So true - but, I can only become better 'within my species' so to speak. What I'm saying is that in order for me to play like this young lady I'd have to have that natural talent.

For example:

I'm a runner....I did intervals year ago to build up my speed. I did get faster but the fastest mile I ever ran was 5.26 and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven doing so. Whereas....one of my running mates could peal off 4.15's in the middle of a 10 mile run! He had the build and natural ability. But even he could not break 4 minutes. My analogy here is you can practice and get better but - I would never be able to play like Buddy Rich or maybe even this young player here - and I'm okay with that.

I doubt if I'll ever have those chops either. I'm impressed with her natural talent as well. Not really my kind of thing though. I hear the same thing with guitar players. There was a time in the 80's and 90's especially when there would be the next most insanely fast and complicated player on the scene. It was like the Olympics of guitar playing but without much soul. I just wanted to hear tasteful playing and great tone. I feel the same about drumming. I like subtlety and expressiveness. She's off to a fantastic start and as she matures she can only get better. Children with insane chops are impressive but I'll always prefer to listen to a grown-up with some emotion and maturity behind the notes.

Steve

This thread took me back years ago...natural talent!

I always had a special relationship with my band director in high school...always giving me extra advice and giving me his "connections" to further my career. The college I decided upon was 9 miles from my hometown, and fantastic for music and fine arts. I spoke with my old band director from high school, and asked if I could help out on Wednesdays and Fridays in the mornings, as my classes started after noon. What a BLAST....new junior high students with eagerness for MUSIC! I remember a 12 year old boy that I met with one on one as he wanted to learn percussion....after speaking for 15 minutes, I decided to put a snare in front of him. Showed him the traditional grip, and asked him to follow what I did. This boy was so focused on my hands as I remember. I was doing advanced rudiments within 30 min, and this boy was doing them! Not as fast, but I remember thinking to myself...this kid HAS IT! What a natural. The best thing a teacher can hope for, is someone to teach that will someday blow way past them, and achieve more than them. I was thinking the same! To my disappointment (and this was more than 30 years ago), he never showed up again. My high school band director said that he lost interest and wanted to try something else. I always have wondered if I was too aggressive with my reaction and went into a different form of excitement with him...or he thought I was too demanding? Lord I hope not, but I have always wondered. I hope he picked it back up after thinking about it, and received lessons from someone else.

Hope I didn't bore anyone...LOL

Nevin

Great story Nevin!

John

Great story Nevin. I've had 3 different students that quit even though they did very well. They also did very well in sports. It came down to their parents telling them they had to choose between sports or music and they chose sports. What'cha gonna do in a case like that?

Thanks guys!

The only student in my years that impressed me so much in less than an hour. Was very polite, and actually LISTENED! And I was 12 once, as well as my son, and I only started listening when I was 13.....haha

Nevin

I was very lucky to have parents that supported anything I did, so I was blessed. I played every sport I could! I wrestled in High School (among all other sports) and recall a time when I was over weight by 2 lbs for the match the next day....I put on my sweats, and sat behind my kit for close to two hours....was 1 lb under by morning!

Another cool story! My youngest son started wrestling in the 4th grade. He wrestled all the way through college. He was never interested in music at all.

I've wrestled all the way through my life!! Hurting