Drum Student, Davit F.
Drums are an essential part of any music ensemble. They are the backbone of any rock band and any style of rock music. Drums are equally essential in all kinds of popular music. Whether it’s Hip-Hop, Dance/Electronic, Pop, Disco, etc., having a good beat is what drives it all. Like the famous jazz song by Duke Ellington titled “It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing“, rhythm is an essential part of any song or musical group. A drummers role in a group is by no means an easy one. As you will soon find out, drummers keep track of and implement a lot of the changes that happen within one song.
Drum Skills
A drummer’s primary role is as timekeeper of a song. They hold the reigns and control for when a song speeds up or slows down. This alone is a pivotal responsibility as changes in tempo can develop the entire character of a song. Even if there are no tempo changes, it is key to have a drummer who is able to keep a steady pace for the duration of a whole song.
Musicality is another skill. Drummers need to sound the transition of a song from one section to the next. They often develop these transitions using drum fills, changes in patterns or use of specific drum/cymbal combinations. Having the ability to execute these changes and techniques in real time takes years to develop. So drummers need to be dedicated musicians with strong practice habits. The stamina needed to play drums also means a drummer is an athlete. Like any athlete, drummers need to take care of their bodies to keep from injury.
Another ability is flexibility. For any one style of music, there are innumerable drum patterns to know for that style. A good drummer will be well versed in as many styles as possible to be able to play with as many groups as possible. So, a good drummer needs to be able to recall any number of drum style patterns from memory. Think about that-having to know a samba, mambo, bossa nova, rock grooves, swing, funk, reggae, or country to name a few. That is A LOT of drum patterns to have ready at your fingertips and feet!
In His Teachers Words
Davit has been taking both drum lessons with SMMC since June 2023. Currently, Davit studies drums with Mr. Dave Salay. Dave holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Cleveland State University. He has held the position of Principal Percussionist with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and as section percussionist with the Louisiana Orchestra. With the latter organization, Dave spent a lot of time in community outreach programs giving private drum and percussion lessons to children in New Orleans neighborhoods. Mr. Dave writes:
“Davit is always ready for his weekly drum lesson. He always shows up prepared and eager to learn. His dedication to practice really shows and he’s never afraid to tackle new challenges. No matter how hard a particular song or groove gets, Davit stays patient and persistent in learning the material. It’s this steady and even tempered personality that has made Davit a capable young drummer. Davit’s passion for drumming is clear, and I am proud of his growth and hard work. Keep rocking, Davit!”
SMMC loves to hear about students taking on challenges in a productive, constructive and mature manner. Awesome work Davit!
Davit During A Recent Drum Lesson
Enjoy this performance of Davit during a recent drum lesson
Meet the Student
We like to ask our Student Of The Month award winners a set of questions revolving music and their general interests. Here is what Davit had to say about what he likes, what motivates him and his general interests.
How long have you been playing your instrument?
“I’ve been playing drums for a year, and I enjoy the freedom to improvise when playing songs.”
If any, who are some of the artists you look up to for your instrument? Why do you like these artists?
“ I look up to John Bonham of Led Zeppelin and John Dolmayan of System of a Down. I look up to them because of their ability to play captivating and powerful drum beats without overplaying or trying to monopolize the music.”
Thank you for sharing Davit! Keep up the fantastic work, practicing and great music!
Meet The Instructor
Dave Salay, originally from Cleveland, OH, holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Cleveland State University. There he studied with Tom Freer of the Cleveland Orchestra. He has held the position of Principal Percussion with the West Virginia Symphony and section percussion with the Louisiana Philharmonic. He has performed with orchestras across the country including the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Dave has worked as a drummer in Cleveland and Los Angeles. He is an artist for Pearl Drums, Adams Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals and Freer Percussion. As former adjunct faculty at Loyola University of New Orleans and Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra, Dave loves teaching students of all ages and levels and believes in making music fun.