Writing music has always been second nature to me. But writing for a blog? As this is my first entry ever, we'll soon find out if this was a good idea!
As my profile description says, I've been a percussion instructor here in the Falls for a long time. So, I teach. But that's not all my passion entails. For example, I just finished returning to playable condition an old Rogers brand drum set for a newer student. Turns out, it was grandpa's old drum set that he used to play out with.
Then, as the story always seems to go, it was stored in hopes that someone else in the family may be able to use it. The drum set is an old Holiday series that was made in Cleveland, Ohio somewhere between 1964 and 1970. It was the top professional set that Rogers sold at the time. I'm not a drum historian by any stretch, but from my internet research, Holiday models, made in Ohio, are some of the most sought after "vintage" drums today. The drums turned out beautifully, and after a thorough tuning, sound fabulous. When I played the set for my student and his Dad, their look was priceless. My time and effort just received payment.
Although these circumstances are rare, I love introducing the drums to a student in this fashion. The mostly forgotten instrument returned to former vitality with caring hands, then having my student watching while the drums are played, and all those old rhythms buried deep in the plies of the wood come roaring out once again. How inspiring to him!
The drums were taken home just a few days ago, and I can only imagine that their house isn't set at the same volume level as before. That's awesome. Tony has just taken his first step on a new musical journey. Bring it on!
Who can guess where this new path will take Tony? I know this: for now, he's just having a blast playing on those old Rogers drums. From my perspective, who wouldn't?
