How do you rate yourself?

Hello All-

I was just wondering how it is that you judge your own performance. What things make a great performance and what things make for a lousy performance?

I have had times where I became very critical of myself for missing a few notes on a fill and thought that the whole performance sucked. At the end of the day, what is important for you?

At present, I give myself an A if all the tunes are started at the right tempo, I get approving nods from the fellow band mates, and the songs are played as practiced. The energy has to be there and the musical arrangements have to be there as well. I give myself an A+ if I got adventurous with a fill and nailed it.

Give me some perspective.

Take Care All. F.S.

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At present, I give myself an A if all the tunes are started at the right tempo, I get approving nods from the fellow band mates

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">what the hell does this mean and who would come on here giving themselves A's and A+'s??

A few points:

1) playing music/being a drummer ISN'T about being the best. It's NOT a competition and playing music shouldn't be graded, it's totally subjective and the reason why I refuse to take my students through grades. That's not living in the real world and you won't get hired on an ability to go round the kit using double paradiddles.

2) What the hell is this post meant to initiate Frank? Do you want us to reply, giving ourselves marks out of 10 or grades????

3) Let me get this right: So if you're an A and an A+, I'm intrigued to know where that puts Vinnie, Virgil, Porcaro et al.... off the bloody planet! Unless of course, that means you regard yourself on a par with them?

4) A little humility goes a LONG way.

......come on now Frank - you know better than that. [img]graemlins/sure.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 07, 2005 05:45 AM: Message edited by: Dazzler ]</font>

I rate myself, KING! It's good to be King!
Hiphip!

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what the hell does this mean and who would come on here giving themselves A's and A+'s??

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Come on Dazz, get to the point!

I think you are taking his thoughts out of context. He might have thought a little more before making the thread, but I understand what he's getting at. He's not comparing himself to Jeff or Virgil, but to himself.

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I was just wondering how it is that you judge your own performance. What things make a great performance and what things make for a lousy performance?

I have had times where I became very critical of myself for missing a few notes on a fill and thought that the whole performance sucked. At the end of the day, what is important for you?

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">These are legitimate concerns. They might be more reflective of the man, than the drummer, but haven't we all reflected in similar ways in our musical journey?

Are you one of those drummers that plays a fill and then immediately looks at the rest of the band for approval afterwards(or to see if they noticed that you screwed up)? I see young drummers do that all the time. I never see guitarists, bassists, or keyboardists do that.

yeah Dazz I think you missed it.

He's asking what are your own internal criteria for evaluating your own performance; not against others but against whatever your own standard is for performance.

Everyone has had "bad" and "good" nights, what do you consider the difference?

I would say that lately I suck most of the time. Living in an apartment for the last 5 years has made it impossible to practice regularly unless I want to rent a room and haul my kit there to wail for an hour.

I think the most honest and productive way to evaluate one's own playing is to record the performance and listen to it a few days later. (Not on the way home from the gig or even the next day). You have to forget it a little while, then come back and listen to it fresh and unaffected emotionally.

It IS important to get feedback from other musicians and the audience to know that your music is reaching them- but the most important judge should be yourself.

I would say that as drummers, since our job is rhythm, if we can get other musicans and/or the audience to move, groove, dance, nod/bob, tap, etc.-...that's a very good thing. Do more of that!

Nothing better than looking out into the audience and seeing everyone dancing to YOUR groove... [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 07, 2005 10:04 AM: Message edited by: cjbdrm ]</font>

back to me...

I would say that I suck most of the time, too...

The only time I ever "pat myself on the back" is when I get thrown into a sub situation with no prior rehearsal or clue about the music, and then satisfy myself and the bandleader(and the audience).

Now that I think about it- I've been sucking ever since I went to North Texas...

Don't underestimate the value of a humbling experience!!!!!

I tend to agree w Pocket & Derek's interp here. Dazz, you spoilsport! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

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I think the most honest and productive way to evaluate one's own playing is to record the performance and listen to it a few days later. (Not on the way home from the gig or even the next day). You have to forget it a little while, then come back and listen to it fresh and unaffected emotionally.

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dude, that is great advice. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img]

But listening the very next day is often okayed by the Wecken - er, Warden... [img]wink.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 07, 2005 11:16 AM: Message edited by: got_a_matchgrip? ]</font>