Drum Lessons

The stick was raised vertically in the ground. The old hubcap from the car's wheel rested upon top. There were boxes all around and two ordinary wood sticks were being held in my hands. This was my first drum set! I was ten years old with quite an imagination. The hubcap was my cymbal and the boxes were my snare drums. I wanted to be a drummer and was enthralled with Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees. Later on, in Christmas, Mom bought me a real drum set for my very own. Oh the joy. Then, I started taking drum lessons at school.

Well, let's say it didn't quite work out. I studied hard but soon found out one very salient lesson in the art of playing drums which I lacked: rhythm! I had none. That pretty much ended my aspirations of becoming the new Phil Collins. To this day, I have to smile, albeit sadly maybe, that it didn't come to pass. I had to face it, I understood basic music theory but I don't have the talent to play an instrument. I can do a few major chords on a piano but that's as far as it goes.

I've always been in love with music. Maybe that's why I chose a profession like radio broadcasting. If I couldn't perform the music myself, I could at least "air" it so others could listen. That would be good enough for me.

I remember about seventeen years ago I had Rich Mullins in the studio and he had his hammer dulcimer with him. He played for us live. I was amazed. I told him what a gift he had. He taught me a valuable lesson that day. He said, "Randy, don't underestimate your gift. There's no way I could get behind that control console and flip all those switches, look at the clock for timing and all the other things that people don't see." That always stuck with me. We all indeed are gifted in different areas.

Tonight I was watching an Eagles DVD and was just amazed at the precision of these guys on the instruments. Precision, to the Nth degree. So, at this point in my life, I admire great performers. Whether they play violins, piano, drums, guitars, flutes, et.al. However, late at night when I'm ready to go to sleep, the thoughts cross my mind to being ten years old again when I made that makeshift drum set before I got the real thing. Then, my imagination takes over one more time. I also love guitars. I'm in front of a large audience, playing my Fender Strat with the Roland keyboard improvising behind me and the drummer on the Yamaha set keeping time. We all can dream can't we? However, I won't forget the gifts God has given me. He is good and gracious. Be well all and have a great week.