How do you stay inspired?

[Suspiria]

I am writing this at a very frustrating time in my times as a drummer. For the past 6 months my university studies have kept me from practicing regularly. I rent a studio for two hours every week and shred on my practice pad every minute I get. Its now been nearly 8 months since my last serious commitment to a band. You can probably guess whats next: I have no motivation. There is nothing that makes me feel as though I should improve, besides myself. You can imagine that this is really annoying. I got so angry with myself while practicing today. I still have all of my love for music and this messageboard but do not have the drive to learn new things on the drum set.
I want to get back the desire to spend hours on end on my set. Even if I don't have the free time to do this, I really need to rekindle the fire. I feel empty and don't want to give up something I have enjoyed so much for the past 8 or 9 years.

So now I turn to you guys. What do you guys do to remain inspired? Listen to good music? Is playing in a band the key? I need some serious help. My drum instructor would usually keep me on track, but having moved to Montreal I no longer have this luxury.
Any advice is appreciated.

[Groovissimo]

Suspiria,

I understand in what situation you are in, I had the same problem for a long time.

After practicing alone in a studio, the thing that is lacking is playing with musicians. It doesn't have to be with many, even a bass player will do. In your situation, where you are in another town, studying something else, and not music, I would spread the word at the University that you are looking for musicians to practice with. If you are at McGill, attend some of the Campus concerts at the club they have next to the Music faculty.

You will meet with more music oriented people than elsewhere on the Campus. Once you meet with a couple of musicians, and if the music style fits, who knows what can happen. You can even post an ad on the Campus bulletin board asking for musicians that would want to jam in the style of music you love. Who knows !

Good luck in finding these musicians, who, in most part, are in the same situation as you are.

[Lee Collins]

I agree with Groovissimo. But if you can't find time to play with other musicians AND take 2 hours out to practise in a studio, perhaps you could kill the studio sessions for a while. It's apparent you need to just play with others which will definitely inspire you as long as they're halfway decent players.

[ntbCreative]

Suspiria....
I sugest the same thing as Groovisimo....find some people to practice with or put together a band to do some gigs in town...
if not...
What works for me is...I dont really practice any licks or chops anymore...i have enough as it is...I just try to lift a style or genre that im not so familliar with or just get reaquainted with...or just play it better.
For instance...
I will take an artist and pick an album which inspires me and try to lift it note for note...i mean like get into the headspace...and i dont mean lifting Vinnie on Alan Holdsworth - "Secrets"........lol
I went from giggin 3-5 nights a week in toronto and then to 1 or 2 or nothin at all...so i was stuck untill i was gigging full time again.
I ended up lifting note for note the..Bob Marley - "Legend" album..I ripped it apart..every nuance and feel...no matter how simple it was, I did it with SDteely Dan - "A Decade of.."...now im doin the same with some Toto stuff.
I hope that helps you as it helped me...next im gonna lift some Zeppelin albums too...It never stops...
Good luck...

[Suspiria]

Thanks for the advice Groovissimo. I was thinking along the same lines. Not playing with other musicians has really sucked all the motivation out of me. This is something I will look into, once back in Montreal.
Regarding the issue of practicing, do you guys think my motivation will instantly return once I have a goal again? i.e. To be at my highest possible level of playing when practicing and performing with a band?

[Suspiria]

Originally posted by ntbCreative:

What works for me is...I just try to lift a style or genre that im not so familliar with or just get reaquainted with...or just play it better.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That sounds great too. There's nothing like polishing up one's versatility with different styles, although this is an area that I have spent a lot of time with in the past. Great idea!

