The drum set, simply put the drum kit, has been voted Instrument of the Year 2022. This title has been awarded since 2008 on the initiative of various regional music councils. This is intended to arouse broad interest in the instrument. The SZ spoke to Sascha Gotowtschikow, who has been teaching drums at the Dreiklang music school in Putzbrunn and Neubiberg for eight years, about the appeal of drums, cymbals and the like and the joy of banging it out. The school in Putzbrunn now has a special offer for children, young people and adults who are interested in the drum set or other percussion instruments: If you register by Monday, February 28th, you will receive a 20 percent discount on a trial month or the three-part kick-off – Map by Gotovchikov.
SZ: Get excited: Why was the drum set rightly named Instrument of the Year?
Sascha Gotowtschikow: Unlike other instruments like the violin, you sit down and can play relatively quickly. You quickly feel a sense of achievement. I have students who play quite well after two weeks. It is also good for motor skills and coordination. If you’re a bit sporty, it’s easy. You can also release your energy. When I was 15 I saw a drum kit and I knew I had to have it. I’ve always loved drumming on all sorts of things.
What’s the most fun – thrashing the drums or stroking the pool with a broom?
It depends if you play in a band. Some students hardly dare to drum at all. Some really go for it. That’s fun. It’s like a workout. I used to practice for an hour easily. You can tell. The fascinating thing about drums is that you learn to play all sorts of things at the same time. For example, you learn to play two- and three-note rhythms at the same time. That also does something in your brain. It’s amazing what you can accomplish over time.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve done with drums?
Technically, there are always new things. For example, you can play the cymbal with a bass bow. One can experiment. But probably the craziest thing was that long after a performance with the musical “Westside Story”, the conductor called me and asked me if I wanted to play the drums for Westside Story in Palermo the next day. I flew there That was crazy, just playing without a rehearsal. But it went quite well.
The standard drum set includes a few different sized drums and cymbals, but there are also additional instruments such as logs and cowbells. What is the most challenging to play?
It depends on the style which additional instruments you have. Cowbells are often used when someone is playing Latin, often accompanied by congas. However, none of these are particularly difficult to use. Coordination is the challenge. You have two hands and feet that have to work together. The challenge is to switch from the drum set to the xylophone. That still excites me.
There are some drummer icons who can or could do all of this like in their sleep. Keith Moon from The Who, who was bursting with energy and liked to smash his instrument after the performance, or Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones, who was more of the balancing part in the band. Who impressed you more?
I’m 61 now. I’ve seen all the bands. I found The Who’s drum set impressive. The bigger the better. Ten drums, 15 cymbals. I thought that was great. Charlie Watts had more of a minimal drum set. I’m not a Stones fan either. But even today there are countless bands that have incredibly great players.
If someone is enthusiastic about percussion instruments and wants to start a course now, what should he or she definitely bring with him or her?
A bit of rhythmic feeling, a bit of coordination – anyone who does sports has that – a bit of hearing so that you can imitate simple things. And the will to exercise. If you don’t practice, you won’t get any further and that’s frustrating.