Percussion Post

If you didn't already know, I'm a percussionist. 

That means I play all things percussion. 

Let's get this clear: A drummer and a percussionist are not the same thing

A drummer plays only the drums. A percussionist plays all things percussion, including the drums. 

Also, during the marching season I am snare captain of my school's drumline. 

This post will revolve around drums. 

Rock on.

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First, I have this totally rational fear of being decapitated by a cymbal.

Why is that rational?

Look at this...

Scary. 

Earlier this year I did a report on drummers and during wars, the drummer was extremely important because depending on their cadence, the soldiers would know what to do, or what has happened. 

You always have those people who say, "Drumming is just hitting stuff. Anyone can do it!"

Everyone percussionist has had something like this: 

Quite the opposite, I recently played the crash cymbals (in concert band) and had a crash at exactly fffffffff. 

Many percussionists in concert band name their drums. 

During marching season, my snare's name is "Hobson." 

My old bass drum's name is "Angel Dumott Schunard" 

We also had the other two basses named, "Edna Turnblad," and "Sassiest Drum."

We have four bass drums. I can't remember the fourth one's name. 

While I was in pit percussion for the musical, "Camelot" at my high school, the actors were doing a warm up thing in the practice area where they were all silent and were crying because the show was so flippen emotional for them. Then...I come waltzing through carrying this lovely instrument and you can imagine how awkward it was. 

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THINK PERCUSSION IS EASY?

Once, I rolled on the suspended cymbal for ONE beat too long. Biggest mistake of my life. 

This is the worst because as a percussionist, we only get rhythms and random notes stuck in our head. 

I have a rule. Unless you can play the DRUMS better than ME, you cannot tap your pencil. 

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To all of you who think percussion is easy...

TAKE THAT. 

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These are a shout-out to my drumline. 

We have two tenor players at my school. One is this buff, tall guy who is a Life Guard.  

The other asks me to carry her drums back to the school for her. 

But they're both pretty amazing. 

 DONE. 

We played the Beatles show and added some...visuals...at the end. Went pretty well. 

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ROCK ON