I got word last week that a friend from college, a FANTASTIC drummer, was in the ICU, hanging onto life by a string, after suffering a cardiac arrest. This all came a month after stem cell replacement therapy due to leukemia. He is like me, late 40s, early 50s. Way too early in life to be dealing with all this - at least I’d like to think so.

He died Friday morning. 51 years old.

The lesson, one we hear more and more as we get older, take advantage of today, because tomorrow is not promised.

I usually don’t change anything after somebody I know or somebody I’m familiar with dies. Will I change this time? Who knows.

I’m trying to post more videos. Write more. Practice with more intention. Book more gigs. Eat a little better. Move more.

How long with it last? Who knows.

All we can do is try today to be better than yesterday.

’til the next thing

Greg

1) Nothing difficult is ever easy.

Don't play the easy stuff again, practice the things you're not good at.

2) S.T.S.D.   

Stop. Take a breath. Slow it down. Do it again.

3)  One surface first.

If you can't play it on the snare drum (or pad) you can't play it around the drumset.

4) Off the left (or right, if applicable).

Make sure to start everything with your weak hand also.

5) Relax.

Control comes from degrees of looseness, not degrees of tightness.

6) Comparison is the thief of joy.

Don't compare yourself to other people. 

7) Consistency is the key to success.

Consistent action creates consistent results.

8) Practice music

Don't just practice patterns out of books or new fills, grooves and licks. Play along with songs. Play music!!!