How many people know what it's like to do something that you loved for a long time (like being a drummer for example), and then forced to stop? Yes, i did read the "Time to vent......." forum a couple of times to see how i related to it. The only differences are loving it and just flat-out quitting. I would, if i could, at least try out for a corps, but then again, just like CoosCoos, something would stop me. Most of the time it would be my mother. If it wasn't a corps that i wanted to join, it would be a college band. But it's like every college that i wanted to go to, you would have to have a GPA of 3.8+, done 2 years of a different language, and/or taken advanced classes in your high school years. It's very hard for someone like me to just stop what i'm doing, even though i've helped out countless musicians in my high school. This includes choirs, strings, and keyboard.

I've written so many pieces of music for others and myself for 10+ years. Getting paid and getting "great(s)" are what i usually recieved. But i don't know what to do with it all. Now, i'm like...."what am i doing? Why am i playing on my practice pad like this for countless hours?" I don't have a reason to...but yet, i still love it. It's like something i'm suppose to not stop doing, even though i now don't have a reason to do it. I don't know if i should just give up on drumming and start a career in music composition, or just start something new. That's why i'm -stuck-.....

i know what you mean; drumming gets you nowhere, you're running out of time FAST, and you need a career and a college, except you took the wrong math class in sixth grade [which of course predicts what math class you will take for the ENTIRE REST OF YOUR STUPID LIFE] and so you can't get into that college you want to go to....it sucks. but can't you write music AND play? in fact, you could write a lotta stuff..battery pieces, band ensemble pieces, anything.


trust me, i've almost given up drumming-even though i love it, it wasnt taking me anywhere. my spot on the bassline [and i just love bass drum to PIECES] is in jeopardy from some OBOE player who can't play even eights or even keep her fingers on the sticks. but instead of thinking about why NOT to do it, think of why you DO do it. make a list. here, i'll start.

1. it relieves stress

2. it keeps your arms nice and muscular-y

3. girls think drummers are hot [there IS a reason why the DL is always attacked by the colorguard.]

4. it impresses stupid non-drummers [dude, check that out! he's playing EIGHT NOTES on ONE HAND!!!! NO WAY!!!]

5. its relaxing



now your turn!



just trying to help. good luck!

I would rather be a drum-bum living on the streets, than a successful non-drumming person. I just could'nt live without drumming. Either way, anyone can make money off of drumming simply by writing music and selling it, even if your like me and you get F's in every class except band. Although, I do plan on having a career in the sanitation department, otherwise known as a trash man, because you need no educational requirements (I think). If you do, oh well.

Well if you are going to quit you better think about it first. Talk to whoever is making you quit and explain to them how much drumming means to you. Ask your drum instructor or your director to talk to your parents. I had to do that so I could stay in drumline. Explain things to your drum instructor and ask for him and you to talk to whoever is making you quit.

I get that a lot from everyone about my music... I hate it, makes me want to kill whoever is doing it. However that's not the idea. I think you should stay in all of it, just make sure you have the right balance. I do quite a bit of work in percussion while still maintaining my work in school(APs, Honors, college classes, etc.) as well as on piano(my primary instrument), choir, orchestra, learning other instruments, etc. It's possible, just takes a lot of work. Especially as you pursue degrees in college in certain fields in music, you definitely continue work in all other fields of music, your different instruments, theory, conducting, and other things. I'm sure that you would have the time to do both, music composition and drumming, you'll just need to make the proper alot a lotment of time to each.

I would never condone quitting. If its something you love and enjoy doing who cares if you make a career out of it. Let alone there are so many drummers in the world and only a hand full of positions for drummers. I'm a good drummer, but I could never do it for a living, thats why I'm a history major, I can teach history and play drums in the summer and weekends for fun. I figure I could always get a job as a Drum line instructor at a high school or something to keep up.
As for finding a college there are a number of ways to get in anywhere you want short of Yale and Harvard that is. Apply to where you want. But also find a school that will accept you that has a good music program. Towson State University in Maryland has a really good music program and its really easy to get in. My buddy did it and his GPA was about .95, did I mention he got a full ride?
After you're in there just transfer to where ever. Most schools accept transfers easier then they accept new freshmen. just a thought.

How do you get a free ride with .95?

My grades and ACT scores must have been too high to get a full scholarship

I dont know, I was so pissed off when I heard he got a full ride. Bassically the music department gave him all the money he needed. I'm starting to think I went to the wrong school.

If you're good enough at something that the college or university finds important then you can get a freeride pretty easily, even though the idea of a .95 getting in like that is kinda freaky... I've heard of lots of people with like 2.0s though