Improvising with drums?!
Question:
Improvising with drums?
How do you improvise on the drums? any basics? i know how to play with notes, b/c of other instruments, and i can read music just not make it up us as I go.
Answers:
With all deference to the above poster, to say that you don't need formal training to be a drummer is an insult to the art of percussion.
In my eighteen years of experience, my formal training, lasting from the time I was eight years old until the age of 23 and about to continue at the age of 26, has been absolutely invaluable. You may have enough talent that you can learn almost anything on your own, but you will get there ten times faster if you are learning from a qualified instructor.
That being said, you should start by finding a qualified private teacher in your area. Try to find someone who is classically trained, who is knowledgeable in the type of music that you are the most interested in, someone who has a strong jazz background and, most importantly, someone who will teach you how to read music.
As for improvisational playing, I would suggest listening to as many recordings featuring the drumset as possible. I once heard Greg Bissonette (a GREAT studio drummer) say, "The good drummers borrow, the great drummers steal", meaning that you should literally rip off as many drummers as you can. The people you listen to can become your teachers and they will help to define your style.
For starters, try "Inna-gadda-da-vida" by: Iron Butterfly, "Motorboat to Mars" by: Chicago, the entire album of Submarine, by: Greg Bissonette and anything by Dave Weckl, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich and Tony Williams. Listening is the key. Listen and imitate.
Good luck, and happy drumming.