Passing the Sticks

I know that I have mentioned my Uncle Bill.  He is my mother's younger brother and the glue that holds our extended family together.  (Pretty sure I have an "Uncle Bill" label on the right side of the blog you can click on.)  From as far back as I can remember, my Uncle played drums in a cover band.  His band, Avalanche, tried very hard to make it big, but it never panned out.  I can remember going to see their band play in nightclubs from quite a young age.  It's kind of funny, when you think about it, that our parents took us to these night clubs when we were young--but the only thing I remember seeing there was my Uncle playing the drums.  No scarring here.  :)

He and his wife decided, many years ago, that the road life was no longer one that worked for their future.  He then went into law enforcement and is now a Major over a jail in the southern part of Virginia.  Even after he "came off the road" his band played at local nightclubs and we went to see them in areas around Roanoke and Lynchburg for a couple of years.  He retired his drums to his church and played during church services for a while.  During Ryan's first year playing the drums, we took him down to Uncle Bill's church and they played together.  This was HUGE for me!!  Seeing my son play music with the best musician I have ever known was pretty awesome!  Uncle Bill borrowed a small drum set from a friend and they played together.

Here is the You Tube movie from that great day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_1pDm73Es0

We are now almost 2 years later and Ryan's experience level has increased, but Uncle Bill's need for his drums has dropped off.  He is no longer playing drums in church and at first decided he was going to sell them.  He told us this summer that he decided that rather than sell them, he thought he would give them to Ryan since he seemed to be one that was going to stick with drums and continue playing.  Upon hearing this, I started to cry.  The drums probably mean more to me than they do Ryan--from a sentimental standpoint anyway.  Ryan DOES love having them!  He plays them often.  They are different than the drums he plays in band, but they are good to practice for when he is part of a famous singers band one day.  ;)  Or my dream job for him--having a job on Dancing with the Stars by playing music for the dancers!!  Assuming that show is on for years to come.  He really should graduate from college first.  :)

So, Uncle Bill packed up his drums (or they may have already been packed up) and he and my Aunt brought them to our house this past summer.  They brought them the day before Ryan left for camp.  That was hard for him as he wanted to stay and play them.  :)  Here are Ryan and Uncle Bill and Mike setting them up.

Once they were set up, I kept trying to get Ryan to play and copy what Uncle Bill was doing.  He was having no part of it while people were there.  Uncle Bill said he was like that when he first started playing--not wanting to play in front of people.

Once we all left the basement, he played and played all evening.  And has been playing ever since.  Uncle Bill encouraged him to listen to songs and then practice playing what he hears in his headphones.  He has started doing that a little bit.  It is really great hearing him play songs that you can identify and know what he is playing!!  In band, I am not always familiar with the songs they play.  My lack of musical know how.  :)

Thank you Uncle Bill!  These drums are so special!! I hear my son playing them in our basement and can remember going to my Grandmas house and hearing my Uncle playing them (well, a different set of drums back then) in her basement.  And being afraid to go down there.  :)  I hope Ryan continues drumming for years and can make a career out of this!  Both of his band directors have indicated that this can happen for him as he is quite talented.  Hope he sticks with it and keeps learning!!!