Q: Bill, what's up? Can I tell you something? I'm having severe issues with the VAST amounts of misinformation being spread mainly by vox populi and youtube/internet articles regarding music education. It's driving me nuts. One of the worst (and I tend to disagree on a lot of things), I think, it's about the myth regarding strength and exercise needed to play an instrument, as if playing guitar, piano or even drums required some sort of strong physical competence to the extent professional athletes do. I truly believe that playing and instruments in general (save some occasions and styles like flamenco or extreme metal, perhaps) are learned through very simple principles applied through musical concepts (or just music), with just standard physical well being (in the majority of cases already achieved) regardless of gender, ethnicity and to some extent age (and there tons of exceptions to my favor to th
 is too!!
  But let's play). I'm seeing people getting hurt trying to get better at their instruments the wrong way and it breaks my heart. I'm a professional musician and educator and I would really like to have your take on this. I think you are a true great musician and am a big fan of your work, by the way! Cheers! P.S.: Just in case, nothing against sports, exercise, fitness or whatever.
A: if you think they are really doing it wrong, you could try to show them what you think is a better way, but if they are not in the mood to hear it then don't worry too much about it. if they hurt themselves a bit later, hopefully they will be more interested in solutions then. but also be careful not to get wrapped up in wishing everyone played like you. it's easy to feel that way. quite often when i see drummers playing matched grip, i tense up and feel uncomfortable watching them. but in reality, it's 2020 and i think 98% of players are matched now. Or to be more specific, i see a surprising amount of players seemingly not doing anything 'moeler'ish whatsoever in their right hi-hat hand. meaning they're not packaging the strokes in groups of 2, in one single motion together. instead they're just hammering away with their entire arm, for every stroke, going through a lot more effort, looking kind of like they're trying to shake a baby or something. But still, it's on you to sell them on whatever better way you have. kind of like, 'hey, looks pretty tiring the way you're trying to pound out every stroke individually, .... well check this out' and then show them. If you sell it well, they will buy it. But it also comes down to whether it's really right for them or not. If it is, they will know, the first time they see it. and if they don't, then it could be time to start seeing other people. i don't really know, i quit teaching after 2 days