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Time Marches On

By Philip Hendrickson

When we make a mistake in the practice room, we stop playing, back up and try again. On the bandstand, however, the song doesn’t (or shouldn’t) stop when we mess up or miss a beat. A large part of being a professional musician is learning how to carry on after a mistake. Find beat one again and get back into the groove as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Once this habit has become ingrained, it can also be put to musical advantage. The time doesn’t stop when we stop playing, so feel free to creatively drop out beats or leave space in the music. Let the song breathe. Some open spaces will give more clarity and emphasis to the things we do play. Chick Corea was a master at this. Watch his live performances, especially later in life when audiences began to know his body of music well. He would stop playing for a few beats or even multiple lines of a song and let the rest of the band and/or the audience move the music along until he decided to rejoin. And then he would probably redirect the energy to even greater effect, as the master he was!

The time carries on whether we tell it to or not. Don’t feel obligated as the drummer to play every eighth note or even every quarter note. As a poet leaves part of the page white, learn to use negative space in the music. It may feel awkward at first, but soon it will feel natural and good. The music will thank you for it.