22 Years of Drumming Progress

[@ilmaririimu7593]

Shoutout to all the parents camcording their kids’ band recitals & early gigs!

[@DannySullivanMusic]

for real. completely perfect

[@coreyaudet9656]

Imagine all that would have been lost without them!!!

[@williep3426]

True! I'm playing drum since I was 12 y/o. In all kinds of bands. Started in a marching band too. When I became 17 I got into the drum kit. I'm an auto didact on the kit. Ever since I did all kinds of (cover)bands and gigs. In various styles and opportunities. Now I'm 63. I hardly have any pics nor recordings from my music activities in my younger years. Such a shame! But I love and I cherish the beautiful moments and joy the music brought me through all these years. And still does. I couldn't do without. Hope Covid will be out of the way soon so we can go rehearsing and gigging again. Shawn, I loved your story and the way you presented it in this vid on youtube. It looks so much like mine. Compliments and kind regards from a Dutch drummer.

[@leonardoross8133]

I'll be waiting for 22 years of touch guitar progress

[@ShawnCrowder]

it's gonna be a while...

[@KoenigApfel]

@@ShawnCrowder yes, approximately 22 years

[@datboi3577]

@@KoenigApfel Wait, really?

[@LestatAlone]

I spotted baby Neely and, I think, baby Levin.

[@stephanvanderwoerd4405]

Yeah thats defininely Ben haha

[@Hush99]

Ben Levin ripping John McLaughlin's solo spot on Vital Transformation. Too perfect.

[@philosophiabme]

Unmistakable haha

[@QuantSpazar]

i love ben soloing so fast it looks like he's having a stroke

[@aaaMDML]

timestamps?

[@brookstarkington]

Thanks for posting this. As a percussion teacher I often get discouraged at the rate at which my students are progressing. Seeing you in your formative years helps remind me I shouldn’t be in such a hurry expecting much from my beginners.

[@DannySullivanMusic]

i concur. utterly perfect

[@Xtremecarfan10188]

Same here, I have realized it takes time. I will be honest, sometimes I forget what it was like learning the basics. I forsure wasn't doing half the stuff I have some 10 year olds doing when I started. Then again, I humbly think I turned out fine as a drummer. It takes me longer to learn things than other people. I have some students playing now 4 years and technique and feel has improved suddenly. Its like once they reach a certain point. It becomes alot easier for them to continue to improve and become more independent. This happens at different ages for everyone though. Mine was definitely late.

[@Joshholbrook2024]

Ya they suck pretty bad for the first 3 or 4 years.

[@Xtremecarfan10188]

@@Joshholbrook2024 Yup, although there are some naturals that end up doing things in a year that takes others 3 or 4. And its not age limited either. I have a 6 year old reading and learning Immigrant Song, I have a 62 year old that can't play Another One Bites the Dust 😂. Its very random.

[@adamschorr2301]

12:40 seeing a young Adam Neely with a fedora and chin bush singing into a vocoder has been the absolute highlight of my 2021

[@ianmsutherland]

Hats off to the parents who supported, believed in, and also taped every performance. Support like that early-on is crucial and amazing to see. What's the farthest they travelled to watch you play?

[@DannySullivanMusic]

this is completely perfect

[@BrandonScottDrums]

This was amazing dude. I've been thinking about making a video discussing my "drum journey" for a while now. I think you've finally inspired me to make it.

[@VehaanWadhwa]

come on Brandon you have to do this!

[@ArpitBhattacharjee]

do it!

[@chrislamaster3816]

Do it man. Recently subbed. Great stuff man.

[@nathanielking7481]

Hearing your story makes me happy, and also deeply sad at the same time. In another reality I see my life panning out very similarly to yours, and in fact I share the exact same music path as you up until exiting hs. Inevitably, my family did not support my decision to follow music as a drummer. I’m currently 21, bs’ing my way through a medical degree in college, and I’ve never felt so lost. I don’t want this path forced on to me, but I also don’t have the power to disappoint my mother and grandparents. Wish me luck. Thank you for your vid, it was put together wonderfully.

