The extraordinary pleasures of playing an instrument.

I sometimes marvel at the instruments I can play: mainly the drums and the piano. I don’t know what are the similarities, I don’t want to list them, this is not the point of this particular blog. The point is that I can produce vibrating air that sounds pretty with them. And, also, I can teach other people to do the same thing.

When I sit at my drum kit I tell all four of my limbs to do different patterns. The right hand could lead the pack, as I am righty, but this is not the only one. If I am playing Reggae, for example, my right foot becomes enormous and can sounds like a stomping army. On the other hand, if I am in a Chicago Shuffle, my left hand takes over and whips the whole orchestra into shape.

Oh, yes, because I forgot to tell you: the drum set is an orchestra, a percussion orchestra. There are no two drum sets the same because drummers can pick what they want to play from an almost infinite list of instruments. Anyway, let’s finish how each limb can become a leader in its own right. We’ve seen the right foot, the right hand, the left hand but not the left foot yet. When does the left foot gets to lead? Answer: in Jazz. When Jazz comes around the hi hat pedal turns into a reliable metronome, the one that will keep going whether I play time or I go on the toms or even when I solo. My left foot will be pumping that second and fourth beat no matter what. Trusty little left foot.

I always feel powerful when I play the drums. I can put my whole body on automatic pilot and listen to the magic happening. As I’m going I might lower the dynamics of the bass drum or place my stick on the edge of the snare to obtain a snappier effect. I am always tuning something with my playing. I’m doing that while also thinking about the song, what moment we’re in, what moment is about to come. My brain is on overdrive but relax at the same time. It’s a feeling that makes me feel very special, like I am aware of everything but I see only one thing.

I understand that what I just described is not what some of my students experience. Some of them are at the beginning, they need to pile up a few hours in order to get to the point I’m at. No matter, I designed a lot of my exercises for them to be able to feel something early on that will resemble what I’m talking about. I estimate that the level doesn’t matter. I don’t want them to be stuck in a spiral of learning. Carpe Diem, I say! Happiness can be had even when you’re a beginner.