Technique or Feel Rules?

Recently, I was asked to give some feedback on the technical aspects of drumming. I don't claim to know a whole lot about it but it's something I won't consider as the end goal for music although I think it has its importance. But one must remember it's a means to an end, not the end in itself.

My approach to drumming is it has to feel good or make the music you're playing feel good. It's about creating art, not a sports event (see http://olichew.multiply.com/journal/item/19 on Vinnie's comments). Rod Morgenstein once said you can play all the fanciful strokes but if people are not dancing to your playing, you've failed. One of the most difficult mysteries in drumming (and that's something I still can't really figure out) is how do you explain or teach feel? Every drummer will certainly have his or her own feel and some artistes/worship leaders will prefer one to the other. Some drummers have a nicer feel than others.

While I can't really pin it down, I believe it's all about where music hits you. If music is about hitting all the fanciful notes than about art, then that's about all the feel you will have. I grew up loving music, particularly mainstream pop and rock. Despite practicing dutifully in the past various techniques, it has always been about the music, forming an emotional connection with it.

But wait you may ask, "If I'm not fanciful, who's going to like my drumming?" That's not the best question to ask. Rather it should be,"How can I contribute and enhance the song?" I don't deny that certain genres require greater technique but if you are lucky enough to be playing that kind of genre (jazz, prog rock, fusion etc), then it should come to you first as music that hits your heart, then the technical training to allow you to express yourself musically in that genre. But if it doesn't hit you emotionally, all the technical training in the world will not make you a wonderful jazz player.

Music has to start with passion. Look at The Beatles. They're definitely not the most technically gifted people, but their music defined a generation. Once, a buddy of mine told me how Guitarist A slammed Guitarist B for not being able to play jazz. My buddy simply told A,"Why do you care? B makes more money than you playing pop music." What rules? Technique or feel? I think The Beatles has given us the answer.