[@joesteyn6599]

its never too late man. Hard work is the only thing that separates us from anything in life.

[@gleventhal]

I went to music school and played a little professionally after college, but I went into programming/computers after a few years. Being a musician is really tough to make ends meet, it's a lot of hustling and playing BS gigs that feel like a waste of time. You have to love playing more than anything so that you're happy to just be with your instrument no matter what you're doing, and not make much money. Being a doctor is a very worthy endeavor, maybe you can try to shift your perspective so that you're psyched about medicine. Watch Dr. House, I dunno, but you have an incredible opportunity. If it's not right for you, then do what you gotta do, but I'd suggest at least trying to find some love for it, afterall medical science is really incredible, all the sacrifices and excellence that got us to this point. Good luck man, plenty of Doctors play in weekend bands, and they can pay their mortgages. Many musicians cannot even afford to go to the Dr. lol.

[@LentilsOverkill]

The difference between 1 and 2 years is astounding.

[@DannySullivanMusic]

this is absolutely true man

[@eugenefender1279]

"as someone, who never felt particularly talented" is a very talented person thing to say :-)

[@vasilias2230]

We're all talented at something, It just shows his humility

[@ShawnCrowder]

haha could be, but it always felt hard to me. defining "talent" is another video entirely...

[@eugenefender1279]

@@vasilias2230 I think we all love this about Shawn - being a total virtuoso that he is, he still seems a really nice guy

[@vasilias2230]

@@ShawnCrowder talent can be simply noted as: Individuals are inclined to different appitudes for learning, so while someone might be talented at the drums/music, It doesn't mean that they have built up skills around it. Someone can just as easily squander their skills by doing something they're not physically/mentally made to do, while Ignoring their given aptitudes. I think that makes some sort of sense hahaha

[@MrStingray1985]

Talent does not mean that it comes to you easily. In fact, it can be quite the opposite of that: maybe like having a clearer sense than others of what could be, what your own inadequacies are that keep you from achieving it, and with that a strong urge to work as hard as possible to finally get there.

[@oldethangoogleacc8484]

god there's so much early 2000's early 2010's nostalgia littered throughout this video

[@RedHair651]

9:52 I had to go back and rewatch Ben Levin shredding because that was the shit

[@contemptcreatorarthurave4042]

Can we have a moment to respect the edited cuts? Tempos goin into eachother.

[@DannySullivanMusic]

for real. 100% true

[@ashimotoakai9599]

Man, this really saved me... I've been drumming for a good 1 year almost a half now... and I just transitioned from Dancing. So you could say that I had a head start when compared to other, so I continued to improve myself based on that rhythmic background I had from dancing. A year and a half later, and deep into the World of Jazz Drumming, I've been slowly getting, not depressed but frustrated, very frighteningly so... I don't know why, but I always feel desperate to get better, and I always want to find the time and play as much drums as possible, but I just can't help but feel, anxious, like I'm not good enough. I mean sure I do play in a band, and we play jazz a lot in general, but there's still this desperation to get better, like I'm not getting better fast enough, and it's been greatly affecting me mentally, since I'm in quarantine, where theoretically I should be able to play drums more, and practice more, but can't being restricted by the chain known as living in an apartment. That's why when I saw, the extent of time, it actually takes for a master to get where he got, I just feel relieved? I guess, like I'm reassured that I'm not wrong, that I'm not falling behind, that I am getting better. This really has helped me lift something on my heart and has really helped me feel less anxious. Thank you Shawn soooo much, you are definitely one of my biggest inspirations, and I hope to follow suite with your example and get better, to be a better musician.

[@eb7907]

Yes! I felt the same watching this video. It gave me comfort knowing that this is a long road and it shows that the people that are really great have just been on that long road the longest. It makes me content to just get comfortable sitting down and doing the work day in and day out because ultimately, it does add up

[@francescofadda8173]

Someone would say: "repetition legitimizes."

[@DannySullivanMusic]

this comment is utterly true

[@musicalwarrior9079]

@@DannySullivanMusic Someone would say: "repetition legitimizes."

