Orlando Drummer

Hey, I'm not even sure if I can create a new thread here but anyhow...here it goes!

I'm Justin. I've been playing drums for around 18 years. Mostly self taught. And of that 18 years...LOL there is a lot of that time where I wasn't progressing in any way. I actually probably got worse far more often than I got better. A little more background:

In 2015 I realized I wasn't very good at drums. I couldn't keep time, I couldn't play rudiments, and I honestly didn't know a quarter note from a 16th note triplet. Yeah, it was that bad. I, in those years of barely playing, did manage to develop some good technique but mostly bad ones. I found Drumeo in early 2015 and have been using a combination of that and youtube to try to get better. I have made improvements and I have gotten better but I'm still stuck. I can't seem to get passed where I am and break through to the next level. I love Drumeo. I love that community. But the more accountability I take then the more likely I am to follow through and actually get somewhere with this.

Adam, if you see this, ever since I've been on this journey of getting better, I have been blow away by your playing, your humble attitude, your wisdom and your general approach to life. You're an awesome dude and an awesome drummer. I don't know why it took so long for me to subscribe here but now that I did it, I'm ready to dive in and learn as much as I can from you!

Thanks,

Justin.

Hey Justin!

First of all, thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad to have you hear, and I thank you for this detailed background and humility. I know it's not easy to type out how NOT good we are to people on the internet, but that kind of honesty is exactly what leads to the biggest improvements and growth as a musician.

Drumeo is an awesome platform with a ridiculous amount of content. However, one difference that you'll find here is that my content is a bit more "specialized." This is more of a boutique platform, with very specific content that adheres to how I perceive the drums. Drumeo is more of a shopping mall, in that they offer insights and perspectives from hundreds of different drummers. Some will resonate strongly with you, and others may not.

If you're feeling like my teaching/lessons are hitting the spot, I'm excited you've taken the dive here! It's an overwhelming amount of content at times, but the Learning Paths thread in the forums is a great place to start. Of course if there are any specific skill sets that you're looking to work on, feel free to let me know here and I'll gladly make some more specific recommendations!

You can also link to any videos you have of yourself playing, which can help me get an idea of where you are.

Happy to have you here Justin! All the best my friend!

Man thanks for the reply!

I could ramble on forever about my playing and my downfalls LOL, there are plenty. But I'll spare ya.

You are spot on with Drumeo. It is awesome, the community is awesome but there is SO much information it's hard to really figure out how to use it in a way that actually stacks progression if that makes sense. I can find any technique or groove I want but like you said, it's a shopping mall. What we get with your site, your teaching style, your masterclasses is...well YOU.

I am sorry this might get long, you don't have to reply but I am just putting this out there for everyone to see. You did a play along tune called Smooth Stockholm. When I first got to Drumeo years back, I played to it like every day for months. Of course, I was just playing to it and not actually working on it or practicing to it. When I play anything, anything at all, I don't learn what others have done to it, I just play what I want and that has been detrimental. Not only with Smooth Stockholm but with everything in and out of drumming. Its something I know about myself and I can't ever seem to change that so that's what I'm doing now. And it started with Smooth Stockholm. Drumeo does collabs and Smooth Stockholm is January's. I loaded it up and watched your version again and for the first time in a long time, and I decided that I am actually going to try to learn your parts. So that was early December, 3 weeks ago. And LOL here I am. Realizing that, even as a long time fan, in order to play things you wrote and to play with a hint of the passion you play with, then I have to actually LEARN FROM YOU.

I plan on recording a few takes of Smooth Stockholm this week/weekend. I'll definitely share so you can see where I am. Things I really know I need to work on, but I'm not quite sure how are Timing. Fluidity. Dynamic control. I equate my drumming to a car with square tires. Give it a road, a start point and an end point...it'll get there. It's gonna look and sound goofy as hell while it does it though. That's my drumming in a nutshell.

I am absolutely going to start the learning paths you suggested in the other thread. I actually can't wait to have that structure. I need it. I know I'm on my 7 day trial or whatever but Adam, I have to warn you...I am here to stay for a good little bit LOL. I honestly can't wait to dive in and make myself better. I know I'll never be great. That ship has sailed. It's too late for me to be anything more than a local rock show, or cover band bar drummer but hey, it is what it is. It doesn't mean I have to settle...(don't let my wife see that LOL, don't want her knowing she can do better hahah.)

So I thought it over and until I get Stockholm recorded I'll share this. It's a Christmas collab for Drumeo I did like 3 weeks ago. I don't know why I'm so apprehensive about sharing this with you. I share it there but...I actually do know why I am so apprehensive and it's because I am actually seeking your critique and that scares the S-word out of me. Not "sword"...I don't have any swords in me or I'd have a whole 'nother can of worms to deal with. And I hate worms.

Anyhow, here it is. It's just for fun and there are no real parts or anything I'm working on. Just playing. But that's where I want to shine...when I play.

Ok, I won't talk anymore.