Learning from failure

If you’re just starting to learn how to play the drums, or if you’ve been playing for years, chances are...you’re going to have moments where you think you’ve “failed” at playing a specific beat or pattern. I think we can all relate to that urge to throw our sticks across the room and give up. But, if we change our mindset, we’re able to accept failure as simply part of the learning process.

FAIL...Let’s turn that into something positive.

In this day and age of instant gratification, we can be impatient and expect results and improvement to happen immediately. Playing drum kit is an instrument where you’re required to play four different rhythms with four different appendages, simultaneously! Wow! Think about that for a moment. Think about the coordination that goes into something like that. That’s not always easy! We have to give our muscles and our mind the chance to understand the process of what we want our body to do. My wife is always saying that I can’t multitask, but I play drums, so yes I can! :-)

Think about how long it takes us to learn how to crawl or walk or talk. Think about how many years it takes an athlete to become a professional. Learning how to play the drums takes a lifetime of learning and improving, but it is so much fun, that all the “fails” should be looked at and treated as challenges.

“If the saying is true, that you learn from failure,

well I must have about 10 Doctoral Degrees by now”

—Tommy Igoe

We all have a rhythm or pattern or a technique that we have trouble playing or we're unable to play at all. Break the pattern down and play it very slowly so your muscles and your brain can process the motion. This takes time, but if you’re making it a challenge to yourself that you can do it, then you will do it. It will happen. Don’t put barriers in front of yourself.

Strive for progress, not perfection.

The takeaway here is to just be patient with yourself. Every great drummer has been right where you are now. But they kept at it, didn't give up, and rose to the challenge.