HELP! STUCK IN A RUT AND CAN'T GET OUT.

[aNdThEBeAtGoEsOn]

I've been playing for about 4 years. I play at mt church and I absolutely LOVE playing the drums. I play everyday, all day, as long as possible. But lately I've been getting to where I feel stuck. I cannot find anything new to play and I don't feel like I am getting better. Over the past four years (and I know it is not long to play) I have learned ALOT. I can play double bass and all of that I just feel like I have no more to learn even though I know i do. Does anyone know what I am saying? What can I do to get better and what are so good, challenging songs I can play to?

Thanks!

[phat33]

I know what you mean because that feeling use to have me.  That's when I get in the word, and read alot of the psalms... They help alot seeing as though David was a Great Musician......Listen to everything, get a foundation and build around it.  I know you know what pocket is, just master that because four years is not long at all.  Don't get discouraged, play as much as possible, and pray that God gives you the ability to enhance your talent and make you what he would have you to be.....

[Funkaddictus_Groovus]

Ways to get Unstuck
1.find a good private teacher.if you never had lessons before this is a good time to do it.
2.Study interesting books.like,you know linear style is a very interesting concept with endless possibilities.Gary chaffee has two GREAT books on the subject(he teached vinnie colaiuta and steve smith among others).or,like independence stuff like new breed or marco minneman's book(this one's kind of advanced).of course if follow step one mentioned above,you'll have some help regarding your abilities and your weaknesses and you 'll be adressed as to what you need to work on...
3.This happens sometimes to me.i'll go into the practice room without a planned practice schedule and i end up playing what i allready have mastered.Evaluate your pros and cons(be harsh!)and practice what you really not good at.
4.I do this thing i call play-a-long project.i pick a record that i like and decide to work on learning it.depending on the difficulty level of the record i set my deadline(e.g. two weeks).it's important to have a deadline.just make beleive that you have an upcoming audition for the artist in question.listen to the cd as much as possible(thats why it has to be something you really like).if you need to chart out things do so.i usually dont.hopefully you read music. if you dont...
5....learn how to read music.it'll open a whole new world for you.
 most important
6.FORM YOUR OWN BAND!
the purpose of music is to be shared.and although its great that you play in church,there is something trully inspirational about 4 friends that share the same passion for music and the same spirit for life getting together and creating their own thing,you know?as to what it does for your drumming you'll discover that its not what you know,its what you do with it and how you do it.although, if you play with really strong players you'll find yourself running to the woodshed every day to catch up wit 'em.

Best of luck,and stay positive,humble and have your ears wide open.

[aNdThEBeAtGoEsOn]

Thanks for all of the information.

No, I haven't really had lessons. My uncle is a professional drummer and he taught me alot and from there I picked up the rest. I've actually played logger than 4 years. It took me about a year and half after I started playing to get a drum set of my own.

It seems like when I pick and CD to play I always pick something way to hard and get discouraged...Like a TOTO album. If I pick something too east I get bored...I told you I had some problems here!

Another thing is coming up with different fills on my own. I can mimic almost anything another drummer does if I see it and hear it...but as far as making up my own I am lost. I mean I do have a couple of fills I made up on my own but nothing big. I usually always take fills from cds and incorporate them in the music at church.

And, I can read a little music...Just enough to get me through!

Thanks!

anyone else?

[Funkaddictus_Groovus]

Well its good if you can pick a cd thats not too hard and not too easy you know?another thing about the play-a-long project that to me is very important.when i learn the song i'll record my self playin it.i give myself three takes,like i'm in a studio situation.later(after 2 days,maybe) i evaluate these performances and keep the best in my pc.or if i didnt cut it i'll continue workin on it.then maybe after one or two months i take another shot at it.i go home and i compare it with the older takes.this gives me a chance to see how my playin has progressed in that period...if the older takes are better in terms of groove,feel and execution then i have a problem,you know?its a really fun and valuable learning tool for me.
since you listen to secular music here is some cd's i find enjoyable inspiring and challenging.let alone the fact that they feature great drumming
steely dan- aja
steely dan -gaucho
brecker brothers- out of the loop
me shell ndegeocello-peace beyond passion
angie stone-mahogany soul
mint condition-life's aquarium
usher-live
my next one is going to be tonex's out the box.man,that'll be fun and certainly challenging.

p.s. a word about fills
you got to have your ears open.the great drums like porcaro played their fills based of course in their drum vocabulary but most important to what their ears told 'em.in other words they listen to what's goin on around them.when you listen to a fill listen to what is going on before,during and after it.and i mean listen to the other instruments not the drums.then ask yourself why the drummer plays that fill?what the fill means to the music?
you have to realize that the fill is just another moment in time its not separate you know what i'm sayin?same thing goes for when you perform.listen to everybody BUT yourself.thats the key to grooving AND playin tasty fills.
the great billy ward says:"teach your ears to really listen and then teach your hands to obay your ears"thats the way it should be.not the other  way around.its the worst thing when a drummer plays a (usually) impressive and difficult fill that just doesnt fit the music,just to play it...