[@ZachMcCordProg]

@@musicalwarrior9079 Someone would say: "repetition legitimizes."

[@cloudy7971]

@@ZachMcCordProg Someone would say: "repetition legitimizes."

[@killmoreturtles]

It's passion vs. natural talent. And give me passion every. single. time! Passion = love and enjoyment. If you're passionate about something, then you love to practice, too. You may hate yourself often, but you have those breakthrough moments where you can say to yourself: I feel like I'm as good as anybody else out there.

[@wilberforce95]

Damn, you sounded like a professional in high school! Jealous. Also I love that clip of you and Adam in the dorm room

[@DannySullivanMusic]

you are completely true

[@MattPriceDrumming]

Very cool man. Its awesome that you were able to dig up all this old footage. Surprised we never met at Berklee, I was there 05 - 09. Keep up the good vids!

[@JonnEnguero]

Great video, sir! I also started playing the drums in 99. 😊

[@magoodrummer1462]

You are a real drummer. Nothing else I can say but never stop progressing. You are awesome sir, thank you for sharing your story. 40 year journey for me and they will have to peel the sticks from my cold dead hands ! Keep on rockin in the free world brother.

[@ElliottKleinguitar]

Lol at the New Years (I think?) dual guitar clip. Great video!

[@andrewsickler8466]

Thanks for sharing your journey! Seeing the early recordings of you starting just like everyone else is really hope-inspiring for those of us who also weren’t the most immediately talented or prodigious.

[@PatrickHaeslerMusic]

Me watching Shawn playing a drum solo from the year 2000: Creative use of polyrhythms and metric modulation. Nice!

[@gleventhal]

Wow, your family must really love you and be super supportive! You have tons of early footage! Congrats on having good people in your life, you can't put a price on that, it's so important. Sounds great!

[@sharkking3982]

As someone in highschool considering my options for pursuing music in the future, this really helps to understand the drive needed and the opportunities you can have in the line of work. Thanks for making this

[@JacobS0527]

I'm studying as a music ed major right now and marching percussion was something that helped me a lot too. Even now I play with the WGI group Music City Mystique and it shows me different ways to think about and apply the things I'm learning in school.

[@lucasgrape8576]

Thank you! So great to see a little history of the community that we all know through the youtubes.

[@FearAbsence]

Man, this video made me feel like I've missed out on so much in my life. I've played drums for about 15 years, 30 years old now, and there's was no focus on playing music in school for me. There were no school bands, no high schools with music-programs, no real music-focus at all. Here you just start a band, play for a couple of years then eventually stop playing because there's no progress. I only play by myself now, because finding musicians here who actually want to try and do something feels impossible at my age. But I'm really glad for you and your journey, good work dude.

[@Bsloga]

Really inspiring and honest. Very genuine. Your progression is just fantastic and your metal approach to the instrument is way ahead of others your age. So yeah, the best is yet to come for you. I mean really all any of us want is our own voice and the element of it being recognized on our chosen instrument.

[@elumbella]

So inspiring! I also very much appreciate how well you cut together all the muscal bits on the beat. Very satisfying to listen to!

[@jamesfallmusic]

this video is incredibly inspiring. literally made me have the urge to pick up my guitar in the middle of it. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!

[@honsebingus6426]

I’ve spotted an Adam Neely and a Ben levin

[@DannySullivanMusic]

agreed. absolutely perfect

[@BananaManPL]

11:30 "And slowly but surely (after over a decade of practicing, countless gigs, world championships? and multiple bands) we started playing out more and more." Ain't that a message of hope.

[@mrhalfblood7080]

That's a helluva good journey that you've done through all of those years

[@CHARLESAUVET]

you're a fucking inspiration man, i'm proud to watch that video

[@TheRhythmInside36]

Thank you for following through with your passion. I had to fight for 6 years before my parents let me play drums of my own I'm so happy your parents supported your gift. I have only been playing drums for 10 years now no lessons but I feel most comfortable behind a set. I'm always trying to learn always trying to understand. I appreciate that you put an emphasis on your support in learning. No matter how I'll equipped I am for drumming, it is definitely my instrument. Seeing this video is so inspiring. Thank you

[@nat5268]

As a learner of 1.5 years... this gives me so much hope and inspiration!! :)

[@roathripper]

damn dude your skills have taken you far and wide! And i notice at the 2 year mark it was already coming together.

