FunkyChild
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 25 2006
Posts: 103
Loc: Ft. Worth, Texas, U.S.A.
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i'm 20 years old and i've been playing drums for 7 yrs. i have lived in ft worth for a year and i've been searching relentlessly for a funk/r&b or latin band. the only bands i've been in are bar scene country bands, and the crowds are always too drunk to give you any real feedback. i'll give you a little backround on myself, i spent my sophmore to senior year at a boarding school, and the isolation really put a damper on my maturity, i've had a job for 6 months at a hotel, and that's really helped me to be more outgoing, and i'm working on supporting myself financially. blah blah blah, anyways i feel lost and unmotivated and my playing has taken a slump, i don't want to quit playing music, i want to challenge and push myself in order to stay motivated, but all i can find are these bland country bands. i'm not satisfied playing a 3/4 waltz at a snail's pace. i'm heavy into tower of power and steely dan, tito puente, mana, and santana's early stuff, dafnis prieto, spyro gyra and a lot more. ethnic music and jazz are things i want to elaborate upon, and there's just nobody here to help me with that. the few jazz cats here are too busy bringing up the jazz scene here, cause i've tried getting a hold of them-and it's a bitch. anybody have advice for a young guy trying to define his style and stay motivated, how'd you do it bill, dan and the rest of the crew here?
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Neil_Gray
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 15 2004
Posts: 548
Loc: Canada
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My biggest advice would be to move. If you can't find anyone playing your style of music where you are get out of there. Pull a Myles Davis. Pick somewhere you think has a good scene for the music you want and then find a music school there that you can attend. You'll learn all about that jazz you've been itchin' to know, and you'll definitley find players there looking to play funk. Plus, you'll be in a pool of musicians all the time that will be better than you so you'll have to blaze.
Most musicians that I've met that haven't gotten where they wanted to only failed because they were to scared to leave their comfort and familiarity behind and jump in the pool.
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Its all about the notes you don't play.
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compa
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Aug 26 2004
Posts: 368
Loc: Southern Sweden
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Definetly have to move :=)
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I'm loosing the grip..
/compa
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Rusty1
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Apr 23 2007
Posts: 101
Loc: Victoria, Australia
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Ya know, moving sounds tempting and may solve some issues. Hey you might stike gold and get rich too! We all might. BUT there are no guarantees. I'm not saying don't move, I'm just saying don't move from the home you love if you can still accomplish what you dream of where you are. There will be plenty of advice to go chase your dream outa-town, just make sure your eyes are wide open if you do it.
What motivates any of us to grow and stretch ourselves? Surely it's going after what really interests us. I like music that not many of my friends dig but I've discovered some guys who do. It can take time and patience to make it happen. It might be a case of digging deeper and persevering for a while longer.
You said yourself that your maturity is a bit delayed, so now is the perfect time to deepen some discipline and patience. If you have the interests in the music you do, then hone those skills further, plus if your particular musical interests are that strong, you may find that unless your skills come up, others may not raise their own interest to you. You did say your playing has slumped. I just thing you're still young enough to be patient with yourself, dig deeper, follow your musical interests and stay on the lookout for others who are similar. Many guys of your age are fairly narrow in their tastes and it's great that you have a broader than average taste bud for styles.
Don't be discouraged. I wish I exercised more discipline at your age. I'm doing it now!
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When in doubt, Keep Time!
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777Drum
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 08 2006
Posts: 900
Loc: TX
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You're very close to North Texas State. If you want to get motivated start going to some of their free jazz performances. Also, FW and Dallas area is NOT all just country. Go see Ed Soph play at a club. I live in Houston and there are lots of places to hear music of many styles. I'm not buying it's all country in FW/Dallas area. You need to do so homework and go out and hear different groups and make contacts.
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" I am not a Number! I am a Free Man!
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LambChops
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Aug 28 2005
Posts: 1528
Loc: CA
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That's a shame. I think moving could be an option. If this is what you want to persue, then I would consider it. It would also help with the other things you were talking about. You could find a roomate at a busier city were more people are playing. I would take the chance!!!
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It's about expression, not impression
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roger strange
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Dec 09 2003
Posts: 1487
Loc: Nova Scotia Canada
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They are right as far as the Music is concerned. Pull a slip and migrate to the right scene. However, you could find like-minded cats I'm sure. Form your own outfit doing the Music you like. Craft it really well and run it as a show. However, if it was I, I'd slip faster than you can say roll.
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TigerBill
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Mar 11 2002
Posts: 1621
Loc: NJ
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When I was growing up in the business there were many more opportunites for musical growth than you have today. I grew up playing wedding gigs and other club dates from the age of 13 which exposed me to all kinds of musical styles from jazz to rock to latin. In addition to that, I cut my reading chops by playing with everything from small groups to big bands in the big hotels in the Catskills and Pocono Mountains. Playing for a different act 6 nights a week from comedians to singers who all brought in their own charts tends to give you lots of experience very quickly!
Drummers coming up today, thanks to the rise of the DJ, have been pretty much robbed of this type of experience. (When is the last time you saw a live band at a wedding?)
So, in order to get the experience you need and play the type of music you want to play, you need to go actively looking for like-minded musicians to jam with. Jamming is the first step - go to local open mic's, local colleges, etc.
Once you find musicians you like to jam with, get their numbers so that you can get together and jam with them regularly. Eventually, you will find the type of guys that you like to work with from a musical standpoint and also from a personality standpoint, which is often just as important as how they play!
Regardless of where you live - unless it's totally in the middle of nowhere - you should be able to find some like minded players that you can form a band with.
If, after all attempts have failed in your home area, then I would consider making a move. But to do this you need to know what type of drumming you are interested in - studio work, live performance, et, because that will decide where in the country you should move to. Then, test it out by taking up temporary residence in the area of your choice. The only way you'll know for sure it to test the waters.
At 20 you are young enough and I assume have no family of your own to worry about yet, so this is definitely the time to do it!
The music business is a tough one to make a living in but it can be done! If you truly love it (and don't even get involved in it full-time if you don't), then you will be successful. The only difference between succeeding and failing in music or anything else in life is persistence.
Those who succeed are simply those who just won't quit!
Best of Luck and keep us posted! 
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Tiger Bill Meligari
Tension Free Drumming
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Ratamatatt
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Jul 02 2003
Posts: 2231
Loc: Arrakis
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Quote:
* * *
The only difference between succeeding and failing in music or anything else in life is persistence.
Those who succeed are simply those who just won't quit!
Best of Luck and keep us posted!
Timeless and universal wisdom! 
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