Anyone who knows me knows that I am a rudimental drummer. Although I can play most percussion instruments quite proficiently and can play piano, trumpet and guitar, my real talent and skill lies in marching percussion. However marching percussion is quite niche and I am often pulled in different directions by my students. Which is great! I currently have 3 students who exclusively play drum set, 4 who play piano and 2 that are solely working on composing.
Before I started CRASH and became a full time musician and teacher, I didn’t play piano or drumset too often. But now I am playing multiple times a week. It has rekindled my love for drumset and brought on a whole new love for piano. It’s amazing how much better I have gotten at both in the past 8 months simply because I am writing lesson material and thinking more critically about my own playing. It’s almost like all the advice I give my students, about just ‘picking up your sticks and playing’ for 10 minutes a day will make you better, is working on me as well. Who would have thought!
I have found myself setting goals on both instruments and every time I pass the piano, I sit and play. Every time my roommates go on a walk, I go down and play the drums. It’s become that simple, but the added exposure to these instruments has helped me improve so much in a short time. Leave your instrument out of its case and don’t be afraid to aimlessly play for 10 minutes. It will make a huge difference! And thank you to my students who push me to teach them new and exciting things. It makes me a better musician.
Hilary