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Building Your Network For Drum Teachers

Here are nine tips to building your support network as a drummer and drum teacher:

1. Identify who really ‘sees’ you and gets who you are and what you’re about as a drummer.
2. Think about who you feel most comfortable talking to and whose opinion you respect.
3. Try honestly answering the question ‘how are you?’ and noticing the response to what you
   say.
4. Consider the sort of advisors you need (careers advisors, My Drum Lessons, performance coaches, emotional support).
5. Ensure that at least one person in your support network has experience of the field in which you want to excel.
6. Respect the time of the people in your support network.
7. Be concise and clear as to what you want – are you looking for in-depth careers advice or help with a particular problem?
8. Learn how to reach for support – it may feel difficult or unusual at first, but it will benefit you hugely in the long-run.
9. Remember to invest and give back to the relationships you find most supportive – there will come a day when you need them.