How To Finally Start Believing In Yourself As a Drummer

Do you believe in yourself as a drummer?

Or would you say that you’re at maximum an ok musician?

Maybe you’re just experiencing a not so nice episode in your musical journey right now.

You literally think everything you do or play suck.

But this will pass by. Even if you don’t see the end of this exhausting stage now.

It could be that you lack self-confidence as a drummer as well.

Know this nagging feeling?

Also, it does not have to be triggered by any external event.

You just feel like you suck at drumming.

Somehow, you simply can’t believe in yourself as a drummer.

Does this make sense?

Yeah, I suppose.

Trust me when I say: We all struggle.

A lot of people don’t want to talk about this.

But I think it’s really important to do so. It helps to release the thing.

After all, we’re just humans.

We feel great about things. And we sometimes really don’t.

So in this article, I’ll share some personal tips on how you can start believing in yourself as a drummer from this day on.

Ready? Let’s go.

Embrace The Drummer You Are

It could be your spouse.

Your mum or your brother.

They all believe in you.

Or perhaps they don’t.

What about you?

When it comes down to drumming, what do you feel?

It’s fun, isn’t it?

I’m sure you’ll love playing the kit.

You have to, or else you wouldn’t be reading my blog.

However, thinking about the fun you have while playing the drums might not be enough.

You just want to be better.

Be better than this certain person. Better than yourself. Or wishing to be a whole different drummer.

Let’s have some more real talk: It’s perfectly fine to be jealous or frustrated.

As I said, we’re all human.

To start believing in yourself as a drummer, you have to know this: The way you currently feel is perfectly fine.

• It’s ok to be insecure,
• have bad times or
• even be thinking of giving up.

Accept it. It is how it is right now. I know that’s hard. And yes, I also struggle with that. But that’s ok.

Because if you accept what is there, a lot of weight is taken from you. You might feel a sudden lightness.

I did when I first learned this:

It’s ok not to be perfect.

My darker sides are part of me, just as the brighter ones.

I can accept both.

Heck, I even love them.

This realization might give you the same freedom as it gave me.

You don’t have to be perfect to be a great drummer, musician or human.

After all, ask yourself what perfection should be.

What this person said? Or … what?

So the crucial part to start believing in yourself as a drummer has to be for me:

Accept what is there. Whether you’d describe it as lovable or not.

How I Finally Started Believing In Myself As A Drummer – And How Can You Do So As Well

When something is a very important part of your life, you become utterly attached to it.

It becomes a part of you.

Just like a symbiosis.

Say like: Hey there, I’m Manu, and I’m a drummer. Period.

That’s cool. But it sometimes makes the construct fragile.

I know this from my own experiences:

Being a female drummer for many years now, I had my fair share of critic.

The worst words of criticism of course came from myself.

When it does, you don’t feel like the queen of the drumming world.

No.

To the contrary: When you feel like you suck at drumming, you might think like sucking as a whole person as a whole person as well.

You might be a drummer, yes.

But you’re also a daughter or son, grandfather, comedy fan, vegetarian, CEO, postman or whatever.

You get the point.

You’re NEVER just a drummer.

It’s just one part of what you are. Or better: One part of what you do.

YOU define what you do.

Not the other way round.

So do not let a bad day get you down.

Look for the lovely things in life. Like drumming, yes.

But there always is more.

That’s the tip I really need to share with you: If you want to start believing in yourself as a drummer, embrace your personal musical journey.

Do things. And succeed.

This builds confidence. Do things. And fail. This is experience.

• Read,
• talk,
• try out
• learn and
• repeat.

That’s what I do and did. You don’t start believing in yourself as a drummer only by thinking.

It’s the action that makes the difference.

If you want something, go for it.

Don’t just dream about it.

So ask yourself now: What can you do to become more self-confident as a drummer today?

And then do it.

Not tomorrow.

Now.

Cheers,

Author: Manu Holmer

Hi, I'm Manu Holmer, nice to meet you! As a professional drummer and drum teacher, my vision is to help others transform their lives with the power of music. Let's not only play the drums. Feel the rhythm & and walk to our own beats! View all posts by Manu Holmer