Reading Sheet Music Can Save Your Life . . .

      There are several good reasons for Drummers to learn to read sheet music. This story illustrates one good reason. Here is a story from my own experience.

" I remember a time back in the Mid 1980s when I was working with the rhythm section for a group famous from the 1950s, called The Diamonds, and as back up players, we were also hired to support The Platters another famous vocal group from the 1950s on a 10-day tour of the Pacific Northwest."

The Platters were supposed to show up a day before the tour to rehearse with the band for the show. But, because of transportation issues, the Platters didn't arrive until just about a half hour before show time. We were opening the tour that night at a college in Southern Oregon.

The house was packed, completely sold out, standing room only. Just before the show was scheduled, the Platters' musical director walked in, handed me a stack of charts, and said, "Follow me."

Fortunately, I had spent enough time reading simple concert band charts while in college. While I wasn't a proficient reader then, I could read enough to make it through the show that first night. The tour went on playing to packed houses each night and was a tremendous success, with standing ovations every night.

I could have washed out if I hadn't had a basic ability to read charts. Being able to find your way through a drum chart can be a lifesaver on some gigs. Even having enough knowledge to read changing time signatures from a piano or horn chart can be vital to the working drummer. Today, I use and write charts for much of my recording work.

Not every situation you find yourself in as a drummer will require that ability, but it's good to have it when needed. Over the past twenty years or so, I've had to use charts for many of the shows I've done.

Often, I've been in situations where there just wasn't time to rehearse with the band. Sometimes the music director only has time to throw out a piano or horn chart, and then it's ". . . away we go," and there you are in front of several thousand people. In that kind of situation, you have to make it work, and you can with a little forethought. 

Virtually, for everything I do these days as a side man player, I'm provided with either a drum chart, a piano chart or simply a chord and lyric lead sheet as a road map to the tunes at hand.  It can be a lifesaver when you only have time for one rehearsal before you go live before a real audience.

Your drumming can take you anywhere you want to go. My advice is to always do your best, work hard, support your fellow musicians, have fun, and above all -- Keep Good Time.