Advice you would give to a young musician

[Steve Holmes]

Hang out with musicians other than drummers.
Play music with other musicians as much as possible.
Hang out with and focus on music and musicians that are above your level. Listen to music that you don't get (authentic latin music is a lifetime of listening for example).

A lot of basic jazz standards have simple forms. Memorize the melody of a bunch of standards and sing them to yourself while playing time.
If you don't want to get good at reading at least fully understand all the rhythmic subdivisions and be able to recognize them. When you hear a fill you should be able to know that it's 16th note trips- then 16ths - then back to 16thnote trips.
Never stop practicing a clean double stroke roll. Ever.
Get good at playing quiet. Do coffee shop gigs where you have to play quiet.
Dont dismiss things you don't like. Learn enough about it to "get it" before disconnecting yourself from it.
Use heavy sticks when working on hands with the pad.

[renardvert]

Nice tips Steve. Thanks for sharing.

[Kurtis]

What Steve described. You have to go through those trials and tribulations. You can give advice but you have to live it other wise you have wisdom with no knowledge of no how. You have to play those quite coffee house jazz gigs and be told your playing to loud. Even with brushes and still way way way to loud. Been there. It's almost pointless. You want to blow but are forced to blow chops while playing as soft as possible while the guy in charge doesn't notice. After all the crap you go through and make the big time you can do what ever. You have to go through the gauntlet. No short cut. The gauntlet is fun!

[Rhythmatist]

I've always told students to take some business classes. It will apply to anything you do even aside from the music business if that's the path life takes you. Service industry, non-profit, volunteer work, public/private sector...having some knowledge of how business works will be the most valuable knowledge one could have. How is it that so many with limited talent make it in the music business? They're prepared. Just think if more jazz artists had the business sense of a Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsallis or a Terrence Blanchard. It probably wouldn't be such a dying genre. Why do symphony orchestras, ballet and opera still exist? Because there are passionate people with business sense behind them. Everything is about money...don't be a starving artist (like me) because you will simply fall by the wayside. Yes, It's important (and preferable) to have the tools, but that will only get you so far. There are a lot of people eager to take your talent and use it to their advantage. You need to be prepared to use your talent to YOUR advantage and being versed in the ways of the business world will help you get that leg up.

I need to add to the learning to play quietly comments. It's not just learning to play Jazz quietly, it's all styles. Jazz (most standard forms at least) come easier by the very nature of the genre. Try playing a tune like "Running on Empty" with drive and conviction...but so quiet you can hear the conversation at the table by the window. That's a challenge. True story...friend of mine was doing a country gig and the fiddle player had just taken his fiddle out and played a couple quick little things before plugging in. The club owner came running over screaming, "That's gonna have to come WAY down!" The guys in the band looked at each other knowing they were in some deep shit at that point. They never made it past 2 songs before being told to wrap it up.

[nomsgmusic]

I’ll add my three cents to the already stated (and very good) advice. And I’ll guess that we are talking about drumming and music “career” advice.

Find a mentor (someone responsible, a real LIVE HUMAN BEING ((not an online buddy, friend, whatever)) who is already doing what you want to do) and spend A LOT of time around/with them. This can be a drum teacher, another musician. Listen, watch, and learn.

If you can’t find a “mentor,” maybe you aren’t in "the pond." And while we’re talking about “ponds,” learn how to be a small fish in a small pond, before you start “thinking big.”

Clearly define your goals early on. For example: How do you define success?

Take some small business courses, because that’s what YOU are, a small business.

Take good care of your ears ie. hearing protection (and, of course, the rest of your body.)

With VERY few exceptions, EVERYTHING is a people business. Learn how to interact and communicate supportively and courteously with others.

Learn about the history of what you are doing (music, drumming, business) and LEARN from EVERYTHING that has come before you (both positively and negatively.)

Learn about music, and know that maybe 90 % of the time, it isn’t about “the drums.”

Learn the rules before you (creatively) break them. No one is bigger than THE MUSIC.

Learn as many genres of music as possible (the history of, the standards and repertoire of, the etiquite of, the sound of, etc.) Learn how to adapt INSTANTLY, and learn to commit “to the moment.”

Be tolerant of anyone or anything that you don’t (or do) understand (at first.)

Learn Protools, how it works, how to work efficiently and creatively within the Protools environment. (Also learn about how the other places that you hope to work ((clubs, small and large music venues, etc)) And how THEY really work (as well.)

Diversify and focus (in everything you do.)

Be honest (to the IRS, your spouse, musicians you work with.) There are too many musicians out here that are working primarily for ex-wives and Uncle Sam. Please DON’T let that happen.

Spend as much time as possible, playing (any kind of) MUSIC with other PEOPLE (gigs, sessions, etc.)

Play music for a living ONLY if there is absolutely NOTHING else that you can EVER imagine yourself doing... EVER!!!! And even then, think about it for a while, and then again....

NEVER stop learning. Learn how YOU learn, and learn how to learn.

Always “give back” more than you receive, and to those who have less (or are younger) than you.

Bring something to the table.

And here are a few "classics:" Plan your work, and work your plan. Find something you love to do, and then figure out a way to make a living doing it.

With me, my drumming and music career (and life) comes down to this: Creativity, responsibility, musicality, humility.
Each one teach one, hug your loved ones, and enjoy every sandwich!
Make others, and yourself, SMILE! (With your music or anything that you do!)

MSG