Nathan Anderson – Painters, Refugees, and Beat Poets
Season: 1
Episode: 2
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Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
Abraham Lincoln
2 Responses
Hey guys, I love the challenge….unbenounced to me I started this challenge about 2 years ago when I decided that one of the biggest regrets I had from my youth was that I was always an okay to good drummer/percussionist but never great. I wanted to change that…..my axe sharpening began in late 2016 by researching for countless hours on sound isolation and studio design which lead to me building a 10’x14’ sound isolated practice space in my basement. Once I had this was able to practice at the only time available to someone with a full time career and two young children, very early in the morning. Which is okay because I am and have always been a morning person. So I signed up with a great online instructor, took a single in person lesson with the percussion director at Alma College and set after it. That was the summer of 2017 (around June I think)
Since that time, almost everyday (yes even on weekends) I wake up at 4:25am and head down to the practice space or “beat lab” as a buddy of my titled it and I practice for 60-70 minutes. I work on my hands, my technique, my time and my kit playing. So far I have logged over 216 hours of practice time. I have got MUCH better than I ever was before and while joining a band was not and is not the end game I am happy to say that a few months back an opportunity presented itself to join not one but two bands both completely different and I nailed both auditions!
What was really great was the unplanned effect of ade sharpening which was the lessons learned along the way. Lessons about patience, study, passion, time management and dedication that no one had ever taught me in the past that I can now pass on to my children and others. I have applied the same sharpening techniques to my other passions such as sewing/leather work, wood craft and metal work. It also helped me in my career as an engineering manager and instructor.
I encourage everyone to take on this challenge for the rest of your life not just for a week. It WILL pay off.
Spoken like a man who has put in the time doing some stuff. Thanks Garrett.