You get to practice more often than I do! Family, job, location...this is a life long hobby that gives awesome release when practice does happen. Check out Mikeslessons.com, there are free lessons, and some on YouTube.

I know this was said before but I will say it again, find some other musicians to just get together and jam with! It's all about having fun at this stage of your life, right?

If your just practicing rudiments on the snare, play on a pillow instead, when your watching tv or something, and turn those 5 minute bursts into 20!

You can always take an hour lesson once a month, then you have the whole month to get down what you were taught. I am sure you can find someone where you are that will do random lessons.

Don't give up!

Lucky,

Ive heard practicing on a pillow before. One thing I have noticed is the how different each drum "feels" with the stick. I can play the double strokes much easier on the snare than the toms so a pillow would be harder yet. But I will try it. P.S. I wont give up.

Ric, I have watched Mike and I do like his videos. Just wondering if anyone has found a site that they have used and liked.

Jeff C

Absolutely don't give up! There are plenty of online sources and YouTube videos available to help. I like the idea of a lesson per month a lot. If that is too cost prohibitive then just get a single lesson every now and then. I was on the road in Jackson, MS years ago and ran into George Lawrence playing in a club band. I spoke with him on a break and arranged a lesson for the following day. Learned enough from that master to keep me busy for months. Best one hour lesson I ever had. Very inspiring. Keep at it friend!!

Do not quit, you will miss it get a set of headphones and some cds of YOUR favorite music songs you like , take those 5 mins you spend doing rudiments and learn songs and play along with them it is the joy in the song that gets you going after you learn that one learn more you will teach yourself.... flashback 1963 i taught myself how to play with one beat and a 45 rpm record player once i had that one beat there was no stopping me... music is the key

Jeff,

IMO, Mike T's advice is best: I couldn't have said it any better. I had the priviledge of having Mitch Markovitch as my instructor for one year in college... but honestly for my style of playing, playing along with the music I enjoyed is actually what got me started and always kept me going! Shoot, I drove my dad nuts playing the 45s and 33s constantly and playing along with the Folgers Coffee cans! That graduated to a Beverley SD and small crash/ride cymbal and then to my first set! But the 45s and 33s kept spinning all along...

Please be encouraged to keep it up!

Bill

Don't know your family make up... but I had a lot of fun playing along with my son when he was taking Sax lessons as a kid... and now that he is grown up we are building a little home studio so he can record some guitar stuff... so I know that will yield some fun playing time.

Neither of us is any good... but it still makes it really fun and motivational.

Jeff,

I nearly gave up when I was unceremoniously jettisoned from my last working band. But rather than let it get me down, I dove head first into playing. I made certain to learn dynamics, and most importantly how to groove. Rudiments are important, don't get me wrong, but groove is probably 1 zillion times more important than rudiments. To me, learning the application of triplets around the kit is the most importance if playing in a rock band. Jazz is something I can't help on.

Everyone's advice to join with other musicians is spot on. I think you'd feel a LOT better about playing if you play with other musicians.

Keep playing.

Kepp it as a hobby like most drummers out there and work the art of drumming at your own pace thers is no time limit to be the best that you! can be . Enjoy what you are doing and don't make your self sick if you can meet what ever standards you think you should be at , Then you will see your self grow as a drummer. D' Drummer