I need some sort of motivation to drum. I hvae enough 2 heavy hitter pads that aren't getting used as much as they used to a few months ago. I'm not goint to be on the drumline, or percussion section this year, and frankly for the rest of my high school career, and my family doesn't have enough money for me to march a corps. There are indepedndent indoor lines in Alabama that I know of, and basically nothing else. The only way I'll get on percussion is if we move or get a new band director, which I cannot see happening in the next 2 years.

What can I do to get motivated to practice? I love drumming, but there is no where for me to play, except at home, where it bothers my parents most of the time.

Well, you can keep crying about the decisions that you made that kept you from the drumline, or you can find the motivation inside yourself to practice.

If you really want to march corps, you'll find a way. Do you really think that every person that marches every year pays for it all on their own or with the help of their family? No, they get sponsors, they bust their butts to get people willing to help pay their dues.

Sorry, but this "woe is me" crap is getting old. If you want it, find it in yourself and do it.

There's your motivation right there. hahaha. "shut up and do it!!!!!"

seriously Stop complaining about not being in the drumline.Practice your butt off and tryout for some college line or audition for a scholarship at troy (assuming its in your area)

I agree with everyone else. But listen here, cause the same thing happened to me when my band director told me no last year. There was a lull in my drumming that lasted through indoor when I was denied again.

The key is to find an attainable goal and work for it. Even if it isn't attainable, you gotta have your eyes on the prize or you won't see a reason to practice. The trick is to SEE yourself at a corps or SEE yourself in one of those independent lines. The more you believe it, the harder you'll work. You saw where it got me, so you know it can work out.

You say that you love to drum...well...that to me would seem to be motivation enough. I sort of subscribe to some of the thoughts of others who have responded. Don't blame your band director or anybody else for that matter. Yes, marching corps is not cheap. My parents had the money to pay for my dues but I never asked them for a dime. I was in college, I was the one marching, and I was the one who wanted to bypass a summer job to go on tour. I felt it was my obligation to pay my own fees. I literally went from business to business asking for donations. I mowed lawns, I shoveled snow, I painted houses, I walked dogs, etc... I even got a guy to pay me for going to his biology class and taking notes so he wouldn't have to. I raised my own money all while practicing my butt off and studying for school. When it was all said and done I left for tour with $20 in my pocket. Luckily, my parents did chip in and buy my corps jacket.

There are plenty of small corps out there you could march where dues are affordable. Don't make excuses because I don't think you're going to get much sympathy here.

Nobody can tell you what your motivation is. You have to find that yourself. I've seen too many people set their goals low and then fall short. As a freshman in high school, my personal goal was to be a center tenor and win a couple of high drum trophies at DCI finals. Unfortunately, I never reached my goal...I never was center.

If you know what you want to do then shut up and do it.

If you love to drum, then drum. Don't let anyone stop you from what you love to do.

Seriously, don't complain. Because you accepting the fact that you can't march corps or march any where else is what makes it impossible. If you want it bad enough and you work your butt off, you will get it. You go out there, and you give everything to want you want to achieve.

Everyone goes through rough patches when they need a break. Take a breath and relax. The desire to play will come back, and if it doesn't, then you really weren't that into it anyway. If you quit the line, then you have to take the responsibility of motivating yourself to play.

yeah, well on marching season returns, in about 2 and a half weeeks, I'm sure it'll return

i hear where you're coming from. i love marching and never tire from it. of course some days im like "not today", but never for long periods of time.

but a couple of years ago i got my first drum set and i played that thing like there was no tomorrow..after a while it got old, and i got to where i rarely played it..then this past January i got a new Pearl set for my birthday. out of excitement i began to play snugglebunny again..but again i've lost the feel for it. so.. everyone goes through these spells atleast once..
maybe i just need to start a band or something haha