Is PASSION Really Enough to Succeed with Drumming?

[@808drummerpercussionist9]

Title grabbed me.....the reason i started drumming, was my friend he played guitar and needed a drummer. i had no clue where to start. Santana just put out his Debut album. Fire, popular, evil ways, oye como va, etc.....my tutor, teacher was the LP, listen and play it. it has it's challenges, being rt or lf. friend showed me how to do basic drumming on a rt handed set. didn't know there was lf handed set up. for 7 years played rt, as a lefty, today and from that point on all sets are set for a lefty. i decided to change my set to a lefty on a friday night gig, my guitar player went bananas, there was a drummer that came in and asked are you a lefty? yep i am. he said my hands weren't crossed as i played. He was a lefty, playing at a high end club in Waikiki Hawaii, I live in the small Country ranch town of Kailua....my God, I played, CCW, 3 dog night, grand funk R, Santana, el chicano, War, Iron butter fly etc.....all by ear and LP.....I was 15, now 68, and still loving on my 5 drum sets in my living room all set up to play when I want to, and sets are by genre, Jazz/funk,,,,Reggae,,,,cumbia....rock.....punk funk mix...etc....people come over and they ask what I play, I say plug it in my PA.....then I play it, never before have I heard it before.....I have become ear tuned in on, instruments, genre, tempo, timing, etc...I now nothing about rr ll rr, and never read a note to play, I only got confused,,,,,,Like a surfer who cam be sponsored, I surfed everyday growing up in Hawaii, but never sponsored, as a Drummer, never made the Concert...but Happy that the passion did kick in at a later date, it was all about, learn it play, make some cash.....having FUN

[@timothybrown820]

One thing I noticed is that some guys that have years of lessons and schooling don't always have a lot of flavor in their style, vs. guys that are more self taught that drilled themselves and have a great style even if they don't always have the technical background.

[@Santaheckler]

No matter what, it’s important to keep the passion in your life, especially music, alive. It’s not easy sometimes. I suggest using techniques/lessons to keep it alive. If it’s killing the passion, then consider stopping for a bit (or forever if that’s how it turns out). It doesn’t take much technique to be a good pocket drummer and to enjoy drumming for life.