So I have finally and thankfully have reached the end of my middle school life and  ready to be on Summer Break for the next few months. I first off, I know that I’m still going to be doing allot of work to keep my drumming skills on top. I have started to work with a  web site called Drumeo. Holy crap, it is amazing and so glad I was introduced to it. I have been on it to take some drumming techniques and to learn new some different music styles. I am currently looking at some Jazz and Basso Nova beats to learn. I am really hoping that I can figure it out so that I can put the newly learned skills into my Rock n’ Roll playing. Real quick history note. Did you know that when Rock n’ Roll was first created, that the Roll came from Jazz. I thought that this was cool and so, yeah.

For the summer, I know that I’m going to Hawaii for about a week with my family, going to be conditioning for my high school’s swim team,  and my dad and I plan on doing some diving together. I’m really stocked about this summer. Another thing is that I will be leaning how to drive. Lets just say that everyone that knows me is fearing for their lives. What, I can’t be  THAT bad at driving…right?  I also hope that I can start getting some part time jobs as well.

Well, I hope that this summer will be a great one and my drumming career continues.

I don’t want to be a Christian that just goes through the motions or what others say I have to do as a Christian musician. Personally  there is allot of physical and emotional stress when it comes to these kinds of things for me. I have been jamming with allot of people and I don’t really know how strong they are in their faith. They may be wondering the same about me. There have been some people I jam with and I have a hard time trying to figure out how they are in their faith and maybe they don’t know what I’m expecting either.

I am struggling with finding people to form my Christian Band project. There are people out there who fit some of my criteria but not all of it. So let me clear some of the fog and list what my criteria:

• Be able to hangout outside of practice
• Are serious about a walk with God
• Will be there anytime for the other members
• Open to praying with the other members
• Helping other members who are in need
• Open to new ideas
• Competent and able to grow in knowledge/ skill of their instrument
• Can expand their playing techniques
• Able to have an open mind
• Able to have open communications
• Bounce new ideas back and fourth
• Have patients
• Be understanding if something isn’t working out

“I don’t want to spend my whole life asking, what if had giving everything, instead of going through the motions?”- Mathew West, from the song “Motions”.

Okay, so I had my first photo shoot on Sunday. I was really excited and couldn’t wait to do it.For the first few shot, I was set up in my front yard.I then loaded up with my dad and grandpa to head out.

We went to a couple different locations in Nampa. First we hit the Nampa train station and got some cool shots there. There was an old red brick wall that I was set up in front of with my whole kit. The blue of my set was a contrast to the red in the brick.  I took my little blue jazz kit with me and even got the chance to play for a little bit. I didn’t play for a crowd on the streets but I did play for a train that wasn’t moving.

The next spot we hit was downtown Nampa and got some of me behind an old wooden venue.  It was cool to see some of the town that I haven’t seen in a while. It was also allot of fun to hang out with my dad and my grandpa. My grandpa was the one who took all of my pictures that day. I have also had an interest in photography. He got me my first camera and has been teaching me different things about photography here and there. He’s a really cool grandpa and he’s fun to hang around with. My dad has tole me that if I make great grades, then he’ll let me do a street performance.

The last spot we hit was in the Rose Park near downtown. I set up my whole kit again and played barefoot. FUN!!! I didn’t disturbed the peace that much (wink). Anyways, it was fun to play and get the photo shoot done with two of my favorite people in the world. I forgot to mention who did my hair. My grandmother did my hair and it was fun to see her work with my now very short hair. I like having short hair and it not as much of a pain as it use to be.

I really hope the photos look good for my profile and I hope my grades are pulled up enough to do a street performance soon.

I use lots of backing tracks for fun, practice, and talent show performances. Its great because it allows me to play with a band without having to have a band.

Here is a sample of me using a backing track and what it sounds like with and without the track. Click Here if it doesn’t show up below…

I will post up later the resources I use and how you can use these even if you play another instrument.

I’m really excited to go to Meridian High this year. I went to the Color Guard and Marching Band Performance. It was really cool to watch and see some of my friends who compete in the solo ensemble there.

At first I was unsure about going to this school, due to me not knowing anyone. But by going to see the drum line preform ,I could tell, that they have a precise drum line and they have allot of fun. They won state this year and they are an amazing!  I was able to meet both the marching band director and the drum line coach. I recognized the drum line coach from the honor stuff that I do. I’m really nervous when it comes to meeting drummers and the band directors. I don’t why I am, but I just am. I also was able to meet three of the snare players, two of them will be graduating this year but I will get to hang out with the other until he graduates.

I’m going to miss all my friends up at Rocky as well as the band director, but this is going to be a great opportunity for me.

This guy keeps me up when stuff seems to fall apart. My drum buddy….my dad

So I didn’t get into to Idaho Fine Arts, I want to say “no big deal”, but I took it pretty hard when I heard. I want to find a school with kids like me who love music. At times I feel pretty alone because people just don’t get it. Drumming isn’t something I want to do- it’s something I have to do.

I’m first on the waiting list and have until December for them to give me a call back. I really want to get into this high school. I like that it has smaller classes and that I can focus on my strong point which is drumming. Everyone in my family and my friends have been supportive and have been wishing me the best of luck. I know that I didn’t play a jazz piece for the judges but this year I will buckle down and learn jazz.

For me it’s gong to be a challenge. I have grown up listening to nothing but rock music. My dad was a rock drummer but he learned to play jazz in college, so I guess I’m at the same place. Right now I’m on a steady diet of jazz. Tonight, me and my dad were jamming out to “With Bells On” by Louie Bellson. Pretty cool since he also played to kick drums. I could help pick out the ping ride, sizzle ride, and high hats. His drum fills are incredible, of course this is a point where my dad jabs me about working harder on rudiments. Me and my dad have also being going through “The Essentials of  Jazz” together on our drum sets and have been giving each other pointers. He doesn’t read music so I’m teaching him. This is frustrating for me because he can hear a lick once or twice and then just play it. He is frustrated because he thinks if he could read music (better) he could open up new doors to more grooves and stuff.This is going to be the start of a whole chapter in my life.

