Drumming Ryan Denney

Although one may be preoccupied with the lacquer and the finish of the drum, the real beauty is in the sound of the stick striking the head as it reverberates through a concert hall. It shakes and rattles, but is contained within the stand. The shell is crafted in a perfect cylinder. The head is fused with the wood, fastened taut so that its echoes are piercing. The craftsman works for countless hours using his knowledge and precise strokes of his tools to create a divine instrument.

Of course I am not always reminded of these things when I am pounding the heads and attacking the cymbals of my drum set. What I focus on is playing them to the best of my ability. I would never settle for being second best at my craft, yet I know I still have much to improve upon. Humility is a necessary component to possess when playing any instrument, but it is often overlooked by drummers.

As a group, drummers are often characterized as arrogant, taking all the credit for the good and no responsibility for the bad. In truth, many drummers do act this way. However, learning from your betters is a solid pillar of learning to play the instrument well. Hours of listening to the world's greatest drummers is not only essential to becoming...