Growing up in Music…
During the 60’s in Queens, NY, Bob Carter grew up in a musical and artistic family. Always drawing since a small child, Bob also had a fond appreciation for music. He loved Jazz, Pop and Classic Rock, R&B, Funk, and Blues. His father was one excellent electric guitar player and set out to teach his 10 year old son how to play. But the instrument didn't strike the right riff. According to Bob, "The drum sound was more natural to me.” Since drums and piano are related, (piano falls into the percussion family), Bob Carter thinks his love for the drums and art (grandfather was an excellent artist) came from his grandfather, (Mother’s Father) who used his piano playing and art in his comedic entertainment acts in London, England during WWII. At 17, Bob Carter acquired a well-worn, no name drum kit, and set out to learn mainly on his own.
(In later years, Bob remembers having had only two drum teachers in his adult life, and they weren’t anything to write home about.)
As a Career…
1975 Graduate from the “School of Art & Design”, NYC, In 1976, Bob would be hired by a prominent art studio, known as “The Graphic Studio.” in Manhattan, NYC. By 1979, Bob Carter embarked on developing his drawing and graphic art talents freelancing for advertising agencies in his native hometown of NYC. He spent his time drawing story boards for TV commercials, illustrations for books, magazines, newspapers and in later years, computer illustration and designs for T-shirts and logos. Drums would take a back seat, (except for the infamous practice pad), for a number of years, while his advertising career was being developed. It was also during this time from 1983 onward, that Bob Carter would encounter a special relationship with the Creator of the Universe! Picking up the sticks again, wouldn’t be until around 1986, Vineland, NJ, where he and his family lived at the time. It was during these years going onto the 90’s that Bob would dedicate his drumming in churches, and wherever he could get a session.
Recording…
It was also during the late 70’s that Bob started playing with his buddy from Brooklyn, Kevin Kovack, a great electric guitarist, himself. Their musical friendship developed into a busy little pop-rock & oldies band. They played everything from Santana, to Roy Orbison. Around 1977, Brooklyn, NY, recording doors opened up for Bob and Kevin. At age 19, Bob can recall, laying down drum tracks for a contracted radio jingle for “Radio Shack.” In the future, Bob Carter would always find himself glued in some way, to a guitarist. Funny how life is… Ya grow up with one, and they stick to ya forever… lol.
Years later, Bob would be doing a whole lot of live local and long distance playing, not only in West Central Florida, where Bob and his wife and kids would settle down, but through out the US and Canada too. Much of the playing and recording was done with the Spiritual band, known as “SONSUVTHUNDR” (SONS OF THUNDER), circa 1998 – 2000. Going into the new millennium, Bob Carter would also play and record with many other musicians in the Christian community, one band in particular, known as “His Breath.”
Staying in Shape…
Throughout the years, sitting at the drawing board as well as the drum set, can take a toll on ones body. Bob, being very knowledgeable in anatomy, used that knowledge to keep himself together and in shape. Physical fitness has always been a way of living in Bob’s life. It does pay off!
Moved to Teach…
But in 2003, Bob heard a higher calling…
"I was a one-man illustration studio and was just too busy," he said, but he wasn't swayed when people encouraged him toward giving tom-tom tutorials. Teaching wasn't foreign to Bob, having given part time art lessons in New Jersey and Florida. Bob kept his illustration clients as long as possible, but realized when he had enough drum students he would be making a career change. "I got to the point that enough was enough and decided it was time to swap trades," he said. Hence forth… The birthing of “Stick Around Drums.” Bob said the key thing in developing a drummer is patience. "The bottom line is that it is all about people. You need to bend over backwards and go the extra mile to take them to the ultimate goal you have for them. You have to push them, but not beyond what they are capable of." Bob Carter leans on his lifetime as a drummer and commercial illustrator to create a drum curriculum that stresses ingenuity over rote practice. "I want people to take what they hear, what they read and what they understand and fuse it together," he said. "I want them to be a drum set musician and be creative, not just memorize some rat-a-tat-tat." Bob uses his art background as the basis for his drum lessons. "I want people to know there can be color in sound and how they can create beautiful forms in percussion just like a painter does on canvas," he said. For artists, the building blocks are light, form and shade. For drummers, Bob said, it is theory, language, timing and sensitivity. He teaches students to memorize, but he also wants them to understand their role in the band. "They can interpret what the bass player is doing, what the rhythm is, what the musical style is, and what the timing is," he said. "A drummer has to interact and blend with the band. "The drummer is the spine or backbone of the band and has to be more than a human metronome."
“The greatest satisfaction I get is when a student blossoms into their fullest potential, and becomes the great drummer they were destined to be!”
“That is my payment!
The Birth of a Great Drum Set Musician!”
p.s. --- As a special news worthy note… as of Feb 2010, Mr. Bob Carter had taken himself out of art retirement, and started to teach young and old alike --- “How to Draw!”
This company is currently known as The Drawing Point. Please feel free to visit - www.theDrawingPoint.com ---- for art info and samples!
