Noise

Noise:
The world is full of all kinds of noise. Not just the kind you can hear. Fear, Anxiety, Anger, all create psychological, or spiritual if you will, noise. I Remember talking to Dave Weckl in the van one day after he had given a clinic/master class, and he said something that really stuck with me. He said “most beginning drummers make a lot of noise. One of the first things I try to teach them is to not make any sound that is not music”. He said a lot of them don’t make it past the first fill. Saxophone players do the same thing only our noise is less obvious as to what it is. Advanced musicians of any kind playing jazz especially can have the same issue. In my opinion and experience, the mind causes a lot of noise. One little mistake and off to the races! Nervousness, insecurities, judgement, of self or what someone else may or may not be thinking. It’s crazy! The listener may not know what it is but he or she can definitely feel it! When we had Dave’s acoustic band with Tom Kennedy, Makoto Ozone, and Myself, there was only joy, humor, excitement, honesty. We were all happy for each other being there. It was a noise free environment. The only comments I ever got were about how much fun that must be. I want that now. Whenever and whoever I play with. Not easy. But oh so worth it!