Still worried about going to Meridian High at this point. I don’t know anyone there, and at this point I don’t know if they even have a drum section, however that wouldn’t make sense because I’m sure they do. I just hope I get the kind of mentoring I got with Rocky. There I felt like I was going to have a home. Getting the news about IFAA and then not going to Rocky was a little too much for me at the time I guess.

Side note— Finally cut my hair and donated it for cancer to an org that provides wigs for kids at no charge. Was feeling kind of down about it because I though I was going to get messed with — in the end lots of people liked it….

I guess one of my fears is recording my drumming sessions. I don’t really mind at times as long as you can give me a weeks notice, but an hour before hand….not my cup of tea. It kind of threw me off and I psyched myself out.

I had to record some drum tracks at Rock Academy. Me and my band mates are doing a cover of “Kryptonite” by  Three Doors Down. It took us about 5 takes before our “producer” was happy wit the results.

I have also been working on another track for a song being written by one of the guys in the band. I really hope this goes well. God first experience to build on

I can’t tell you how much I loved for my best friend to come over to my place and jam for nearly all day. I said early o that I wanted to play with people who love to hang out and who are solid and growing in their faith. Evan has been playing guitar for under a year and is an incredibly fast learner. He had been playing for a few months and had done a couple of recitals. He joined me in Rock Academy and I think that since he joined he has been pushed and it has caused him to become an awesome player.

We have so far have two songs, working titles, “Evan’s Song 1” and “Evan’s Song 2”. He’s a really good guy and has been one of my closet friends for just over 4 years now.

I love you man!

I remember in elementary school seeing the bigger middle school kids come to our school and show off their band skills. I think at the time I wanted to play the Violin. I was already banging around on the drums my folks got for me and kind of against my will they made me go into drumming. Glad they pushed me.

So being apart of the school band, we get to go on Elementary Tours. This means we get to spend the whole school day, playing for 5th graders and the occasional k-1st graders. We went to Ponderosa Elementary, Willow Creek Elementary, and Hunter Elementary.

It was a lot of fun and we were able to hang out with each other. One of the down spots were the guys in my drum section blowing off carrying gear, forgetting gear at the previous gig, and pushing their responsibilities to someone else. I don’t want to throw them under the bus, but it made me mad that at the first school it was just me and my dad off-loading gear out of his Jeep. Hey, if you are playing your assigned instrument, then you are responsible for it and if something happened to it or it gets lost then own up to it.

We preformed John Williams Movie Adventure. It had the Star Wars Main Theme, Duel of the Fates, Jurassic Park Main Theme, and the theme from E.T.  The brass section even broke out light sabers and the kids loved it. I was really excited to be able to play the snare and toms for this piece. Snare is my favorite and I wish I would get it assigned more. It was really fun and I can’t wait to see what we are going to do for the up coming festival. The best part was the last school we played at. The kids were in awe and I remember bigger kids coming to perform and that special feeling. I wish schools would do more special assemblies like this for all of us.

On a side note- I feel bad for my Dad because he tore up his knee when retrieving some lost equipment. He hit a small rut as he was running gear and now he is in a brace and on crutches for the next month. Good news– he can still rock the drum set even in a brace and on pain meds. (Maybe there is a past he doesn’t talk about….)

Even though I am still in middle school, I know there are a ton of things I want to do for a career. I already know people are going to look at the word s “music” and career” and scoff. I know one day I might even look back on it as a whim or a dream. I know I also want to be an Air Force Survival Instructor, a cop, and at times I’ve wanted to be a vet. I’m in 8th grade so let me dream and let me do the things I feel I need to do to pursue those dreams. If I change, fail, or don’t make it I guess you were right. Until then let me dream. Are you following the path you dreamed about when you were in Junior High? Then let me dream big.

This is from a blog , my dad posted on my Facebook wall. He had dreams and I think he had too many people always telling him he should think about his future, or be practical, or that “it will be hard”. So thanks dad for letting me dream and find small ways to make me successful.

Here are the things I should be doing now.

1. One Business Thing Each Day. I don’t know much about music business. So in the mean time its finding lessons, getting into schools and classes, sending emails and audition videos to bands, churches, etc. Also making money to save towards gear and equipment. When I have an empty spot in this area, I need to fill it with music history and education
2. Join or start bands and jam sessions. Playing at Rock Academy has exposed me to other musicians and has helped me get tighter in playing with others. My buddy Evan and I have started jamming as well and I have learned allot from this experience. My hope is to take this a step further and put together a group to go through the “Essential Elements of Jazz” book together. Each week we would all be responsible for coming to practice ready to play our parts.
3. Make one pitch to a band, mentor, school, singer, etc each week. I need to research what they are looking for, make the pitch, and be ready to try out at a moments notice.
4. Learn one new skill each week. Master a rudiment, learn a new groove, cover a chapter in a drum workout book, etc. Anything that gives me more depth or versatility in drumming.
5. Stay on top of school work and grades. I’m not going to get a scholarship and I will see my drum set get packed away if my grades slip.
6. Carry my sticks everywhere I go. Well almost everywhere. For some reason they are considered “weapons” at my school. Does that make my band director the queen of arms negotiations? She has a whole cabinet filled with sticks, mallets, and beaters. What moron came up with that rule, must be a common core issue.

Here is the article my dad gave me http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/Five_things_songwriters_can_do_to_move_their_careers_forward