Try Using a Different Metaphor

Some leaders only believe in winners and losers. That's a toxic way for a leader to think.

What does it mean to think about art in military terms like in the book War of Art. In the War of Art Steven Pressfield talks about the fact that every metaphor is imperfect. Try different metaphors for your art and for your life.

I recently watched a deep dive with Austin Kleon (Author of Show Your Work, Steal Like an Artist, and more) and Ali Abdaal (productivity Youtuber). Austin Kleon recommended reading feminist writers. They give you a whole different model to think about the world. It's not based on competition or hierarchy.

Young men growing up are given crappy metaphors. Some leaders only believe in winners and losers. That's a toxic way for a leader to think.

Some leaders always think in 0 sum terms. There has to be a loser... in my opinion that's not how you should run a society.

I have made it my goal for this next couple months to study feminists and people from different cultures to widen my lens and see the world from other perspectives. Men's perspective is typically hierarchical. Western World is all about linear progress, whereas Eastern World is more about cyclical progress.

There is a clear correlation between this cyclical progress and creating art. Think about an author writing books. Think about a musician preparing for concerts. This progress is not linear, but cyclical. My most recent change in thinking is to be okay with cyclical progress rather than linear progress.

I Took 3 Private Lessons Last Week (April Spotify/Youtube Drum-Along Playlist)

Man has it been great getting more practice time in. I have a new piano teacher, Eric Baker. I am currently working on some jazz piano fundamentals. It has felt liberating learning to read lead-sheet notation. Eric has done a fantastic job connecting the theory and percussionist wires in my brain while adapting them to piano. Our first lesson was simple. Learn to play all major scales 2 octaves and learn all dominant 7th chords with inversions. With my background on marimba this immediately got my hands up and running. So far I’m through Freddy Freeloader and I’m diving into Autumn Leaves (I know… we’re starting BASIC!)

I also had a private lesson with Ian Shepherd that completely changed how I think about my feet at the drumset. It’s amazing what tightening the spring on your pedal can do for your technique! This guy has been teaching me since I was 16 and I still go to him when I’m trying to troubleshoot my hands and feet. I’m currently working on playing the infamous page 8 in George Stone’s Stick Control with my feet.

Last, I took a private lesson with Amir Oosman. This guy is NUTS. Yes—he’s an INCREDIBLE drummer—but we did zero drumming in our lesson! Instead we focused on online marketing and social media. His understanding of social media and setting up an online presence blew my mind. I left that lesson inspired to create more content at a higher level. Check out his instagram here.

So what am I drumming to? My April playlist of course! If you’re late to the party that’s okay. Each month I curate a playlist that is designed to practice with. Each track increases incrementally in tempo from about 80bpm to around 180bpm. All the music is school appropriate so feel free to use it with your students! Keep an eye out for a drum-along on my facebook coming soon!