Learning Songs: Should you learn the exact drum part?

Learning Songs: Should you learn the exact drum part? -- I've gotten this question quite a bit since I started posting the gigging drummer series. When learning a drum part on the drums, should we learn it and play it EXACTLY like the recording every time? Should we ignore the recording altogether? Is there a happy medium?

I've been doing paid cover song gigs (stage shows, clubs, weddings, artists, etc.) since the age of 16. So I have A LOT of experience in this area.

Here's the first thing...learning a new song and the parts that are played is a way to learn a new player. To really dig in to their style.

Secondly, it's a way to learn a new style. To learn what the main players in that style do. How they approach the songs. Many times there are smaller genres within a large genre and the differences have to do with the small nuances in a players parts. It's a fantastic learning tool.

And thirdly...we have to leave room for our own selves to shine through. Some take this too far and completely ignore the original parts. I don't agree with this for the most part. But there is a happy medium (for me anyway).

This is a really important topic. I have friends that play stadiums on a weekly basis...and they are literally playing a "cover" gig. They were hired by an artist to play that artist's songs and represent the album live. But they still manage to put a lot of themselves in to the show.

You can check out the gigging drummer series here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iko62wiOQ_k&list=PL7lhIEq2-30DRH03qUO5xyWyPP9CSMhDi

But what do you think? Leave a comment and let me know!

#StephenTaylor
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Cymbal Setup From Left To Right:

All Zildjian

Hats:
16" EFX Crash on top
16" K Light Top Hat on bottom

18" Kerope Crash

22" K Custom Dark Complex Ride

22" Renaissance Ride
Drums:
Tama Starclassic Bubinga with Tiger Wood finish

Sticks:
Vic Firth 5A

Drumheads:
Aquarian
Classic Clear on toms and snare resonant
Response 2 on toms batter
Hi-Velocity on snare batter
Regularor (Ebony) on kick resonant
Super Kick 10 on kick batter

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Видео Learning Songs: Should you learn the exact drum part? канала Stephen Taylor