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Derrick Neff Professor Nash English 13 September 2014Perspectives Throughout my high school career, I played the tenor drums for the Francis Howell drum line and marching band. These activities helped improve my drumming skills which allowed me to play well for my contemporaries, the judges, and the audience. I was introduced to drumming back in the sixth grade. I found the drums to be the most interesting of the instruments and also the most fun. I knew that extending my career as a drummer in high school would only help me in the long run, so I figured why not give them a shot. As I progressed, I began to realize that my motives towards drumming were based on three things: for practice, for points (aka getting judged), and for peers. My perception on how practice goes for a drummer may vary from that of any other sport or activity. This is based on the fact that a drummer has so much responsibility. He is the backbone of the band; without him, the show would fall apart. Try comparing any sport to drumming and see if practice is really as significant in the sport. If a basketball player practices passing a ball and ends up missing a pass in a game, it will go unnoticed most of the time. Now imagine I miss a beat in an important show. The show would probably end up okay but would definitely not go unnoticed. This is why practice is so important to drumming. It not only teaches, but perfects the art. A quote by Vince Lombardi states that, Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. When related to a drummer, I wholeheartedly agree. If I practice like I would perform and perform like I would practice, the outcome will be perfection every time. Although practice makes perfect, some would argue that no amount of practice could prepare a musician for being critiqued. While they may be right in a way, if I am mentally ready my body will follow. When I am judged, I always see it best to prepare myself mentally before physically. I think about how hard Ive practiced and how many times I had to play the same thing over in order to get perfect which makes me feel motivated to perform for a judge. Rather than afraid. I prepare myself by imagining Im alone or just doing my normal practice routine. The results that follow allow me to see how the judge or judges are interpreting my playing. If its not up to the standards I set for myself, I know to practice harder in order to get where I want to be. The last perception I have with my drumming comes from the most influential people around me, my peers. They become such an important part of a drummers motivation because they are the reason I want to be better and succeed. I want to try and show them how playing changes me with the hope that it changes them as well. I could sit at home playing alone all day and learn just fine but wouldnt have a sense of connection with my fellow drummers. When practicing with another person, it opens up a whole new world of ideas. If I share an idea I thought would be cool and they share one as well, we can connect and grow together. This is the best way to improve skills, it teaches me more than a judges score ever could. Being able to keep a calm, cool, and collective mind when playing the drums for peers judges and even myself have really had an impact on how I perform. I try every day to improve my skills and have many people to thank for the talent I was given. Understanding different situations I am put in really helps depict how I should be playing and how I should be learning. This is why drumming can have so many influences on a person. I have become more pursuant of my goals because of the discipline drumming has brought to me.