[@facelen4321]

Man thank you for sharing your story. This video is truly eye opening for many young musicians... and also their parents.

[@Froggy893]

Such a good content! You never start from the end... And consistency is actually a huge talent!

[@adamdontdocoke]

10:02 Alien Hip Hop. Dude it was so cool watching the whole journey! :)

[@andre3808]

This is really cool to see! I don't know how well this maps outside of music, but as someone with a hobby in drawing, it's really inspiring to see that I can keep improving over time! Also, Drunk is really good and I love y'all's music!!

[@tjblackmore7863]

I so envy you Shawn, to have so many great tapes of your performances growing up. I hope all of the young drummers seeing this are recording their playing so they can watch their playing improve over time. Amazing stuff.

[@timedwards7338]

Great video Shawn! It's always so amazing to watch people track their musical careers, it's so nice to see how much of yours has been caught on film. Also very lovely to see the early collaborations with Ben and Adam.

[@sicko_the_ew]

Never say, "I can't". Don't even say, "I can". Say: I WILL (or "I will", actually. I think I'll point my feet thataway. ... and take the concluding One Step, too, of course.) Great illustration of this. Thank you for existing for the sake of proving me right. :D All the versions of I will, will do. It hurts but I declare myself to be intractibly obstinate. Hurt away, here I go. Or hey, this feels great again, I think I'll do it again. And again ... (like a gymnast I know who just sort of moved from the way standing on your head is more fun than standing on your feet is, to figuring out that you can spin back over onto your feet. And then back onto your hands. ... and that's much more fun than just walking from this side of the room to that ... being led by the thrill of it all). There must be another five or ten more basic kinds of getting a will to do something? And then they mix up. But in the end, whatever the outcome is, it demonstrates what you CAN do. Willing it just helped you discover what that was (or to your first discoveries, thusfar). It's an OK endpoint - a humble one, even; it's just as a starting point that it's wrong. You *do* have a talent for this. Yes, you mined it, milled it, polished it, etc, but this is just the discovery process of what was there in you to be found. (And it means it's OK for someone who doesn't achieve similar results for similar efforts - with allowance for feedback loops, and how they feed back into the effort part of the cycle - to then say, "Wow, you're good", accepting that this is not for them. Too much emphasis on the hard work aspect's importance negates the efforts of the many who give it a go and fail, not through bad character, but just because somewhere there are limits for everyone. Yes, it takes character to discover what your true limits are, but maybe good character is a kind of talent, too. It's both those things (to keep this nice and simple). Maybe in a more general sense knocking the paradiddle into your neurons is more effort dependent, and creating Sungazer songs takes a whole lot more talent than effort. Both are good. Very interesting video, anyway. It says much more than it says.

[@SamuelHopeOfficial]

This is a fantastic story Shawn! What a legend 🙌🙌🙌

[@ncookpercussion]

It’s so cool to see that you come from the same background as I do! Super inspiring and cool that you marched in band and indoor in addition to everything you’re know for!

[@DiamondLifer]

Very cool to share this with everyone and you’re absolutely right about everything. Talent is not enough. You have to stay motivated and I find playing with as many musicians as possible at all levels helps expand your patience, ear, wants and needs as a player. 👍🏻

[@3borg]

Sometimes I think I suck at drums, but this video made me remember that I've only done it for two years and that I am actually making progress. Good video!

[@Stratocaster42]

What an amazing autobiography of your drumming progress! I'm so glad you kept so much of this footage. Absolutely fascinating and beautifully put together :)

[@TheDelarch]

Thank you for this video. I've been in a big creative/motivational/emotional dip for a little while and I think this has given me the push I need to get all those little projects back on the way. Much love

[@thehellobandwiscthehelloba7655]

you can literally see your confidence grow over time.... some true inspirational insight!!

