What does living an extraordinary life mean to you? World travel? Sky diving? Writing a best-selling novel?
These life experiences and accomplishments are exciting. But what about all of the life in between these peak experiences? Don’t we want each day to be extraordinary?
To make this happen we need to find and engage in acticities that are meaningful and at least a little bit challenging.
A Personal Example
As part of my retiremernt life, I have been teaching myself to play the drums. It has been very exciting.
I have always had an interest in drumming. For as long as I can remember, I have been an avid steering wheel drummer for every song that comes on the car radio. Even now, I find attending to the drum parts of each song I hear to be one of the best ways to learn.
But the idea of bringing a loud drum kit into my home was a non-starter. It would have been torture for my wife and daughter.
Then I discovered, although I am not sure how, that drums can be electronic and silent. All of the sound comes through my headphones. An amplifier can be hooked if I wanted to play to an audience, but I haven’t done that. I do have a second set of headphones available if someone wants to hear my playing.
I connect my iPhone to the control module and play along to music I have recorded or play to songs I stream from Apple Music. And away I go. It’s so much fun.
It wasn’t too hard to get started.
How I Did It
Before I committed to buying a drum kit, I wanted to make sure that real drumming (as opposed to the steering wheel kind) was going to work for me. I had some doubts. Was this just a fantasy? Would I have the coordination and musical instincts to pull this off? How was I going to learn?
So I started slowly, with the following steps.
1 – I bought some drum sticks and a rubber drum pad. Then I tried to learn some stick control by practicing on the pad. I also watched YouTube videos to learn what beginner drum strokes I should be learning.
After a few months of practicing, maybe 15 minutes a few times a week, I felt I was learning some control. I learned a few basic strokes, such as singles, doubles, flams and paradiddles. It turns out that these basic skills are all you need to play along to most popular rock songs.
2 – I felt ready to move to a drum kit, but not ready to spend hundreds of dollars for a kit to sit gathering dust in my basement. So I rented a full electronic kit from a local music store, which included a base drum and high hat. It cost about $45 per month. They showed my how to set it up, which was quite simple.
I brought it home and started practicing the stroke basics I learned on the drum pad. Then I started adding in some simple fills to my repetoire and finding my way around the kit. The transition went really well. I made sure it was more about having fun than being disciplined. This fit with my impulsive nature. For me, it was the best way to learn and to keep going.
Next, from YouTube, I learned some beginner grooves or beats for a few simple songs. I connected my iPhone to my kit, accessed some familiar songs and started playing along. I was on my way and it was so exciting.
The more I practiced the faster and better I got. I started learning more complicated songs, even jazz and latin songs which I love. Some days it feels like everyting is coming together and I am really improving. Other days, I can’t keep up or am just not “in the groove”. Then the better days come back and I keep going.
3 – Then after about six months playing on the rental kit, I was ready to take the plunge. I went ahead and purchased the kit I was renting and got a discount for some of my rental fees. I bought the Alessis Nitro kit full kit retailed at about $700, pictured above. I have since added an extra electronic cymbals and cow bell. (You have to have a cow bell for it to be real).
And there you have it, 1, 2, 3. I have been playing in my basement for about 18 months now, 2-3 times a week and still loving it.
One of the amazing side benefits of this retirement project has been a greater love of drumming (and even music in general). I enjoying reading about the lives and styles of great drummers and watching them play on YouTube.
I have learned that not all drummers have the hard to attain skills of Buddy Rich or Steve Gadd. Many are quite ordinary, but can still get the job done. Dave Grohl, drummer from Nirvna and the Foo Fighters, has trouble keeping time during performances, which is an essential drumming skill. So his band added a strobe light to help him stay on track with the song they are playing..
I have also learned that many highly skilled drummers have been self-taught, including Jon Bonham, Ringo Starr and some say even Buddy Rich.
If you want to be wowed, check out a very popular YouTube drummer, El Estepario Siberiano. He is a mostly self-taught wild man from Spain with unbelievable hand speed and a fun rapport. He descibed building his skills during a tough year of alcohol, anti-depressants and practicing eight hours a day.
You don’t need his level of obsession, nor his hand speed, to play most songs. But he is fun to watch. His style fits mostly within a metal genre.
Music Makes Everything Better
And in so many ways. Here are some to consider.
Music boosts your mood – Listening to upbeat or favorite songs can instantly lift your spirits and gives you energy.
Music improves focus and productivity – Instrumental or background music can help you concentrate, block distractions, and get you into a flow state while studying or working.
Music reduces stress and anxiety – Slow, calming tunes (like classical or ambient music) can lower your heart rate and cortisol levels, helping you unwind after a long day.
Music motivates you to exercise – Energetic music increases endurance and motivation, making workouts feel easier and more enjoyable.
Music helps you sleep better – Gentle, soothing music before bed can help relax your mind and body, easing the transition into sleep.
Music enhances creativity – Music can spark imagination and new ideas, especially when you’re doing creative work like writing, painting, or brainstorming.
Music strengthens social bonds – Sharing playlists, singing together, or going to concerts connects people and fosters a sense of community.
Music encourages movement – Even if you’re not exercising, music can make daily chores or cooking more fun by getting you to move and dance around.
Music creates routine and structure – Using specific songs for morning wake-ups, workout sessions, or bedtime can anchor your day and give it rhythm and balance.
Music enhances spiritual connection – For many, music can be a bridge to something larger than themselves — whether that’s faith, nature, or inner peace.
Music builds confidence and self-expression – Singing, playing an instrument, or even curating playlists lets you express who you are and boosts self-esteem.
Music improves memory and learning – Music can enhance cognitive function, memory retention, and even language learning by creating emotional and rhythmic associations.
Music provides healing and emotional release – Music therapy is used to support recovery from trauma, grief, or illness, offering comfort and catharsis when words fall short.
Music gives life rhythm and meaning – From celebrations to quiet reflections, music punctuates life’s milestones and everyday experiences, reminding you of your journey and growth.
Some Added Benefits
Music can take the drudgery out of everyday chores – like the endless task of picking up toys and clothes from your children or grandchildren. Or cleaning out your neglected garage or basement.
Put on your headphones (or AirPods), that seem to channel the music right into your brain. It makes the music more intense and gives you more energy. Then, with your favourite music playing, you can transform chores into a little fun.
You could also get lost in some fascinating music trivia like A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs. The history, video clips and details about famous musicians’ lives is hard to put down once you start. Thank you to Seth Godin, for this idea. He got hooked quite quickly.
Live music or theatre creates joy and meaning for many people. My wife and I recently saw MJ The Musical in Toronto. The music and dance numbers were riveting. Every performer seemed to excel. And, of course, the actors that played the younger and adult Michael Jackson were truly unbelievable. Imagine the hours and hours of dedication it takes to achieve such perfection.
The beauty here is that you can draw in energy and joy to your life just by watching and engaging. You don’t even have to learn to sing or dance. But, if you do have a little experience with singing, dancing or music, your enjoyment will be all the greater.
How better to appreciate the talents of artists than to try and take a few steps in their shoes.
Stay tuned for Your Extraordinary Life (Part 2) coming soon. And please share any and all ideas from this post and website. I would really appreciate that.
Until next time, let our warm hearts soar!
Michael
michael@aWarmHeart.ca
And thank you for caring that little bit extra – it really makes a big difference.
