personally, i think that all people get down every now and then. i know i do. in fact im not feeling so great right now either. the only thing i can recomend is to try not to think about it. drumming helps me but as you so plainly put it, it doesnt help you. i cant really recomend anything to you. im sorry though.

i don't know....but lemme ask you something. how is your attitude while you're playing and with your instructor? if you're angry or upset a lot, then people might think you're trying to get it over with as fast as possible. that's not playing from the heart. [and i'm not saying that you aren't, or that you are rushing through it. fyi.] so just an idea....

A few years ago i was also really depressed a lot. I just was depressed about everything, when there wasnt to be anything depressed about.

I still remember like it was yesterday...At the begining of my 8th grade year i just said forget it. I didnt want to be depressed anymore, and i wanted to feel better about everything...I dont know how i did it, and it may sound stupid, but i just wasn't depressed anymore. My whole personality was turned around in the matter of days, but at the price of two years of depression. I also noticed that if i had stayed depressed, i may have never done anything with drumming...might have never joined the Drumline or percussion ensemble or do anything, for that fact, and it scares me.

Now i am just about always happy. And everytime i think of something that has the potential to depress me, i just push it out of my mind or think that everything will work out. The main thing that helped me was finding something to look forward to every week, like practice, or goin out to eat...many different things to pick.

Another thing that helped me climb out of the endless hole of depressen was this phrase:

"What ever happens, happens."

That helped me realize that if i did something that made me stressed or get depressed about, it showed me that it has happened and there is nothing i can do but make it better.

I hope that some of that helps you.

drummerbabe before marching season was over I just to be happy around contests, football games, and practices. Some people got in my nerves at practice but hey that happens to all of us. I'm going to the doctor and we are working on making me happy. He suggested drugs but I said no. Hopefully changing my classes will help a little bit. 2 of my buddies are helping me also which is good since I have them there for me. I hate the fact that sometimes I can't sleep anymore. I wish this thing could go away. I have tried to say yes I can do whatever I have to do everyday. I wonder everyday when this thing is going to end. Music has helped a tiny bit during this.

hey there, I know the feeling, but families never let families down. I was once IN a high school line as the center and they never understood my style either. You seem like you want to be there right? So don't give up hope because they don't like the way you smile or play. As for being depressed, everyone can be that way at one point in there life or another. YOu just have to be able to find a true friend to talk to, find something that makes you happy. (Even singing in the shower, someday you could find its something yuo do well. I got a medal for that one) JUst be happy with everything you do, even if others put you down for it.

And always remember we love you!

A waste of time! Drumming a waste of time! Come on! what kind of figures are you looking up to? They don't sound like they care too much about YOU! Why is it wrong to see you happy? Do they not know that drumming makes you happy? What DO they think is a good investment of you time then? As for the director, well I have the same problem with mine. What I do is just play. I know that it is frustrating and it is kinda embarrassing in front of all of your friends but hey YOU know that you can play and that is all that matters. I understand the feelings that you feel when the director tells you to play from the heart. When it happens to me I want him to shupt up and move on instead of picking on me.
Anyways, don't give up your hobbies. Just because your grand parents don't understand the joy of drumming,don't let that be a reason to be sad. Keep playing softball if that makes you happy. Your happiness SHOULD be the most important thing to you parents which leads me to wonder why they aren't behind you 100%.

I really hope that this helps you. I dunno if you will ever read this but remember that there ARE people that care. Now, be happy again! Okay?

I hate it when people imitate us, or ask do you do anything besides drumming. And it really, really makes me mad when people in concert BAND think field band and drum corps are stupid. For you, I would just say ignore what everybody says and just follow your dreams and what YOU want to do. For when you are felling down just go to a happy place. Remember were always here for you.