Drum Teacher, Rachel Scott
Tell us about your formal education in music.
In 6th grade I joined the stage band in elementary school. I played snare drum, tympani drum, and crash cymbals. In 7th grade I began private lessons on the drum kit, and soon I was first chair drum kit in the jazz band at school, we played “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago which was my favorite! In high school I was asked to join some local kids playing drums in their band Razor’s Edge, we played covers mostly, “Smoke on the Water” being our big hit. I went on to achieve a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Michigan.
Tell us about your professional performance experience.
I have had the opportunity to play with some fun bands over the years. I played drums for Alien Jane for some time, we played local venues on 4th avenue like The Hut and Plush and even gathered a following. I have sat in with The Mud Dogs. And I will get behind the kit on jam nights and play whatever songs they call out. Growing up outside of Philly, I am a virtual classic rock juke box of drumming in that sense. I am currently playing drums for a local band called That Penn Thing. We have recently released an album and have had a song played on the radio. We had our first show at Club Congress last month and hope to book another one there in April.
Do you still practice? How often?
I do still practice every day. I don’t really call it practice as much as playing or jamming. I have band practice every Thursday night for 3 hours. When I was in school, I would come home and head straight to the basement, jump on the drums, pop in a favorite tape (yes this was the 80’s) and play the whole thing every day for about an hour, I couldn’t wait! When learning new material, practicing often is essential, and just as important is listening to the material you want to learn. As in any instrument, repetition is the key. I will devote almost as much time to listening to my parts and committing it to memory as playing it. It’s enjoyable to work up new songs and nail it!
What inspired you to start playing music?
I think the music that my parents and friends listened to when I was young inspired me the most. I loved the driving beats of the classic rock and progressive rock that I was hearing and found myself air drumming along all the time! My parents noticed and soon I was encouraged to join the band and was signed up for private lessons. I just loved the drums and had a natural knack for it. I had no idea that drumming was usually something that the boys did. And today when I go out and play shows, I have women come up to me afterwards and tell me how much they wished they had learned drums and how much they appreciate seeing a girl drummer up there. That warms my heart and inspires me to keep going.
Was finding the motivation for practicing hard for you as a beginner?
Is it still difficult at times? For me, I was very enthusiastic and passionate about my instrument. I always took it seriously and still do. As a young learning drummer, I didn’t always have a drum set to play on, and found myself tapping on books and pillows and that made it difficult to get into the groove. Sometimes after school I was tired and wanted to relax, and those days I would maybe give it 10 mins of practice then quit. If you aren’t into it or in the mood it’s hard to get started playing, but i find that once i started, I forgot that I wasn’t in the mood to play and I would play for half an hour before I remembered I didn’t want to play that day.
What advice do have for students who need help getting motivated to practice?
Music is your passion and nothing can stop you from being the best that you can be! Pick a time each day where nothing else is going on and dedicate it to your music. I always played right after school before I got too tired out. I called it Me Time, I want to play music for me and I want to play well and even exceed my own expectations. Write down a “Set List”. Start a list of songs that would like to know how to play. Sure basic rudiments are very important and helpful warm up tools, but ultimately you want to play music. Always have a song or set list of songs you are working on, and play them front to back, not just one beat or one part, but all of the parts. Once i have learned all the parts, fills, and changes of one song, I add it to my completed list, but I still practice it in order to stay sharp. Set Goals and before you know it you are scrambling for your instrument ever! y chance you get.
What types of music do you currently listen to and enjoy playing?
Currently I am listening to Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson, Opeth, as well as some flashing back to the 90’s alternative rock. We are learning “Under the Milky Way” by The Church in That Penn Thing right now. I enjoy playing and practicing to progressive rock and challenge myself to play what I am hearing. Not always so easy! I also regularly revisit the music that inspired me to play the most like Led Zeppelin, Bonzo is my biggest influence in my playing style, as well as The Beatles and Ringo Starr, I Love Ringo! I have compiled a list of songs that I find are great teaching songs and often go over the list with the students and let them pick songs to experiment with. And in doing so I find songs that are fun for my practicing as well.
What do you like the most about the Allegro Student Recitals?
The Allegro recitals are a great way to showcase what you have learned! You spend a few months in a classroom working hard at your craft and now you get to play your music for your family and friends and show them that your hard work has really paid off. There is no better way to get real world experience. It is pure fun and what a relief after you come off the stage and say “I Did It”! It makes everyone proud to see students perform, teachers, family and students alike.
What’s the single most important principle you try to convey to all of your students?
This is a tough one, but I think it is that persistence and repetition is the key. You build strength, stamina, accuracy, and speed. Only by repeated movements can you build what drummers want to achieve which is to smoothly play a beat. You can hear or read a beat and play it easily because you have trained your physical self to able to execute the necessary movements with ease. At first with most drummers we know in our mind what we want to do, it is making our limbs do it that is the hard part. Repetition will smooth out your beats and make your playing more enjoyable!
What aspect of teaching music do you enjoy the most?
That Ah-Ha! moment when a student learns a beat or a fill and plays something wonderfully and they get a huge smile on their face! Music is something they will carry with them for a lifetime, and I feel honored to be able to share what I know with my students and watch them grow and become musicians themselves.
In what ways do you see your students benefiting from learning music?
Learning music can open a whole new world to you. Playing an instrument develops a passion for what you are learning, discipline, self-motivation, accuracy, this can often lead to an outgoing personality and self-confidence which can take you far in life. You develop organization and drive to complete a task. With drummers I see a natural exuberance and a will to Rock On! Every day is “Rockin’ Friday” when you are a musician!
What are your non-musical hobbies and interests?
When I am not rockin’ out, I enjoy photography, fine art, graphic design, Photoshop, online gaming, and spending time with the cats. I love animals. I lived in Michigan for several years and worked as a horse trainer and horseback riding lesson instructor. I love to read and enjoy Art History, Ancient Archeology, Astronomy and Physics. The more I learn, the more i realize i don’t know anything!
What overall advice would you have for all music students, regardless of their instrument?
That would be, Be Passionate about what you do! Play the music that you like, and go after what you want to learn with a gusto that is unstoppable. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t, because you can do it! Pick up your instrument everyday for at least 15 mins. Play that song you have been working on and progress a little further. Every time you play that one riff that gives you trouble, it gets a little easier. Before you know it you are shredding it! Consistency and persistence will see that you become the musician that you want to be! And Keep Rockin’!
Interested in taking drum lessons?
Visit our drum lesson page for more information or request information online.
