Me: I'm pretty sure I'm getting close to advanced. Me after a Thomas Lang video: WTF have I been doing all these years, I play like toddler banging pots and pans...

Best line. “no ones standing around with a clipboard”. That sums it up.

Awesome answer! I needed to hear that in order to organize some things in my mind

Things I'm 100 at: watching KZfaq videos about drumming Things I'm a 0 at: implementing things I watch from KZfaq videos about drumming Thanks Adam.

Very good answer dude thanks for this video❤️

I started to write a big ol' comment. Ultimately, you nailed it. My success over the course of 30 years as a self taught drummer is relative to me. I have made good money in original bands, still collect small royalties, and continue to play in other bands. I have enjoyed the hobby of cover bands, and make money doing that. I make enough that I claim taxes on drumming in bands, separate from my regular career. However, I am, overall, in my geographical region, and among my peers, not considered a "professional". Many have indirectly explained their position on a "pro" drummer as someone who is popular, making money, sponsored, on a tour, and/or play complex rhythms and beats. Hence, my feeling, after 30+ years of playing drums, I feel like a novice among my drumming community. Kinda sucks actually, and makes me feel like I am in high school teenage social politics. Anyway, I like your video, your answer, and dig your scene. Much love

Love your answer it's hard one . Like I was pro because thsts all I done . But now semi pro because I earn money now and again. But practice every day . It's so hard to put a label on your self nice one Adam

That's described best....who cares about the levels... All have their own style and passion about music... And You are the best professional Drummer......💚. You always influence the drumming community... 😄

That‘s a great answer, Adam. At the end of the day there‘s no one asking any drummer if he does his job (leading the band through the songs/set, keeping time, playing tight) when people have fun listen to the music and see a good show.

Adam a very good reply in my view. This is a complex area as you suggest. For example I want to write that perhaps being able to read complex drum parts is a demarcation between intermediate and advanced. But there are drummers who are advanced in my view who do not read well or at all. Same for the other categories you list. Cheers.

When people start calling to book you and pay you, and (or) young students want to book lessons after seeing you play... You're rounding the _advanced_ neighborhood. It's just a label, I'm working towards not cringing when playing back a practice video... _(I had no idea I did that rudiment so many times per minute when improvising to a back track, now I will never play it again?)._

I love this answer❣ I played in an Alternative/Classic Rock cover band and made $100 a pop but, I f****** sucked, lol! I realized later that you need to go back to the playbook and aspire to be better. The cruel twist is that the more you learn, the more you understand you will NEVER be good at everything. So we are all just a great big amalgamation of the stuff we've practiced the most. I would even go so far as to say that you are some small percentage of every drummer that you love...🤔❤🥁

Thank you from korea

I think even the absolute masters of their style of drums like Taylor Hawkins with rock and buddy rich with jazz are most likely intermediate at other styles of possibly even beginner!!

💪💪💪💪💪

Yup. Beginner, early intermediate etc, no one really cares. It’s better to score yourself on things like Time keeping, Dynamics, Independence etc, and even out the weaker areas - those are concrete things to work on. Later, other musicians are going to then perceive you as “better than you were before”, which is great news. And if you think you’re a 100/100 anywhere, just look at the latest Tomas Lang, Animals as Leaders or say Adam video, and adjust your score (at most 99, right?). I know it’s also easy to sit through Stick Control on a practise pad and become infinitely good at THAT, but your drum kit playing is about the same as it was a year ago. You have to map what you practise to the actual goal you have, and measure on the goals. If you want to ace drum solos, record and analyse those, not how many times you’ve done Stick Control. Stick Control is just one method to improve your hands ( & feet).

If your style works in ur context, youre solid. If not, moar practice. Lars is in the biggest metal band ever nah meen

If you have to ask...

I have a really easy way that this could be qualified and quantified. Pick five songs and have any drummer always attempt those five as the pinnacle of a style. If everyone tries the same five then we will have a very easy way to compare ourselves. The closer you can play it to the original, the higher your rating. If you play all five exactly correct than you are advanced. I’m gonna vote the first song on the list should be Tom Sawyer by Rush. Next is hot for teacher. Who wants to pick the other 3? We need a double kick song, a jazz song, and maybe a Latin style song