My earliest memories of music date back to when I was about five years old. I remember paying careful attention to the beats and melodies, counting out the rhythms and humming the notes. Almost 25 years later that interest blossomed in to a full blown passion for all things musical.
First steps towards rhythm
My first experience playing music was when I was six. My parents noticed my interest and bought me a “toy” drum set (that is to say, one that’s built to the height of a child and with not exactly the most durable materials). It was awesome!
I banged out beats until I punched through the paper thin heads. After that, because they couldn’t be replaced, that was it for my early drumming career.
A student of strings
My mom encouraged me to take piano lessons when I was 11. It was enjoyable and interesting to play an instrument that had strong roots in both rhythm and melody.
I learned mostly classical and jazz styles and continued to take lessons until I was 13. I can still play many of the compositions almost as if they’re embedded deep in my psyche.
My penchant for percussion
When I was 15 years old I started taking drum lessons and it was a natural fit for me. The sticks were an extension of my arms and the bass drum as well as the high-hat were extensions of my feet, allowing me to pound out powerful beats.
I only took drum lessons briefly. My natural love for the drums grew steadily as I played almost religiously on a daily basis. I’d play along with songs I knew or make beats on my own. No matter what, it was the highlight of my day.
Of course I’m sure my neighbors at the time weren’t very enthused by this, but even they probably noticed my steady improvements over time. Learning to drum was one of the best things I ever did for myself.
Exploration and improvisation
As time went on I grew ever more curious about other musical instruments and I took up playing with bass guitars, percussive instruments (congas, bongos, etc) electronic keyboards, synthesizers, sequencers and eventually even software-driven music creation.
Occasionally I would play with friends, but I always had the most fun with my solo endeavors, where I could be very creative and improvise to my heart’s content. Making music out of random thoughts and thin air was a very entertaining and rewarding adventure for me as well as a great outlet.
Learning to capture the energy
Up to this point I had not done a lot of recording. So I set my sights on learning everything I could about recording and producing music. It was a great challenge. One I shall always cherish, because I started with such humble beginnings. Just a solitary microphone and a tape deck.
From there I was able to learn about multi-track recording, mixing, mastering, balancing room acoustics, mic placement, noise reduction and so much more. It’s amazing how much depth and breadth there is to musical knowledge.
I started recording on a regular basis, whether it was just a short little improv or something substantial, I wanted to be able to replay it, re-experience the moment if you will. That allowed me to really study my own playing, whether it was on the drums or something electronic I could gauge my strengths and weaknesses in order to work on improving my technique and style.
Music is wonderful
My journey let me learn so many incredible facts and theories about music. It gave me a unique background and skills all the way from playing an instrument to recording a full song (and everything in between).
I am still learning every day and the more I learn the more I am passionate about music.