A Job Recruiter, Wildlife Rehabilitator and Rocking Out
"I wanna play drums and rock, and I'm gonna name my band Flaming Snot!" shouted the teenage boy with skull tattoos, a pierced lip, and green Mohawk.
One also might envision a sweaty, long haired drummer dude, slammin' out some wicked grooves in a large stadium setting, with over 120 decibels of sound penetrating your ears. Motley Crue's Tommy Lee? Rush's Neil Peart? Living Colour's Will Calhoun? A Perfect Circle's Josh Freese? Ginger Baker, Tommy Aldridge, John Bonham or Ringo Starr?
How about a company job recruiter for a local downtown business, whose daughters are just beyond college age?
Maybe a wildlife rehabilitator who also performs educational birds of prey demonstrations, and whose kids are also beyond college age?
Her name might be Betsy? Or Mary?
Betsy Royals has been a student of mine for about three years. She started drumming as a hobby because one of her daughters, and my former student, went off to college. This left a drum set gathering dust in the basement. Betsy looked at those drums and thought, "I've always wanted to learn how to play drums. It seems like so much fun!" So, she gave me a call to set up drum lessons.
Betsy is learning her snare drum rudiments, has played through a snare drum duet book with me, is on her second drum set book, and recently started playing to recorded music. She picked Rock and Roll All Night, by KISS. No kidding. She recently stated, "I've decided I'd like to play in a rock band, you know, with other people." Very cool!
Mary Schmaus has been playing for a few years herself. When she called me to set up drum lessons, she exclaimed, "I want to be the next Tommy Lee!" Of course she was joking, but it was an awesome introduction to Mary's spirit. I loved it!
She told me that her mom always wanted to play drums as well, "But, back in the day, women didn't play drums, so mom plays the piano." Maybe the desire to play drums is genetic?
Mary is working through some difficult sections in her snare drum and drum set book. On the horizon, I envision her playing along to recorded tunes as well. Maybe a Motley Crue song? She'd have such a kick!
These are just two current examples. Over the years, several parents of students began to take lessons when their child was done with theirs, simply because it seemed like so much fun. One parent was an executive, and another a doctor. One turned out to be a pretty good jazz drummer. But for both, drumming was mostly a tension release. That's alright, as we all have our own reasons.
Learning to play a musical instrument is not age or gender dependent. It should simply be for enjoyment, so go for it! Choose an instrument, seek out a local music teacher for lessons, and rock out (or jazz) like no other!
Jeff Rockel
9:03 pm on Thursday, May 19, 2011
As a guitar player, I have always wanted to take drum lessons to help my rhythm. I am so glad to have had the privilege of playing with Jim Kube in a real band. I learned a lot from his rhythms and riffs and still apply those skills as I play solo. I truly hope to have a band around me again, but I doubt I will ever play with one as talented as Jim. Love you!
Jeff Rockel (South Carolina - Baptist Church Praise Team)
Jim Kube
11:48 am on Friday, May 20, 2011
Jeff: Another humbling blog comment. Those are truly kind words. Thanks so much! I enjoyed my time in the band with you as well. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Jim
Lainie
11:22 pm on Thursday, May 19, 2011
Awesome! Kids inspiring their parents!
Jim Kube
11:32 am on Friday, May 20, 2011
Lainie: Great comment! That's exactly right!
Jim
Jim
9:27 am on Friday, May 20, 2011
My son had the Saturday 9:30 am lesson slot for 3 or 4 years from Jim. When he graduated from High School my daughter took the same time slot for two years. I played guitar in a band in high school and college and always wanted to play the drums and also had a drum set in the basement that wasn't being used anymore, so I took the time slot when my daughter finished with her lessons. Jim is a gifted teacher with an always encouraging word, which is great for an adult learner, but even more important for a young person. We all enjoyed our time with Jim not only for his drum and teaching skills but also his sense of humor and kind manner. Thanks again Jim and glad to hear that you are still teaching and now sharing some of your stories.
Jim Hollenhorst
Jim Kube
11:38 am on Friday, May 20, 2011
Jim: Thanks so much for the kind words and for sharing your memories! How are you, Andy and Maggie doing these days? I'm glad that you seem to have connected with this story. After all, the "pretty good jazz drummer" part of the story was YOU!
Thanks again for your comment, and all the best to the Hollenhorsts!
Jim
Impeach Now
10:28 am on Friday, May 20, 2011
I remember well the progression of your outlook on how to be the most effective percussionist and how it has evolved over the years. Not many have had the priveledge of being able to just sit and listen/watch a musician spring up over the years right before their eyes. I may have been younger and didn't have much appreciation for it back then but I remember those times like it was yesterday when you would be practicing or the band playing and I would just listen intently to your playing. It was like being able to watch (or listen in this case) every brush stroke of an artist painting his/her story on the canvas. When the band practiced, though my ears heard the songs, i had a tunnel vision effect in my hearing that tuned in to everything you did on that drum set and though I may not have understood how you were doing it, it still amazes me even today. You're the inspiration behind me still picking up my guitar and practicing the things I do know, though it may be small, and have time to think about the time I had to watch you grow into the gifted teacher/artist/percussionist that you have become today. Thanks for that...rock on big bro!!!
Jim Kube
3:22 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011
Dave: You're too kind, haha! I do appreciate all those memories you've just shared. You've inspired me as well! Music really does bring people and family together. How cool!
Your Brother (Full disclosure ;) ),
Jim
Paul Newlin
1:04 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011
More power to female drummers who break the stereotype that they can't play drums.
I remember bringing in one of the end parts of Dream Theater's "Fatal Tragedy", having you break it down and explain it, and finally getting it by the time my group at MATC played it for a winter concert. Playing along to recorded music can be one of the more rewarding aspects about drumming (or any instrument), especially years later when you can sit down yourself and transcribe a part of a song out for a student.
Jim Kube
3:14 pm on Friday, May 20, 2011
Paul: I remember that well! That was rewarding for me too. If that was the concert you brought in on DVD for me to view, you did an AWESOME job!! And, you're very correct. Playing along to recorded music gives one the feeling of: "I can do this too!"
Great comment, Paul. Thanks!
Jim
Liz Wessel
12:37 pm on Monday, May 23, 2011
Thanks for sharing another great story, Jim! You're never too old to learn a new hobby or a new way of thinking!
Jim Kube
1:11 pm on Monday, May 23, 2011
Liz: You're welcome! I agree with you. Well said. Thanks for reading my post! :)
Jim
A-Fast
11:43 am on Saturday, May 28, 2011
Another great Story Jim! Your statement about learning music as independent of age or gender is something that should be stressed. As a bartender, I've talked to a lot of people that often comment, "I wish I learned to play drums/guitar/piano etc.. That was many years ago though, before I got married or owned a house". Your story shows that even though life can be busy at times, if the determination is there to do it, it can be done!
Jim Kube
3:42 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
A-Fast:
Thanks so much for your absolutely true comments!
Jim