[@atlassolid5946]

4:40 hey, i played that same mallets part in high school as well! very fun but difficult for sophomore-year me

[@erickruse7240]

BKO!!! Much love brother. It's amazing to see your journey!

[@regina2130]

Great chronology, great well illustrated story.

[@goblinondrums]

Man if only I had all the recordings from my days in marching band, winter percussion, jazz band and my college years. Good job man having all this stuff saved I'm jealous. Great video too bro.

[@FamilyGuy12693]

This was great Shawn, thanks! Love all the old footage leading into the new

[@DaveBrandweinmusic]

man, I love this! Bringing back so many memories from being a kid and playing! Going to have to go dig up some old home movies now...

[@Bungletronics]

Drumline was key to my development. I mean playing for 20+ hours a week almost every week of the year, yeah you're going to develop some chops. Add to it Jazz, concert, and percussion ensemble. Sadly the only video recordings of me on the drumset were replaced by my sister taping Dawson's Creek. But, I have 2 live audio recordings of my band when I was 17-19 and fresh off the drumline schedule. I was pretty darn good back then! At least I have those! I still jam from time to time but years of apartment living kept my kit in storage. I still have the same kit my folks got me in 1998... though slightly modified! So cool to see your path which was somewhat similar to mine. I love your videos and am really digging sungazer. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@soysantim]

This was a fantastic video. Comparing the things you can do and explain to us today with your early years is really inspiring to me. That's a lot of dedication and time you put in what you love. I'm 30 snd started playing drums 6 years ago but really getting into it seriously about 2 years ago; before that I would only play songs and have fun. Today I try to keep a routine of 12hs practice a week, keeping a journal, trying new stuff all the time, etc. Sometimes it's hard to stay motivated, but I try to remind myself that I'm not doing this for an end goal (which there isn't one in music, I think), for fame, money or people's recognition; I'm playing drums because making music makes me happy. I think we all have that disease of comparing ourselves with other people and that's where we get demotivated, but we forget to remember that behind that groove/chop of that cool drummer there's days, months and years of dedication. With a little practice it can transform from "I'll never be as good as X drummer" to "Oh that was a cool groove/chop, I'm gonna do that".

[@eb7907]

Thank you for making this video. It gives me inspiration for the long haul on my journey

[@jibster5903]

Watching all of this shows the contrast of how much of sungazers music is set around the drums

[@DannySullivanMusic]

your comment is completely right dude

[@ujwiersma8482]

Super video! "Life is what happens to you when you are busy doing others things." That's what happens when you live life as a destination (read stress yourself out for money). When you live life as a journey, you enjoy it for the peak experiences. I write books, same fundamentals.

[@Ensorcle]

It's likely not shocking to read this but I found you through Adam Neely and then Sungazer and now your channel. Even though I was never able to turn my passion for music into a full time gig I think it's good for people to be able to see progression like this and rare to have it all at once. Thank you for sharing this and for continuing to be an awesome drummer/teacher/youtuber/musician/whatever adjective you most enjoy. Can't wait for the album drop!

[@xchasef]

You can tell Shawn is a working drummer by how much cajón footage he has.

[@PariahEarth]

We're the same age and grew up in the same state! We might be the same person! Really cool to see your progress over the years and looking forward to more Shawn :)

[@drumstudiomonchengladbach8131]

Hi Shawn, I LOVE your ability to play the "strangest" polyrhytms. Maybe you should give us a lesson how to work out such "strange" polyrhythms like 21:20 f.e. . Obviously the "old fashioned way" - looking for a common denominator doesnt work because the sbdivisions are too small. How do YOU work out such a challenge?

[@fleetwoodbrawm]

Great work, and that's awesome that you have recorded all those years of progress!!!

[@julianboyd8719]

Cool Video. I was just actually in Colorado for the first time recording in album up in Loveland and stayed in Longmont. Very neat, quiet little town.

[@brandonkain9231]

This was awesome and whatever your playing at the end...i love it...has that progressive fusion style drumming....you must have practiced your ass off all these years....looking back wish I would have done the same....

