Neil Peart was one of the greatest drummers of our time. Even at the height of his career as a performer and composer with Rush, he wasn’t satisfied to sit back and just play shows. He challenged himself to analyze his technique and improve taking drum lessons with legends Freddie Gruber in 1994, and Peter Erskine in 2008.
“Critical enthusiasm” is the way Peart described Peter’s teaching technique. “Rather than telling you what you’re doing wrong, he tells you what you’re doing right, then suggest how you might do it better. That works for me.”
It’s so inspiring to me that Neil, a virtuoso, still benefited from drum lessons at his high level of mastery. I take drum lessons from skilled drummers I respect and admire, and I learn so much that I’m able to incorporate into working with my students.
It was crushing to lose Neil this January. He was a hero to me as an artist, and from what I can tell, a person of outstanding character.