[Lee Collins]

Originally posted by Suspiria:

do you guys think my motivation will instantly return once I have a goal again? i.e. To be at my highest possible level of playing when practicing and performing with a band?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Definitely man. How many times have you been to a gig and seen an awesome drummer that has got you all excited and inspired you to go woodshed for days? Same with playing. You know when you hit it off with others and the music uplifts you so much that you're really inspired to practise to delve even deeper into your abilities. Also those times when you play something spontaneous during a tune you didn't know you could do. You're like 'woa, that was cool! Wtf did I just play there? I gotta go and practise and see if I can come up with that again!' Even if playing with others makes you realise you're not at the level you thought you were, that's also inspiration. And that's all it takes. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[matricks]

Maybe try picking a drummer who just totally does it for you. I mean, maybe stay away from Vinnie-type players... go for more subtle players. Right now i am killing myself on the Matt Chamberlain stuff. God, he is SOOOO hip... i have been just getting way deep into his stuff, and i am REALLY inspired. It is great when you find someone who is hip and not everyone is talking about. Try finding someone who you can really dig deep into, and it is extra cool if they are someone whom not everyone is copping.

Something else that just popped into my head. Ever pick up a bass? I have a boring job and sometimes i bring a bass in just to noodle on. Hey, it ain't the drums but it IS music. It would give you a whole different dimension to your playing, and you could practice whenever you wanted! Weckl can hold it down on bass, so i have heard. When i had to compose for my theory classes, i was so pissed that i would have to be practicing piano instead of drums... i thought of it as a total waste of time. Why would i want to spend three hours on the piano when i could be working on my 17 over 3's? However, man, i would be SOOOOOO inspired to get on the drums after that time, and i would be in a totally different musical-mindset.

I see nothing wrong with thinking about that. Your technical chops may not get a workout, but your musical ones will! I would look at this as an opportunity to really do something different with your music. You are away from home, so you will have to realize that you will be settling for second-rate practice routines (as you aren't where you can really set up a routine where you have a set that you can practice on whenever). HOWEVER! -That doesn't mean that this time won't be MORE productive that your time would be if you had your ideal practice situation. It will force you to really find ways to get in 'between the cracks' and find ways to improve when not everything is ideal. I spent one year away from my set and it drove me crazy! However, i was on the pad everyday, and when i finally came home and had my set again... never looked back! It was all downhill from there.

So really, use this as an opportunity to say, "Hey, i am not with my set so now i can work on everything that i may not work on when i have my set readily available". If you were at home, how often would you actually LISTEN to music and get under the surface without jumping on the set after only 5 minutes of listening? How often can you pick up another instrument and not then hop onto the set 10 min later? It is an opportunity... think of everything that could expand your playing that doesn't involve being at a set of drums, NOW DO THOSE THINGS! It is a blessing, not a curse! [img]wink.gif[/img]

Best of luck!

[Frank Sanchez]

Suspiria,

Take advantage of the opportunity. Aside from the various things that can be done, ie. get into a new artist, get a new drum DVD, go see a concert, etc., let's take a moment and consider that your mind just needs a break. I was in a similar place a few years ago when I literally left drums altogether. I took the time to learn to play chess, read, take up and learn the guitar. This last thing was really good for me musically, as it really gave me a better perspective on the importance of groove, time and pulse. I realize now that I was completely burned out on playing the drums and I needed to just get away from it. As time went by, I noticed new things about the drums that began to pique my interest. Soon, I was back at with total renewed passion.

Now, that being said, I did keep my foot in the door. During that 3 year period, I would take a gig or play for just a little bit, but when nothing sparked in me, I just walked from it, not wanting to do it unless it was truly pushing me, and not me pushing it. I don't know if this makes sense, but I know that getting away, and looking at the situation as an opportunity really led to a renaissance period that I am currently experiencing.

In any event, good luck with what you decide to do.

Take Care. F.S.

[matricks]

Another thing it will do, being away from the drums, is show you the importance of groove. The farther you step away, the less you want to be like Virgil and the more you wanna be like Jeff. When you are totally wrapped up in practicing everyday, shedding like a mad-man, you can get into that single-minded attitude of, "gotta have chops, gotta have chops"... sure, we all gotta have chops, but it makes you re-evaluate what type of drummer you want to be. You begin to see different things than you have seen before because you get that 20/20 hindsight thing going on.

It is a good thing, embrace it [img]wink.gif[/img]