Lady drummers, a few questions

[samburusunset]

I've got some questions for the lady drummers out there. I'd be interested in hearing what you've got to say.

How long have you been playing?
What made you play the drums (vs other instrument)?
Did/do you take lessons?
Do you play for enjoyment or in a band?
Which grip do you prefer?
What's your favorite part of the kit?

Who's your favorite drummer? It's OK. You don't HAVE to say Stewart.


Well ladies

[GinaSuperCat]

Well, I don't like to be the first to answer, since I'm about as much of a drummer as Meg White is, but I'd better get my posts in while I can since I'm about to get on a 24 hour bus ride <grin>

3 or so years, off and on, was a time where I had to finish up my coursework and the drums were stacked for 18 mos. I want to go to this place called the Drummer's Collective in NYC in the summers, it's an intensive school for drumming and you can get certification (which I don't really need, as it's just a hobby) but it's like drums 24/7 for like 10 weeks in the summer semester and they have a great staff and you get to play with ensembles etc. It's like drum nerd camp <haha> and the environment would make me really get on it instead of hacking it like now!

I thought Sandy West from the Runaways was the coolest ever, man did she rock! I have always liked Stewart, since Synchronicity era, but it's not like I really thought I could do that myself...other girl drummers made that connection more clearly. Of course I didn't start actually playing until much later...started off playing a little bass, actually, was really into the Pixies at the time.

Taken different lessons here and there, about 5 different instructors, a few to 10 lessons each...Mostly for the basics and now I mostly play along with tracks on my mp3 player and work through books like Reed's Syncopation, The Drummer's CookBook, Stone's Stick Control, Riley's Introduction to Be Bop Drumming and assorted dvd's...

Not in a band, want to form an all-girl garage/punk band like an American version of Shonen Knife.. It wouldn't be very good (unlike Shonen Knofe, those ladies freaking rock it) but it'd have heart! I'd bet I'd get much better if I played with others, it's kinda hard to work on feel and groove without other instruments but it's a lot of fun nonetheless! Would be better with others...

Matched, played around with both but play hats with left hand and so traditional would have to be on the right (I can't play traditional on the left switching to using the hats with my right since I've broken a finger a few times and where the stick rests in traditional & it's kinda uncomfortable).

Right now my favorite part is ride cymbal since I desperately want one (have one crash/ride, isn't the same!). Was about to plunk down for nicy shiny new (or vintage old) ones right before this thing called te Police 2007/2008 happened to us all!

Favorite drummers: Stewart, Dave Grohl, Dave Lovering, ?uestlove, Glen Kotche

[Mercury Rising]

Well hello Ladies...
Nice to connect again! I've been playing drums off/on for about 7 years now and I chose to play them because I met (and wrangled) Dennis Chambers, Greg Bissonette, Mike Portnoy, Akira Jimbo and a slew of other great players in Vancouver during the Pacifc Rim Drum Invitational over a number of years. Originally a pianist, I've always wanted to play the other percussion instrument, the drums. That's where it's at!
I took part-time lessons for about a year and I play just for me now. Although my teacher encouraged me to join a band - to play at open mic nights - I've chosen to keep it simple and inside for now. I prefer the regular front grip and my favourite part of the kit is the bass drum - ahhhh, that primal pounding, deep, dark and rich....

My favourite drummer does happen to be Stewart, actually. His style is so sophisticated, intricate, sparse, elegant and then altogether wild and smashing - so textured. I do really like Omar Hakim and Manu Katche as well though, I love their amazing work with Sting and Peter Gabriel respectively.

To play the drums is to play the resonance of life - when you let go of the brain and let the subtle body take over, splitting your mind 4 ways, it's heaven.