[2eachhisown]

Work on playing music. Playing music goes beyond technical ability. There are musicians out there who know everything there is to know theoretically about music. People who say you can not know everything about music, are lying. Because theoretically, you can. In application, you can not. At a given point in your life, you have to move beyond the physical and it has to become an emotional thing. Rudiments and fast feet do not mean crap for real. I have experience as an MD(keyboards) and I tour as a drummer at the professional level. As an MD, I can not stand a drummer who does not play musically. And brother, nobody plays for free with me. I get people paid. If you can not play music, and flow, I will not call you. Chops mean nothing. Music means everything. Speed and rudiments mean nothing, but music is everything.

What I am trying to say is that, rudiments and fast feet are only tools to help you MAKE MUSIC. Music is an art. Music is to the ears, what a painting is to the eyes. It is supposed to heighten emotional awarness. Good or bad.
 
You are not stuck, you simply have to change your approach to music now. You have to make that connection between your heart and what you want to say without using words. I will guarantee you, if you change your approach to music, so many of the drummers you probably listen to will change. Most people who have the ability to play an instrument, do not know how to MAKE MUSIC. I am sorry to say this, but that is actually true of most (pop, r&b, and gospel players). Most musicians play to get attention or to simply get money. I have money gigs, but there are some gigs that I WILL Pay to be a part of because musically it takes me somewhere else.

Listen to Dave Weckl today, as opposed to 10 years ago when he was just a drummer with freakish ability. Now he makes music. Check out Terry Bozzio and his ostinato drumming. He does not play rhythms, but melodies.

In fact, on a simple level, change the way your drums are set up. That will make you change even a little.

[grooveregulator]

Try and get out and watch live concerts or some event to watch other drummers play live, the'll give you some new ideas and inspiration that will spark you ideas about playing.

[drummerboyy01]

Man.......I needed to hear all of this too!I can't wait to hop on the set now!

[Funkaddictus_Groovus]

2each,you spoke the truth man....how can i get an audition from you??? :lol:  :wink:

[BIGGNUTT]

I've been playing for about 4 years. I play at mt church and I absolutely LOVE playing the drums. I play everyday, all day, as long as possible. But lately I've been getting to where I feel stuck. I cannot find anything new to play and I don't feel like I am getting better. Over the past four years (and I know it is not long to play) I have learned ALOT. I can play double bass and all of that I just feel like I have no more to learn even though I know i do. Does anyone know what I am saying? What can I do to get better and what are so good, challenging songs I can play to?

Thanks!

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN AND TRUST ME I 'VE BEEN PLAYING FOR YEARS AND PEOPLE ALWAYS TELL ME THAT I AM REAL GOOD BUT TO ME I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO BETTER BUT I HAVE TO TRUST GOD AND LEAN NOT TO MY OWN UNDERSTANDING  "HEY, GLORY", EXCUSE ME THERE I GOT CARRIED AWAY FOR A SECOND. BUT HANG IN THERE MAN BECAUSE YOUR GIFTS SHALL MAKE ROOM FOR YOU, BELIEVE THAT.GET SOME DAVE WECKEL DENNIS CHAMBERS AND START LISTENING TO THE YELLOWJACKETS. AINT NOTHING WRONG WITH A LITTLE CHALLENGE.PEACE OUT!!! PROVERBS 3:5,6

[aNdThEBeAtGoEsOn]

Thanks for all of the comments! I am going to try everything that you guys said. I especially like the one where you record yourself playing and see how much better you get. I definently will try that one. I can't wait to play now!

Funkaddictus_Groovus,

All of the CD's you told me to play along to I have never heard of! I guess it's always good to listen to new things!

2eachhisown,

You sound like a teacher (a good one)! I will definently try and approach music differently. I hope it makes a difference because I really love to play music. I never have been payed to play (although I have been offered). Thats how much I love just playing. Anymore ideas?

I'll take any more suggestions!