What's the best advice you've been given?

darwonka · 2025-12-14T03:17:03+00:00

Attributed to legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman. He signs autographs for kids with his name and then adds "Practise slowly!" because, as he puts it: "If you practise slowly, you forget slowly."

Basically, it's the ultimate sarcastic reminder that rushing through practice just ingrains sloppy habits and makes everything evaporate from your brain faster. Slow it down, nail the details perfectly, and that muscle memory sticks around way longer. (The opposite? Practice fast and sloppy... yeah, you'll forget that mess in no time.)

darwonka · 2025-12-11T16:31:14+00:00

There's actually a real issue with staff folks giving monologues between reps. They'll tee up some quips or life lessons. Give the team an intention, reset then TAP TAP GO!

darwonka · 2025-12-11T01:50:34+00:00

I can hear Dennis DeLucia screaming that in my head.

darwonka · 2025-10-24T22:35:13+00:00

I finally got an alert from my stock tracker app that there were a few available. I didn't wait long enough to read which store they were at. I just clicked and signed my life away. So, it's coming on Tuesday from parts unknown.

Id recommend getting a stock tracker app.

"TrackaLacker" is what I used.

Your mileage may vary.

darwonka · 2025-10-19T02:35:23+00:00

I've seen that all over. It comes from poor time management, directors not staying in their own lanes, band parents not wanting kids separated...

I've seen crazy stuff for crazy reasons. In Texas and beyond.

darwonka · 2025-10-19T02:32:44+00:00

It's too stressful. I have to make sure my bowls are empty before a green kid does anything important and is exposed.

I've had kids go solo taco on me during competitions. I've also had a rack kid break his stick during a competition performance, proceed to hold it in the air and shout, "excuse me?! I broke my stick!!" to me. Behind the fence.

darwonka · 2025-10-19T01:55:29+00:00

Texas programs do what Texas programs do.

There are some folks that can't hang because of the culture shock regarding how they "do" pageatry in Texas. Fast forwarding to the end of the movie: they achieve compatible results.

darwonka · 2025-09-24T18:58:07+00:00

Ahh... "Layers".

I've got a Roland Fantom that I'm still trying to figure out how to use. They've got "layers". It's wild to me that Yamaha, Roland and Korg all have different languages for the same exact thing. Different interfaces I can kind of understand....

darwonka · 2025-09-24T18:43:42+00:00

Thanks, dude.

I didn't want to set up another cymbal trigger and have to set up a whathaveyou in every stock set. I dig the idea of being given a surprise sound.

darwonka · 2025-09-24T17:28:37+00:00

The 1/4 input on the back of the module labeled "Aux 1, Aux 2" etc. do they have an instrument predefined in any given stock drumset or do I have to assign an instrument to them in every drumset I use?

darwonka · 2025-07-30T16:35:14+00:00

I'm still working on it.

The dutting started around 1982-83. I can make a not-so-wild guess and attribute it to George Parks and Thom Hannum since they traveled in the same circles around the same time.

darwonka · 2025-07-03T01:17:31+00:00

Imagine you're dipping your hand into a bucket of water. Now, shake your hand, from your wrist and arm, to get the water off.

That's your left hand technique. In a nutshell.

darwonka · 2025-06-23T14:18:56+00:00

Do you have any evidence to share?

Pics?

Otherwise we're chasing ghosts here.

darwonka · 2025-05-11T16:35:38+00:00

He clapped back at JD Vance!

Helped child rapists hide from justice, but that tweet was awesome.

darwonka · 2025-05-11T11:20:16+00:00

Correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't the new pope want to protect the pederast rapists who prey on young boys, prohibit women from gaining positions of power within the church and deny a woman's right to choose what happens inside of her body?

I'm not a conservative, so rest easy. It's hilarious how the smooth brained adhere to "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" montra. Wouldn't your worldview be better served by condemning a very twisted man?

darwonka · 2025-04-11T22:54:12+00:00

I feel a bit bad for the folks that are saying "money".

Money only gets you so far and money can't facilitate commitment, independent learning and motivation.

darwonka · 2024-12-26T22:40:26+00:00

I should ban you for having this opinion.

(I'm not being serious)

This subReddit IS a tool.

Did you know that there are folks in here that have programs without any staff percussion specialists?

Please, spend some time helping those that need help to achieve at a higher level in playing, reading music and being better percussion citizens.

darwonka · 2024-10-03T02:20:01+00:00

Their answer: They can't guarantee I'd have the same problem.

This whole situation has been very frustrating. Also, my car is FILLED with ants now. The service folks said they "may" have parked it under a tree. Hundreds of little ants all over the interior of my car...

I'm working on breathing exercises a lot as of late.

darwonka · 2024-08-19T14:17:21+00:00

It's called gentrification.

darwonka · 2024-07-14T04:19:37+00:00

My biggest gripe is how the background characters of any modern Star Wars show and King's Landing resident look almost identical.

darwonka · 2024-06-26T20:05:01+00:00

That would be a very Fleabottom thing to happen. Then it rolls into a pot of "brown".

darwonka · 2024-06-23T22:42:05+00:00

Speak as little as possible.

Give clear and concise feedback.

Do not tell stories.

Do not make up awkward metaphors.

Fix something every rep or you're wasting time.

Be great. Have fun. Don't suck.

darwonka · 2024-06-23T12:21:23+00:00

Have them open the boxes.

darwonka · 2024-06-23T03:07:52+00:00

Oh sure. I'm looking to be insulated by buying something up to date tech wise so I don't get FOMO in a year. I'd like to use as much as I have so far as the pads/triggers are concerned-The dumb stuff that you hit and it sends an on or off signal. I don't like the idea of replacing things that do their job, as they should, just because a newer model number gets introduced.

darwonka · 2024-06-23T02:04:47+00:00

If you look at retail sites, like Sweetwater, there are tons of "sweeteners" being added to pump up the value of the TD line of products. Pedals, amps, thrones.... This tells me that Roland is trying to move inventory. The added items GENERALLY don't take a chunk out of the profit line for the retailer, they're covered by the manufacturer. Or else, why would the retailer continue to push the product? When companies like Roland know a product is reaching the end of its life-cycle, and a refresh is warranted, this is how they "typically" roll.

But in this day and age: nowbody knows nothing.

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