have such trouble playing   
   > along with a click, is that drums are the only instrument where they never   
   > learn to listen to the other players for timing cues.  Everyone else in a   
   > band listens and adjusts their timing to stay with the band, the drums.   
   > Many drummers, since they are the one setting the beat / tempo, never   
   > develope that listening skill.   
      
   It's more than only a listening skill, it's an Attitude skill as well,   
   specifically one of Cooperation...because that's what a band Must do to be a   
   band, and that means everyone paying careful attention to everyone else   
   along with themselves, to make sure things are going right.   
   And while it's common for the drummer to start the song off, that's still   
   not *setting* the beat. Rather, the song itself sets the beat, which was   
   previously agreed on by the band, to play it in the Rehearsed tempo, which   
   is precisely why it's so critically important that everyone hears everything   
   all the time.   
   That's how I always do it, and if for any reason, I can't hear the other   
   musicians enough to Effectively play IN CONCERT with them, I'll do whatever   
   is necessary, playing quieter and quieter, or even briefly stopping, until I   
   can hear them enough to pick up the song again and avoid a train wreck-   
   there's no reason why a drummer can't do that too!   
      
   > So the, when presented with a click, or backing track they need to stay   
   > with, they simply don't know how to listen to others as they play.   
      
   If they don't know how to listen, they won't know how, what, and when to   
   play...AS A *BAND*, that is!!!   
      
   > Practicing the wrong approach won't help.   
      
   No, I Never meant doing that!   
      
   > In sports, they say that it's far easier to learn " the right " way to do   
   > something at the very beginning than to learn some bad technique then   
   > spend your life trying to unlearn it.   
      
   Sure, and for everything else too - it's as easy to learn to do something   
   Right as Wrong, but if the Stupid choice is made and it's done Wrong, then   
   it takes Lots of extra effort to Unlearn doing it Wrong, and then to learn   
   to do it Right ;)   
      
   > As long as our guy doesn't want to work with tracks, he'll never give it   
   > any serious effort. So he'll never learn.   
      
   What it sure seems he Needs to learn is how to play WITH the band!   
      
   > Whatever the cause, I've seen a lot of it in part time players.   
      
   I've seen it in players who aren't Serious.   
      
   > Not all.  Not all, by any means. Some people take pride in their work.   
   > Both their full time career and any part time or hobby things they do.   
      
   That's what matters most, Personal Integrity.   
      
   > Those people are generally successfull.   
      
   As well they should be!   
      
   > I don't see them, as they   
   > aren't floating around looking for some new band to get in ( and wreck ).   
   > The losers are easy to spot. They've been in every band in town, worked   
   > with everyone, and never stayed.   
      
   Drifters, driftwood, Deadwood ;) On the other hand I've known those that   
   stay together, play the same old venue, with the same set list, just going   
   through the motions, even boring themselves, and thinking they've got it   
   made, pathetic ;)   
      
   > True.  I don't need anyone along who just feels like jamming their way   
   > thru our material.  No matter how good they might be. We're not a jam   
   > band.  Same as you couldn't just sit in with an orchestra.  It's either   
   > learn the music or get out.   
      
   To me it's totally Unconscionable! The ONLY way one can Really jam is by   
   First Thoroughly Knowing the material they're playing...anything less is   
   only making Silly NOISE!!!   
      
   > Here's some thing new to ponder.  There are a lot of people who look at   
   > musicians and bands and say " hell, that's easy. I could do that "   
      
   Then, if they actually follow up by trying it, they get a big surprise ;)   
      
   > There is a term in psychology that deals with people who know so little   
   > about something they don't even realize they don't know anything. I'll   
   > think of it later.   
      
   I can come with a few: Ignorant, Arrogant, Imperceptive, Unwitting, for   
   starters ;)   
      
   > I've done this myself. Went to a pro baseball game with my dad once. I was   
   > watching the various players and commented that, " hell, that looks easy,   
   > I could do that ".  That was my " I can do anything " nieve thinking.   
      
   But you probably checked it out and decided there were other things you   
   liked more that were more worthy of your efforts.   
      
   > It helps to believe in yourself. They even teach that attitude in schools   
   > now. Based on the point that if you start out thinking you can't do   
   > something, you'll fail, or probably never start.   
      
   Nothing wrong with that IF it's Thoroughly Understood that it's going to   
   take Lots of Hard Work and Dedication!   
      
   > I have the - I can do it - attitude with new things. But, I quickly modify   
   > that once I try and obviously can't do something.   
      
   I have a Will-do attitude because it's why I'm still here among the living,   
   going all the way back to day one.   
      
   > Many people think playing in bands is just as easy as an Elvis movie. Jump   
   > in a car full of bikini clad chicks, someone throws you a guitar, and   
   > you're it.   
      
   Only if it's an 'air guitar' ;)   
      
   > Fantasy.   
      
   Many fantasies have been Made into Reality...but Only by LOTS of Serious,   
   Unwavering Effort.   
   I wrote a song about that too...on the second album, Ignite The Sky:   
      
   4. The Spearhead   
      
   verse1   
   looking back when what we have today was all brand new   
   never done before or imagined by more than just a very few   
   following their dreams despite what others would say or do   
   to discourage their realizing their ideas when they broke through   
      
   prechorus1   
   then they hid their pessimistic faces proven wrong again   
   as the exceptional overshadowed the mundane   
      
   verse2   
   always thinking far ahead beyond the limits of the herd   
   though they offhand don't understand proclaiming it's absurd   
   'till innovation comes when creativity is stirred   
   and naysayers pretending that they never said a word   
      
   prechorus2   
   then they put down their wet blankets a while and stopped   
   their silly games   
   but I'd still like to get to know their names   
      
   bridge   
   what if it happened that invention was received without obstruction   
   and with warm welcoming instead   
   how much the better that encouragement would spawn the new construction   
   and like a wildfire spread   
   going full ahead   
      
   verse3   
   pioneering through a world of skeptics and the doubts they wield   
   to boldly blaze in outstanding ways new trails in the field   
   with dedicated perseverant determination steeled   
   against all opposition that achievement be revealed   
      
   prechorus3   
   as the spearhead once again is brought to bear to drive it through   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)