Ever felt drumming envy?
You know the feeling:
Watching a video of a kid rocking the drums as many adults can’t.
Maybe you went to a mind-blowing jam lately.
Or you just got caught up in the fun and fancy world of social media.
Drumming envy is something most of us aren’t immune to.
Sooner or later, we’re likely to catch it.
That’s why we need to talk about drumming envy:
It’s nothing you need to be ashamed of.
Drumming Envy? Seems You’re Human
Table Of Contents
In a perfect world with perfect people (and drummers), we wouldn’t need to be jealous.
We would have everything we wanted, right?
No drumming envy needed.
Maybe.
As there is no such thing as a perfect world, we will never know.
So, being jealous seems to stay a human thing.
Whether it’s good or not – you sometimes just can’t avoid it
That’s why I don’t think anybody should be ashamed of it.
I, for example, have a lot of experience with drumming envy as well.
When I was younger, I compared myself a lot to other drummers.
After 15 + years of drumming, however, things have changed.
Basically, my former drumming envy turned into respect and admiration for others.
But still, I’m not fully immune to jealousy.
Hey, I’m human, after all. 🙂
And I really think that’s absolutely fine.
You’re having drumming envy as well?
It’s okay, you’re human too.
However, I also need to differentiate:
Drumming envy can be harmful for others and yourself as well.
That’s when it would be wise to do something about it.
Signs That You Should Work On Your Drumming Envy
I think it’s no big deal to be jealous from time to time.
Actually, you can look your drumming envy straight in the eye and use it as a great motivation to become a better drummer.
However, it’s absolutely not okay to
- mock or
- hate on other people
- or make someone bad to feel better.
Ever happened to you?
I’m not in a position to tell you what to do.
But if I were you, I would find out why your drumming envy has taken a destructive form.
And yes, I know:
You can’t avoid being criticized as a drummer.
Still, there are HUGE differences between criticizing somebody and making somebody bad.
So, that’s when drumming envy is something I highly recommend working on:
If you
- feel harmfully jealous,
- constantly compare yourself and
- become mean to other drummers,
your drumming envy has gotten the best of you.
It’s a good idea to work on your mindset or attitude right now.
Playing the drums should be fun for everybody.
Drumming envy is fine and everything, but there are limits to it.
3 Helpful Tips If Your Harmfully Jealous Of Other Drummers
You feel that your drumming envy has become destructive instead of motivating?
Then the following 3 tips might help you make a shift in your mindset:
1. Remember That Everything Comes At A Price.
Great drummers have spent a lot of time and money to become who they are today.
And when I say a lot, I mean a lot.
Most great artists also had to endure rough times.
Personally, I don’t know anybody who didn’t struggle at some point in his or her musical career.
And that’s what I urge you to remember:
If you watch a video of a great drummer today, you only see a TINY fragment of his or her journey.
You simply can’t know the whole story.
The awesome drummer has paid a price for his or her musical success.
May it be in terms of money, time, or even health.
There is always a lot going on behind the scenes.
And when I say a lot, I mean a lot.
Remember that:
Everything comes with a price, even if you can’t see it.
2. Remember That Everybody Is An Original.
There are no identical human beings out there.
Each of us is unique.
This makes each of us an original drummer as well.
Nobody is able to play the drums like you or me.
That’s impossible.
And that’s the important thing to remember:
As our ways of playing the drums is unique, we’re all great drummers in our own rights.
We can’t be replaced, and therefore, comparing ourselves to others doesn’t really make sense.
Remind Yourself What Playing The Drums Means To You.
Why did you start drumming?
To become better than others, or to impress somebody you probably don’t even know?
Or did you start drumming because it just seemed to be a lot of fun?
May I ask this question as well:
When did things change?
Drumming envy is often a result of feeling inferior to other people.
They seem to have something you want but don’t possess (yet).
Sometimes jealousy is also a result of feeling that somebody has something he or she hasn’t really earned.
Like being able to play in a certain band or having way more followers than you.
But again, ask yourself:
How important are such things really, compared to the joy drumming gives you?
Don’t get me wrong here:
It’s great to work on your drumming skills, social media following, and other things that are important to you.
But in the end, having a good time making music should matter most.
That’s why you started, right?
If your drumming envy has become somewhat destructive, it’s a good time to take a step back now:
Think of why you really started.
Remind yourself of what playing the drums means to you.
This can help transform destructive drumming envy into its motivational form again.
And that’s when other things might fall into place as well.
Cheers,
Manu
