It’s pretty much a fact that everyone loves music. It cheers you up when you feel down, takes you to places you’ve never been before, it makes you think of something you never thought of, or think of something differently. Music causes feelings in everyone but none are quite as strong as creating something yourself. This almost magical feeling finally reached me when I first played a little instrument called the drums.

While listening to music I always found myself gravitating  towards the massive instrument. Maybe it’s the loudness or the power but something pulled me towards it. Drummers like John Bonham, Joey Jordison, Jay Weinberg, and Jared Dines would be my inspirations. These people all changed my musical perspective with their drumming. Whether it’s the mind bending speed of Joey (see the song “eyeless”) or the fast of Bonham, they all helped me realise how amazing this instrument truly is. After weeks of  thinking I decided to give it a shot.

When I first played a set, the pounding sound of the drums and the ear bleeding noise of the cymbals hit me like a wall. In that moment, I immediately fell in love. I bought an electronic drum set. But I destroyed the crash cymbals. We bought another more expensive electronic drum set. But I destroyed two crashes and the hi-hat. Finally, we decided on an acoustic set Ludwig Classic Maple.

Just the sight of the wood toms and bass drum, cold metal snare, blue oyster finish, and dark gold cymbals was enough to push me over the edge, but it was the booming of the toms, crack of the snare, and loud washing sound of the cymbals that turned my passion into an obsession.

What before had just been 40 minutes a day, became an hour a day at least. But most of the time it is much more. Add drum lessons into the mix (another hour every Sunday) and I’m drumming almost all day, every day.

All that time playing has led to fast growth in skill, but of course I still have plenty to learn. I think that’s one of the best parts, no matter how far along you are there is always something new to learn. I mean, I still am finding new styles and inspirations like Danny Carry, just listen to “Lateralus”, and Billy Rymer of Dillinger Escape Plan.  If anything music is a lesson in not giving up. The feeling of cracking that song you spent 7.days trying to learn is one of the best you could ever feel. I implore you to pick up any instrument and give it a shot. Who knows? Maybe you’ll finally feel it too.