When you know who you are
Last night was my regular drum circle at Remo. Claudia came with me—I knew she'd feel right at home there and jump right in. It helped her get into a place she needed to be for her latest artwork. It makes me really happy to be able to share the drums with people who love it as much as I do.
I'd had my eye on the bass drums for a long while. I usually play djembes (which are sharper-sounding African drums, shaped like a goblet, for those who may not know), have been playing those on and off for years. But I've been itching to use the bass drum—booming, deep, powerful! I'd been a LITTLE bit self-conscious, wanting to stay in the background, so not wanting to call attention to my drumming, because I'm not as experienced as some of the other people seem to be. But last night, all that just melted away. No one cares how I play; not one person there is judging me. I grabbed a bass drum and dug in. I jumped right in where I should have been, like two-ended jumprope, keeping the bass lines, playing loud enough to be heard by everyone. People were building their rhythms between, around mine, too. It was a moving, spontaneous, living thing! And I couldn't help but dance at the same time. So ALIVE!!! Completely being my full self—happily, happily so. I'm a drummer. It's who I am, people. 'Nuff said.
I'd had my eye on the bass drums for a long while. I usually play djembes (which are sharper-sounding African drums, shaped like a goblet, for those who may not know), have been playing those on and off for years. But I've been itching to use the bass drum—booming, deep, powerful! I'd been a LITTLE bit self-conscious, wanting to stay in the background, so not wanting to call attention to my drumming, because I'm not as experienced as some of the other people seem to be. But last night, all that just melted away. No one cares how I play; not one person there is judging me. I grabbed a bass drum and dug in. I jumped right in where I should have been, like two-ended jumprope, keeping the bass lines, playing loud enough to be heard by everyone. People were building their rhythms between, around mine, too. It was a moving, spontaneous, living thing! And I couldn't help but dance at the same time. So ALIVE!!! Completely being my full self—happily, happily so. I'm a drummer. It's who I am, people. 'Nuff said.
Comments