[@cheriNYCLiveMusic]

This is brilliant Shawn, I saw your two gigs at the Blue Note. 👏👏

[@SchnitzelKraft]

Hey, didn't know you played with Ben. Great video! And yesterday was very entertaining in Amsterdam! Will see you next time.

[@SuperSeb1999]

Fantastic video Shawn! Very inspiring! Really shows how much hard work, self discipline and decisiveness that goes into chasing your dream!

[@anthonysonetti3924]

This is a great video. Thank you for sharing!

[@tonycarpenter-Makzimia]

Very inspiring story :). Sadly I never had the opportunity, or the desire, to really chase my music all my younger life. I am now 60 and a jack of all trades and master of none, but, I picked up Drums at 41 and like guitar I started at 10 and Piano at 17, I am totally self taught on drums. I enjoy jamming at the moment on Jamulus, first time playing with other people after practicing and recording on my own for the past 20 years. Thank you for sharing :). You're awesome.

[@sethdallen]

Man, this was incredible. It was great to learn about you but it also invoked a lot of memories in me being only a few years older. At one point I was shouting "I hope to see him in DCI!" haha. Thanks for the video.

[@AidanMmusic96]

Loved the Proto Cosmos fragment! Great guitarists in all the Berklee videos too, dang!

[@carmenip6924]

wow I can see u put a lot of hard work to become what u are now!!!

[@marcusgriess9264]

Wild to find out that the drummer of a band I enjoy is also marched BKPE, it's a small world.

[@anderszettergren4302]

Great attitude to music and life. Thanks.

[@pr0r0gu3]

My god, bring back mid-2000s prog jams.

[@jessevandendoren]

But please without the clothing and hair styles lol.

[@pr0r0gu3]

@@jessevandendoren Coward.

[@DannySullivanMusic]

i agree! 110% perfect

[@junglefett]

​@@pr0r0gu3 lmao that's the best possible response to that

[@CaptainJeoy]

This was really fun to watch

[@mjg19981]

Ben's solo about halfway through = Super good

[@PoohhNani]

Amazing video dude. Awesome how much footage you have over the years to tell such a story

[@ianvjones]

That was awesome dude!

[@TiagoSantos-kj6tc]

That, sir, is a beautiful story. Truly inspiring, thank you for that!

[@sepposyXIV]

Thanks so much! Lovely journey ♡

[@nickmonks9563]

4:18 - that's the first spot where I went, "ahh, there's the beginnings of that Shawn Crowder sound..."

[@IcyMidnight]

You seem like a really awesome dude. It's important to share stories of people who don't have the head start of being talented at an early age. This video just goes to show that if you dedicate yourself, a whole bunch of hard work can get your caught up to the people who had the talent head start... and then you're already good at working hard! Thanks for sharing what some people might have been embarrassed about. I'm more from the Adam Neely world, but your drumming and drumming videos are really interesting to watch! :)

[@theovergoat]

Expecting another video like this in 22 years time on the touch guitar

[@BenMichalowicz]

Absolutely loved the progtessive section featuring Virgil's work. Absolutely flawless!!

[@drumming.7753]

your a big inspiration for beginner drummers ❤❤❤

[@seanwright6931]

I've been playing for about 3 years. I know zero theory but I just play. Honestly this makes me feel very positive about how much I've progressed. Also Congrats on 22 years my man!

[@SuperElo2008]

These cuts are so smooth!

[@christina.irrgang]

Interesting to see the drummer life. All the best for the next years.

[@gaddmatt]

This is the way. Thank you for sharing this great story

[@deathofrats2000]

Where do I go for more footage of you and Ben Levin shredding Mahavishnu? Awesome

[@ShawnCrowder]

One of my oldest videos is a cover of Vital Transformation with Ben. It's still on YT. :)

[@deathofrats2000]

@@ShawnCrowder Oh, great! Thanks

[@joshadams8761]

This video inspires me to continue working at my craft!

[@Enthalpiste]

Funny to see young fellow youtubers. Also funny to get the song covered through the years... Wait is this Alien hip-hop? Oh shit...

[@bmprrr]

Thank you for your music! You are one of the musicians that influenced me the most. Please keep going