Photography by Lachy Doley

How did your first band happen? How did you start networking?
My first original band was formed with students I was studying with at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium Arts Centre in Lismore. We started gigging around the local spots, met other people/bands who were playing similar music and put together some shows. Meeting people after gigs often lead to further gig opportunities.

How important is knowing how to read music in career development?
I would say that reading music is very important to become a well rounded player. There are a lot of amazing players out there who can’t read and that works for them, but the more you know, the more versatile and employable you become. Don’t limit yourself to ONLY playing music by ear – although it is an important skill to have – being able to also read and write music/charts can only be a good thing. There have been many occasions where I have had to play a show of all new material with no rehearsal and it would have been nearly impossible to remember everything the songs require without making clear notes.

How did you build your profile as a drummer?
So far, I guess I have just tried to make myself as available as I can be to try new things and take every new experience as a lesson. I always try to give a good first impression when I meet people or sit in on a gig. The way I see it, if you can build trust in a musical situation, it will always make the band leader/musical director happy. That is what you want!

What is the role of the drummer in connecting with a live audience?
Great question! I’ve always enjoyed seeing drummers that put on a good show. There is nothing worse than a guy sitting on the drums looking like he’s not having fun. I love playing my instrument, so why not share that feeling with the crowd? I really feel that the energy between the performer and the audience is a very special connection.

How important is it for a drummer to know how to play several styles of music? eg. Jazz, rockabilly, rock and hip-hop?
I would totally recommend that young players immerse themselves in music they don’t really know much about. When I was at university we spent whole semesters learning particular styles of music; it really felt like my skill set was expanding rapidly. As a 20 year old who pretty much only listened to heavy music I never wanted to play blues or jazz, but being exposed to those styles and learning how to speak the language on the drums was the best thing I’ve done in my career. More to the point, learning different styles means you have many more tools at your disposal that can be applied to almost everything you play. You never know what music you will play in the future, so yes it’s very important.

Who are some of your favourite drummers in Melbourne? Why do they impress you?
Firstly, I have to mention David Jones; he has been a huge inspiration to me. His whole approach to the instrument is unique. I have never seen someone be so musical and joyous on a drum kit before. Another guy I always love watching is my friend Shane Evans; he has got some impressive ideas on the drums and really knows how to perform. The drummers I enjoy seeing are people who have a profound love for music, play from the heart and give something special to the music.

What are your thoughts on digital drums vs acoustic drums?
I feel like electronic drums are great for having at home to practice coordination exercises etc, but they just don’t feel or sound the same as real acoustic drums. I have both and try to spend more time on my real drums. With most of the music I am playing these days, I can’t see myself using exclusively electronic drums in a live playing situation, but that’s just me. There are plenty of bands that do a great job with electronic drums and I certainly can appreciate the use of electronic triggers/sample pads as an extension of an acoustic drum kit. There are some amazing things you can do with technology these days and it would be silly to ignore that. I sometimes use a MIDI pad setup with my laptop for certain gigs — the sound possibilities are almost endless.

Do you think eventually, digital drums will replace acoustic drums in both live and studio sessions?
Hmmmm, replace? No. There has definitely been a big shift to people using high quality recorded drum samples in their studios but I don’t see acoustic drums becoming obsolete in my lifetime.

What is the best advice you can give to independent drummers?
Put the practice time in on the kit, learn the songs, be honest and BE EARLY!! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people lose good opportunities by not respecting other people’s time. As I mentioned before, I think getting at least a basic understanding of many musical styles will mean you’re ready when the time calls for you to be thrown into the deep end. Of course let’s not forget, have fun!

Check out Byron’s website at www.byrongoodwin.com