Hey drummers, looking for some motivation? In our Drummers Stick Together series, veteran drummers share their personal stories to inspire you to stick with it and pursue your passion….
Lindsay Bird is the drummer for the Canadian rock ‘n’ roll band Dirty Jeans. She has been playing drums for over 14 years. Here, Lindsay shares her story to encourage beginner and intermediate drummers to keep on rocking!
What inspired you to start playing drums?
I have been playing drums for about 14 years. I started out playing trombone in my middle school jazz band. I was seated very close to the drummer, and I was always watching and listening to the drums, I was just drawn to it I guess.
I really wanted to play drums in the jazz band but, I had to wait until the drummer graduated. As soon as he did, I jumped right in there and I haven’t stopped since.
As a beginner, what kept you motivated to continue to practice and work hard?
Honestly, what kept me motivated was proving people wrong. Early on, I heard a lot of comments like “well, you’re pretty good I guess, for a girl.” I even got comments from teachers when I said I wanted to play drums. I remember one teacher saying “well, the boys get first pick on drums, so don’t be surprised if you can’t play this year.”
I wanted to show everyone that I could do it, and be just as good as the boys, if not better. I feel like that made me push harder and want it more, I had something to prove.
So girls… if someone tells you that you can’t play drums like the boys, just don’t listen to them, its as simple as that! There’s absolutely no difference if you’re male or female, it’s just less common for people to see a female drummer, but we can change that!
Just be confident in your ability, there’s no competition between sexes. Be the best drummer YOU can be, and as long as you’re happy with what you’re doing, that’s all that matters.
What’s the one thing you wish you knew as a beginner?
I wish I knew how to make the most of my practice time. I would spend most of my time doing the things I was already good at because it sounded good and made me feel good.
Instead, I should have been working on my weaknesses and only spending a bit of time on my strengths.
What do you love most about playing drums?
Playing drums is just an amazing outlet for me! It truly makes me happy, all aspects of it. Spending time at home alone practicing is very calming and it makes me focus, which is important in life; to be able to just shut everything out for a while during your day and just drum.
Of course, full band rehearsals are amazing and so much fun. It’s a great feeling when you really click with the people you’re playing with, it really gets the creative juices flowing.
Playing live is like no other feeling. Just feeding off the crowd and the rest of your band; its hard to describe, I absolutely love it!
Which famous drummer would you want to play with, and why?
If I could jam with one famous drummer, I would choose Travis Barker. I’ve bee drawn to his drumming for a long time now, I love his style and his creativity.
Not only is he an amazing drummer, but he’s truly an entertainer. The way he performs is just amazing to watch. Also, the way he writes drum parts is crazy to me, and I think I could learn a ton from him.
Plus, of course, he seems like a really cool guy.
When it comes to drumming, what does success look like to you?
My ultimate goal is for drumming to be my full time job, and to possibly teach or have some part time music-related job. Rather than working full time and drumming part time, ideally, I’d like the opposite.
Success to me is to be able to play for a living, to be financially stable doing what I truly love to do.
What advice do you have for anyone who is just getting started?
It’s important to push through and be patient in the beginning stages, because in the end, it’s really worth it.
You become a much more versatile player in the long run, and that makes it that much easier to get gigs, whether it’s studio gigs, or with your band.
The tighter you become, the harder you work, and the more dedicated you are to your craft, the farther it will take you in the future!
Want to see Lindsay in action? Check her out with her band Dirty Jeans on their YouTube channel.
Ready to turn your drumming dreams into reality? Sign up for lessons with a private drum instructor today!
Maile Proctor